Polsci 101 Exam 1

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Antifederalists

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Individuals opposed to the proposed constitution, fearing it concentrated too much power in the national government

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Declaration of independence

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document issued to the british crown signifying the 13 colonies split from its rule

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Nation

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A shared sense of understanding and belonging among people, a shared sense that they are different and separate from other peoples with particular characteristics

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Articles of confederation

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The first constitution of the united states, which based most power in the states

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Shay's Rebellion

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a protest by farmer's in western Massachusetts in 1786-87 to stop foreclosures on property by state court, it convinced many political leaders that articles of confederation were insufficient to govern the united states

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Virginia Plan

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one of the rival plans during the constitutional convention, it argued for a two-house legislature, with representation to be based on the state's population

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New jersey plan

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one of the rival plans at the constitutional convention in 1787, it called for, among other things, equal representation of the states in a single house legislature

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Great compromise

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the agreement between small and large states that representation in the senate would be equal for each state, as small states preferred, and representation in the house would be based on population, as large states preferred

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three-fifths compromise

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An agreement between slave states and free states that a state's slave population would be counted 60% for purposes of determining a state's representation in the house of representatives

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republic

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a system in which people elect representatives to make policy and write laws, in contrast to direct democracy in which the people do these activities them selves

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Separation of Powers

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The principle that the executive legislative and judicial functions of government should be primarily performed by different institutions on government

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Checks and Balances

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the principle that each branch of the government has the means to thwart or influence actions by other branches

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Judicial Review

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the power of the courts to declare laws and other actions of government officials unconstitutional

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Federalism

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a governing arrangement that provides multiple levels of government with independent ruling authority over certain policy areas and guarantees the survival of these different levels of government

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Supremacy clause

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A clause in the constitution that declares that national laws and treaties have supremacy over state laws

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Full faith and credit

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a clause in the constitution stating that states are to honor the official acts of other states

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equal privileges and immunities

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a clause in the constitution stating that states are to treat equally their citizens and the citizens of other states

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Federalists

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individuals who supported the proposed constitution, fearing it concentrated too much power in the national government

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bill of rights

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the first ten amendments to the U.S. constitution, intended to protect individual liberties from federal government intrusion

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Confederation

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a loose grouping of independent political units, such as states or countries, whose main purpose is to govern the relationship between those units

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Unitary System

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A form of government in which government at the highest level has the power to create, combine, or disband lower-level governments and determine what powers will be allowed at the lower levels

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sovereignty

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having the ultimate authority to make decisions within one's border, without interference by other governments

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nullification

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the suggestion that states had the right to nullify national laws to which they objected and believed violated the u.s. constitution

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dual federalism

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a form of federalism in which the national governments have distinct areas of authority and power, and individuals have rights as both citizens of states and citizens of the united states

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police power

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the protection of public safety, health, welfare, and morality by a government

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dual citizenship

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the idea that an individual is a citizen of both his or her state and the united states. rights and responsibilities can vary from state to states and be different of the state and national levels.

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commerce clause

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a provision in the U.S. constitution that gives congress the power to regulate commerce with other countries, among the states, and with indian tribes

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cooperative federalism

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a form of federalism in which that national and state governments share many functions and areas of authority

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necessary an proper clause

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a provision in the U.S. constitution that gives congress the authority to make the laws needed to carry out the specific duties assigned to congress by the constitution

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enumerated powers

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a list of specifically listed duties that the U.S. constitution assigns to congress

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Impelled powers

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functions and actions that congress could perform in order to implement and exercise its enumerated powers

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mandate

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an order from the federal government that requires state government to take a certain action

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Unfunded mandate

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federal requirements that states takes some action, but without provision of sufficient resources to take the action

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categorical grant

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funds provided by the federal government to a state or local government for a specific, defined purpose

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block grant

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funds provided by the federal government to a state or local government in general support of a broad government function such as education or transportation

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revenue sharing

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federal government funds provided to states, cities, and countries to use for whatever purposes these government choose

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devolution

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a process in which the authority over a government program's rules and implementation in largely transferred from the federal government to the state governments

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sovereign immunity

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the principle that state governments are immune from being sued by private parties in federal court unless they consent to the suits or under particular circumstances in which congress may constitutionally override this immunity

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bicameral

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an institution consisting of two chambers

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impeachment

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performed by the house of representatives, the act of charging government officials with "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" the senate, then, has the responsibility of deciding whether to actually convict and remove the president

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constituents

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the people who reside within an elected official's political jurisdiction

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incumbents

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the individual in an election who currently holds the contested office; as distinct from the challenger, who seeks to remove the incumbent power

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casework

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the direct assistance that members of congress give to individuals and groups within a district or state

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delegate model of representation

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the type of representation by which representatives are elected to do the bidding of the people who elected them; representatives are "delegates" in that they share the same policy positions as the voters and promise to act upon them

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trustee model of representation

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the type of representation by which representatives are elected to do what they think is best for their constituents

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collective action problem

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a problem that arises when individuals' incentives lead them to avoid taking actions that are best for the group as a whole, and that they themselves would like to see accomplished

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cycling

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a phenomenon that occurs when multiple decisionmakers must decide among multiple options and cannot agree on a single course of action

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select committees

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temporary committees that are created to serve a specific purpose

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joint committees

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committees made up of members of both chambers of congress to conduct special investigations or studies

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subcommittees

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committees made up of members of both chambers of congress to conduct special investigations or studies

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seniority

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the length of time a legislator has served in office

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party caucus

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the gathering of all democratic members of the house or senate

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party conference

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the gathering of a ll republican members of the house or senate

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Speaker of the house

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the person who presides over house and serves as the chamber's official spokesperson

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majority leader

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the individual in each chamber who manages the floor, in the senate, he or she is the most powerful member in the chamber, in the house, he or she is the chief lieutenant of the speaker

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minority leader

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the individual who speaks on behalf of the party that controls the smaller number of seats in each chamber

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whips

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designated members of congress who deliver messages from party leaders, keep track of member's votes, and encourage members to stand together on key issues

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sponsor

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the members of congress who introduces a bill

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filibuster

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a procedure by which senators delay or prevent action on a bill by engaging in unlimited debate

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cloture

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a mechanism by which 60 or more senators can end a filibuster and cut off debate

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conference committee

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a committee made up of members of both chambers that is responsible for ironing out the differences between house and senate versions of a bill

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veto

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the president's rejection of a bill passed by both chambers of congress, which prevents the bill from becoming law

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gate-keeping authority

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power to decide whether a particular proposal or policy change will be considered

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sunset provision

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a condition of a law that requires it to be re-authorized after a certain number of years

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authorizations

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the granting of legal authority to operate federal programs and agencies

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appropriations

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the granting of funds to operate authorized federal programs and agenecies

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earmarks

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federal funds that support specific local projects