Pls 202 Exam 1

Front 1

What is a comparative method?

Back 1

A learning approach baed on studying the differences and similarites among similar units of analysis. (such as states)

Front 2

What is a variance?

Back 2

Difference between units of analysis on a particular measure.

Front 3

What is sociodemographics?

Back 3

Characterisitics of a population, including size, age, and ethnicity.

Front 4

What is moralisitc?

Back 4

A political culture that views politics and government as the means to achieve the collective good.

Front 5

What is individualistic?

Back 5

A political culture that views politics and government as the means to achieve the individual goals.

Front 6

What are laboratories of Democracy?

Back 6

A term used for the states that emphasizes their abilitiy to engage in different policy experiments without interference from the federal gov't.

Front 7

Devolution

Back 7

Process of taking power and responsibility away from the federal gov't and giving it to state and local gov'ts.

Front 8

Electorate

Back 8

Individuals who can vote

Front 9

Judicial Federalism

Back 9

Idea that the courts determine the boundaries of state-federal relations.

Front 10

Dual Constitutionalism

Back 10

System of gov't in which people live under two sovereign powers.

Front 11

Natural or higher law

Back 11

Set of moral and political rules based on divine law and binding on all people.

Front 12

Constitutional Amendments

Back 12

Proposals to change the constitution, typically enacted by a superamajority of the legislature or through a satewide referendum.

Front 13

Appropriations Bills

Back 13

Laws passed by legislatures authorizing the transfer of money to the Exec. Branch.

Front 14

Colonial Charters

Back 14

Legal documents drawn up by th eBritish crown that spelled out how the colonies were to be governed.

Front 15

Unicameral Legislatures

Back 15

Legislatures that possess only one chamber. Nebraska is only sate.

Front 16

Separation of Powers

Back 16

principle that gov't should be divided into separate legislative, executive, andjudicial branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities.

Front 17

Bicameral legislatures

Back 17

Legislatures that possess two chambers, typically H of R and Senate.

Front 18

The Franchise

Back 18

Righ to vote

Front 19

Ratification

Back 19

Vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change, referendum, or ballot initiative.

Front 20

Ballot initiatives

Back 20

process through which voters directly convey instructions to the legislature, approve a law, or amend the constitution.

Front 21

Referendums

Back 21

Procedures that allow the electorate to either accept or reject laws passed by the legislature.

Front 22

Constitutional Revision Commissions

Back 22

Expert committees formed to assess a constitution and suggest changes.

Front 23

Judicial Review

Back 23

Power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution.

Front 24

Reconstruction

Back 24

Period following the civil war when the southern states were governed under the direction of the Union Army.

Front 25

Model Constitution

Back 25

An expert-approved "ideal" constitution used to compare their constitution.

Front 26

Line item veto

Back 26

Power to reject a portion of a bill while the rest remains intact.

Front 27

Representative Gov't

Back 27

Qualified reps of the public make decisions.

Front 28

Direct Democracy

Back 28

Ballot initiatives and the referendum.

Front 29

Special Districts

Back 29

Entities created by stae legislture that enjoy some attributes of gov't.

Front 30

Municipal Charter

Back 30

Doc. that establishes operating procedures for local gov'ts.

Front 31

Home Rule

Back 31

Form of self governance granted to towns and cities by the state.

Front 32

Plurality

Back 32

Highest number of votes garnered by a candidate for a particular office but short of an outright majority.

Front 33

Straight Ticket

Back 33

Originally, ballots that allowed voters to pick all of a party's candidates at one; today it is voting for all of one's party for various offices. (all dem or all rep.)

Front 34

Secret Ballot(Australian)

Back 34

Ballot printed by the states that allow voters to pick and choose among different candidates and paty preferences in private.

Front 35

Voter Turnout

Back 35

Percentage of eligible citizens who register to vote and do vote.

Front 36

Direct Democracy

Back 36

Means for citizend to make laws themselve, rather than relying on elected representatives.

Front 37

Interest groups

Back 37

Individuals, corporations, or associations who seek to influence the actions of elected and appointed public officials on behalf of specific companies or causes.

Front 38

Voter identification

Back 38

When a person strongly identifies with a party and can be considered that party.

Front 39

Nonpartisan Ballots

Back 39

Elections that don't list candidates by political parties.

Front 40

Purpose of Constitution

Back 40

Set power, limit power, establish structure, set rules, provide stability, myth system for political system, identify goals.

Front 41

Replacement constitutions reflect people in power:

Back 41

Tax- payer groups, veteran groups, gambling interest, liquor, banking interest, agricultural interest.

Front 42

Why are const. lengthy and rigid?

Back 42

Poor Draftsmaship, fear and distrust of state and local gov't., financial concerns, and fear of corruption.

Front 43

State gov't functions and responsiblities.

Back 43

Urbanization, tech development, and economic change and development.

Front 44

How is a const. changed?

Back 44

Amendment proposed by state leg., const. convention or iniatives. Vote by eligibile voters.

Front 45

What years were constitutions written?

Back 45

1818, 1848, 1870, 1970

Front 46

What are features of 1870 Const.(Restrictive Correction)

Back 46

"Special Legislation", Pass laws granting divorces, changing names and places, Limits were removed on Exec Branch. New limits on leg power.

Front 47

What are features of 1818 Const.?

Back 47

Weak Exec Branch
Governor had absolute veto power.
Leg. Branch had appointed seats: U.S. Senate, Ill Sup. Ct of Justice, Sec State Officials, most county officials.

Front 48

What are features of 1848 Const.

Back 48

Democrats wanted to end life terms and fill offices by election.
Gov veto power reduced.
Pay limited to 40 days.
Supreme Ct. Justice 9yr. terms
Programs funded from property and poll tax.

Front 49

Why was cumulative voting instituted?

Back 49

To reunify state after Civil War.

Front 50

What are the features of the 1970 Const.( Modernization)

Back 50

Voting age removed.
Speical Leg. prohibited
Healthy environment rights
Enlarged Bill of Rights: Can't discriminate against employment and ownership of prop., gender and privacy.

Front 51

How can citizens influence gov't.

Back 51

Taking part in political activities.
Having opinion on issues of day and expressing them.
Belonging to interest groups or parties.
Direct action picketing, rallies, contact office holders.