Psci 1050 Test 2 Terms

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Constitution

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a nation’s fundamental law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government. Dictates what government can and cannot do

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The Articles of Confederation

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First Constitution of the United States. States have most powers; weak central government

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Federalist # 10

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organized factions (parties) will destroy democracy. Human behavior: Virtue (community-based, altruistic), Interest (self-interest), Passion (Mob behavior—large groups); Factions come from: Unequal distribution of wealth, Differing interests; Vote minority factions down; Cure for majority factions: Large Republics

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The Madisonian Model

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Limiting Majority Control; Separating Powers; Creating Checks and Balances; Establishing a Federal System

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Republic

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A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws

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Congress

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Power to declare war; Ratify treaties (Senate only); Confirm presidential appointments (Senate only)

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President

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Commander in chief of the armed forces; Negotiate treaties; Appointment powers

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War Powers Act

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Applies the “collective judgment” of Congress and president to introduction of US Armed Forces into “hostilities.” Requires president to consult with Congress before hostilities and remove forces if no use of force resolution within 60 days

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Vertical check on power

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federal government “checks” state power and vice-versa

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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 land and people. Decentralizes our politics. Decentralizes our policies

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Article VI: Supremacy clause

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The Federal government is superior to the states

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The 10th Amendment

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states have their own power and authority

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McCulloch v. Maryland

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The Constitution grants implied powers to Congress: those powers not enumerated, but given to Congress

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Gibbons v. Ogden

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The Commerce Clause

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The Policymaking System

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The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

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Linkage Institutions

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the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Political Parties, Elections, News & Entertainment Media, Interest Groups

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Policy Agenda

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issues that attract the serious attention of public officials

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Policymaking Institutions

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the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. Legislature (Congress), Executive (President), Courts (Federal and State), Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

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Policy

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A choice government makes in response to a political issue or public problem

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Clean Air Act

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relies on state enforcement agencies; is a public concern: Air pollution becomes a problem when a sufficient number of people complain about it. The issue attracts attention from any number of linkage institutions. In response to pressure from public (through linkage institutions), policymaking institutions respond with policy solutions.

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Policy Problem

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a situation that produces needs and for which relief from government action is sought.

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To achieve agenda status

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: a problem must become an issue that requires government attention; an issue reaches agenda status when there is enough support for it in a competitive political environment

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Adoption

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The approval of a policy proposal, generally through the lawmaking process

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Budgeting

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Most policies require money to be implemented effectively; Many policies may not be implemented successfully if they do not have enough money; Policy decisions may overburden states; this is a way to oversee bureaucratic progress

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Implementation

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The process of carrying out public policies; The bureaucracy implements policy; Congress, interest groups and others can affect this through oversight and other means of influence

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Public Opinion

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The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues.

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Demographics

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We can use these characteristics of the population to generalize about public opinion

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Census

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A valuable tool for understanding population changes; Required every 10 years by the Constitution

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Melting Pot

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The mixing of cultures, ideas and peoples that has changed the American nation

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A Changing America

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Regional shift in population center from east to west; America is getting older; Minorities are becoming the majority

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Reapportionment

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the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census

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American Values

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Immigration, aging, and regional changes mean that American society is very diverse—it encourages diversity

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Political Culture

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An overall set of values widely shared within a society

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Political Socialization

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The process through which an individual acquires their particular political orientation

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The Political Socialization Process

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Family, School, Media, All three work together, in different ways, to socialize us into political process

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Sample

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a small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey to be representative of the whole

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Random Sampling

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the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample

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Sampling Error

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the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll

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Exit Polls

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polls of people as they leave the voting booth; used to predict election day winners.

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Political Ideology

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A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose.

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Political Participation

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all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue

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Protest

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A form of political participation designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics.

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Civil disobedience

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A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.