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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Public Policy |
The decisions of government to pursue particular courses of action. A nation's policies are used to see into their politics. This includes everything from how it educates children to how it choses to use military power. |
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Democracy |
A form of government where the people rule |
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Direct Democracy |
A type of democracy where citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues. This form of democracy gives people individual power. |
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Representative Democracy |
A type of democracy where citizens chose officials (representatives) who make decisions about public policy. This is the system in most "democratic" nations. |
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Traditional Democracy Theory |
Government depends on the consent of the governed, which may be given directly or through representatives; may include criteria for the measure of "how democratic." |
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Pluralist Theory |
Interest groups compete in the political arena, the each promoting its policy preference through organized efforts. Conflicts among groups may result, requiring bargaining and compromise (Robert Dahl) |
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Elite Theory |
A small number of powerful elite (corporates, top military officers, government leaders) form an upper class which rules in its own self-interest (C. Wright Mills). |
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Bureaucratic Theory |
The hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of modern governments allow bureaucratic, who carry out the day-today workings of government, to hold the real power over public policy (Max Weber). |
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Hyper-Pluralism |
Democracy is a system of many groups having so much strength that governments is often "pulled" in numerous directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness. |
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Constitutionalism |
The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government's power. |
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Social Contract |
A voluntary agreement by individuals to form a government, which is then obligated to work within the conflicts of that agreement. |
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Natural Rights (Inalienable Rights) |
The right of life, liberty, and property, which are threatened by individuals who steal, kill, and otherwise act without regard to others. |
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Articles of Conferderation |
The first government of the United States was based on the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, each state retained its full "sovereignty. freedom, and independence." |
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Virginia Plan (Large- State Plan) |
Included separate judicial and executive branches as well as a two-chamber congress that would have supreme authority in all arras in which the separate states are incompetent, particularly defense and interstate work. |
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New Jersey Plan (Small- State Plan) |
Called for a stronger national government than that provided for by the Articles of Confederation. It would have the power to tax and to regulate commerce among the sates. |
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Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) |
The debate over the two plans was called the Great Compromise. It provided a bicameral (two chambers) congress. One chamber, the House of Representatives, would be appointed on the bais of population. States with larger populations would have more House member than states with smaller populations, although each states would have at lease one representative. The other chamber, the Senate, would be appointed on the baises of an equal number (two) for each state. This compromise was critical. The small states would not have agreed to join a union of large states, a fact reflected in Article V of the constitution: "No states, without consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage on the state." |
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Three Fifth Compromise |
For the purpose if apportionment of taxes and seats in the U.s House of Representatives, each slave was to count as less than a full person. Northern delegates had argued against the counting of slaves because they did not have legal rights. Southern delegates wanted to count them as full persons fir purpose of apportioning. |
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Federalist |
Constitution Supporters |
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Antifederalists |
Acknowledged the need for more economic cooperation between the states and for the stronger common defense, but they opposed the creation of a strong national government as the mechanism, arguing that a revision of the Articles of Confederation could accomplish these goals without the risk of establishing an overly powerful central government. |
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Bill of Rights |
Includes rights such as freedom of speech and religion and due process protections (such as the right to a jury trial) for personas accused of crimes. |
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Limited Government |
A government that is subject to strict limits in its lawful uses of powers and hence on its ability to deprive people of thier liberty. |
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Separation of Powers |
The division of the powers of government among the separate institutions or branches. |
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Checks and Balances |
The elaborate system of divided spheres of authority provided by the U.S Constitution as a means of controlling the power of government. The separation of powers among the branches of the national government, federalism, and the different methods of selection national officers are all part of this system. |
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Tyranny of the Majority |
The potential of a majority to monopolize power for its own gain and to the detriment of minority rights and interests. |
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Federalism |
The division of power between the national government and the states. |
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Amendments |
The revision or chance to a bill, law, or constitution |
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Formal Amendment Process |
Amending the constitution requires proposal, a national function, and ratification, and a state function. Amendments may be proposed in changes by two methods and ratifies by two methods, creating possible methods for formally amending the constitution. |
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Informal Amendment Process |
May occur in the following ways: 1. Legislative Actions- Congress has passed various acts the have altered or made clear the meaning of the Constitution. 2. Executive Actions- The manner in which presidents use their powers can create informal amendments and expand presidential authority. 3. Judicial Interpretation/ Judicial Review- The people who serve as judges and the times in which they serve affect how courts interpret laws. 4. Custom and Usage- Traditions that have been corporated into the political system and which have lasted over time have changed the meaning of the Constitution. |
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Delegated Power |
Expressed or enumerated powers those specifically given to the national government (Articles I-V). |
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Implied Powers |
The federal governments's constitutional authority (through the "necessary and property" clause) to take the action that is not expressly authorized but the Constitution but that supports actions that are so authorized (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18). |
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Inherent Powers |
Powers that exist for the national government because the government is sovereign. |
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Concurrent Powers |
Powers that belong to both the national and state governments |
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Reserved Powers |
The powers granted to the states under the 10th amendment of the the Constitution. The supremacy and "necessary and proper" clauses were worrisome to the Anti-Federalists because it stroked their fear of an overly powerful; national government because they provided a constitutional bais for the expanding the government's authority. This led to the 10th amendment which reads, "the power not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states." |
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Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) |
The authority granted congress in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" for the implication of its enumerated powers. |
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Full Faith and Credit Clause |
States are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, drivers' licenses, and wills. |
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Supremacy Clause |
Article VI of the constitution, which makes national law supreme over state law when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits. |
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Dual Federalism |
A doctrine based on the idea the a precise separation of national power and state power is both possible and desirable. |
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Cooperative Federalism |
The situation in which the national, state, and local levels work together to solve problems. |
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Devolution |
The passing down of authority from the national government to the state and local governments. Devolution rests on a belief- held more strongly byRepublicans than Democrats- that federal authority has extended too far into areas traditionally governed through states and local governments. |
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Fiscal Federalism |
A term that refers to the expenditure of federal funds on programs ruin in part through states and localities. |
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Grants-in-aid |
Federal cash payments to states and localities for programs they administer. |
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Categorical Grants |
Federal grants-in-aid to states and localities that can be used only for designated projects. |
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Block Grants |
Federal grants-in-aid that permit state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general area, such as education or health. |
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Revenue Sharing |
Proposed under the Johnson Administration and popular under the Nixon administration, a "no strings attached" form of aid to state and local governments; could be used for virtually and project but never exceeded more than 2% of revenues, eliminated during the region administration |
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Mandates |
Requirements that are imposed y the national government of the state and local governments. Mandates often require state or local governments to meet requirement at their own expenses (unfunded mandates). After the mid-term elections of 1994, the republican controlled congress passed the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act, which imposed limitations of congress's ability to pass unfunded mandate legislation. Ex. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) |
