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90 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Linkage Institutions
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The political channels through which peoples concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the US, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
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Policy Agenda
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The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time
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Democracy
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A system of selecting policy makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the publics preferences
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Pluralist theory
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A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
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Elite and class theory
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A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
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Hyperpluralism
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A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.
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Political culture
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An overall set of values widely shared within a society
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Consent of the governed
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The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people
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Limited government
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The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens
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Articles of Confederation
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The first constitution of the US. Most authority rested with the state legislatures
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Shays rebellion
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A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings
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Factions
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Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth
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Writ of Habeas Corpus
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A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
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Separation of Powers
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A feature of the constitution that requires each of the three branches of government-executive, legislative, and judicial- to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others.
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Checks and Balances
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Features of the constitution that limit governments power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions
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Republic
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A form of government in which people select representatives to govern them and make laws
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Federalist Papers
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A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "publius" to defend the constitution in detail
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Bill of rights
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The first 10 amendments to the US constitution
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Equal rights amendment
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Constitutional amendment passed by congress in 1972 stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex"
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Federalism
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A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government
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Unitary governments
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A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government
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Tenth amendment
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The national government only has powers that the constitution assigned to it
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Enumerated powers
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Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the constitution; for congress, these powers are listed in Article I, section 8, and include the power to coin money, regulate its value, and impose taxes
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Implied powers
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Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the constitution. The constitution states that congress has the power to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution" the powers enumerated in Article I
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Elastic clause
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The final paragraph of Article I, section 8 of the constitution, which authorizes congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers
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Full faith and credit
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Each state is required to recognize the official documents and civil judgements rendered by the courts of other states
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Extradition
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A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed
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Privileges and immunities
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Citizens of each state receive most of the privileges of citizens of another state
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Dual federalism
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A system of government in which both states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies
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Cooperative federalism
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A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly. (American Federalism)
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Devolution
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Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments
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Categorical grants
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Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending.
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Block Grants
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Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services
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Nomination
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The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party
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National party convention
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The supreme party within each of the parties. The convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates and to write the party's platform
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Caucus
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A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid
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Presidential primaries
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Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate
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McGovern-Fraser commission
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A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation
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Superdelegates
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National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention
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Frontloading
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The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calender in order to capitalize on media attention
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National Primary
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A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries, which would replace these electoral methods with a nationwide primary held early in the election year
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Regional primaries
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A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to replace these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographic region
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Federal Election campaign act
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A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The acted created the Federal Election Commission, provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempt to limit contributions
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Federal Election Commission
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A six member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign act of 1974. The FEC administers and enforces campaign finance laws
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Presidential election campaign fund
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Money from the $3 federal income tax check-off goes to this fund, which is then distributed to qualified candidates to subsidize their presidential campaigns
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Matching funds
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Contributions of up to $250 are matched from the Presidential election campaign fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify and agree to meet various conditions, such as limiting their overall spending.
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Soft money
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Political contributions earmarked for party building expenses at the grass roots level or for generic party advertising. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits. For a time, such contributions were unlimited, until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold Act
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527 groups
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Independent groups that seek to influence the political process bust are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates
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Political action committees
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Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a PAC and register it with the Federal Election Commission, which will meticulously monitor the PAC's expenditures
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Legitimacy
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A characterization of elections by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders. When legitimacy is high, as in the US, even the losers accept the results peacefully
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Referendum
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A state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment
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Initiative petition
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A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum
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Suffrage
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The legal right to vote. (E.g. Women, African Americans)
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Political efficacy
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The belief that one's political participation really matters-that ones vote can actually make a difference.
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Civic duty
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The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote
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Motor voter act
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Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their drivers license. (the act was intended to raise voter turnout, but it was disappointing.)
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Mandate theory of elections
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The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics. Politicians like the theory better thank political scientists do.
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Policy Voting
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Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues
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Electoral college
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A unique american institution, created by the constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the electoral college vote usually reflects a popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states
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Retrospective voting
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A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: "what have you done for me lately?"
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Party competition
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the battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in american politics
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Linkage institutions
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The channels through which peoples concerns become political issues on the governments policy agenda. In the US, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media
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Party image
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The voters perception of what the republicans or democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism
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Party identification
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A citizens self proclaimed preference for one party or the other
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Ticket splitting
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Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior
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Party machines
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A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
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Patronage
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One of the key inducements used by party machines.
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Closed primaries
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Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty
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Open primaries
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Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests
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Blanket primaries
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Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some democrats and some republicans if they like
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National convention
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The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
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National committee
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Keeps the party operating between conventions. Composed of representatives from the states and territories
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National chairperson
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Responsible for the day to day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee
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coalition
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A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends
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Party eras
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Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
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Party realignment
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The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period
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New Deal coalition
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A coalition formed by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930's thru the 1960s
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Party dealignment
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The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
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Pluralist theory
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A theory emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
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Elite theory
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Societies are divided among class lines, upper elite class will rule
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Free rider problem
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The problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can still benefit from the groups activities without joining
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Olsons law of large groups
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the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good
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Lobbying
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trying to get in touch with and sway the decision of a legislator
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Amicus curiae briefs
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Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view, and to attempt to influence a courts decision
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class action suits
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Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated
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Chains
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Newspapers published by massive media conglomerates that account for over four-fifths of the nations daily newspaper circulation
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Beats
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Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as congress or the white house
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Trial balloons
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An international news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction
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Sound bites
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Short video clips, about 10 seconds. Typically, they are all that is shown from a politicians speech on the nightly news
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Policy entrepreneurs
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People who invest their political "capital" in an issue
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