Us Gov And Politics Test 1

Front 1

The process by which individuals and groups reach agreement on a common course of action even as they continue to disagree on the goals that action is intended to achieve.

Back 1

Politics

Front 2

The institutions and procedures through which people are ruled.

Back 2

Government

Front 3

Goods that are collectively produced and freely available for anyone's consumption.

Back 3

Public goods

Front 4

Public goods or bads generated as a byproduct of private activity. e.g. air pollution is a public bad because it is, in part, the byproduct of the private activity of driving a car.

Back 4

Public 'bads' or externalities

Front 5

An action taken by a group of like-minded individuals to achieve a common goal.

Back 5

Collective action

Front 6

A situation in which individuals can receive the benefits from a collective activity whether or not they helped to pay for it, leaving them with no incentive to contribute.

Back 6

Free riding

Front 7

The costs of doing political business reflected in the time and effort required to compare preferences and negotiate compromises in making collective decisions.

Back 7

Transaction costs

Front 8

The principle that decisions should reflect the preferences of more than half of those voting. One of the fundamental procedures of democracy.

Back 8

Majority rule

Front 9

An individual with the authority to make some decision. This authority may be delegated to an agent who is supposed to act on his/her behalf.

Back 9

Principal

Front 10

A form of government in which the chief executive is chosen by the majority party or by a coalition of parties in the legislature.

Back 10

Parliamentary system/government

Front 11

Individuals' choices, reflecting economic situation, religious values, ethnic identity, or other valued interests.

Back 11

Preferences

Front 12

Document outlining the formal rules and institutions of government and the limits placed on its powers.

Back 12

Constitution

Front 13

A system of government in which citizens make policy decisions by voting on legislation themselves rather than delegating that authority to their representatives.

Back 13

Direct democracy

Front 14

A situation in which two (or more) actors cannot agree to cooperate for fear that the other will find its interest best served by reneging on an agreement.

Back 14

Prisoner's dilemma

Front 15

A situation in which group members over-exploit a common resource, causing its destruction.

Back 15

Tragedy of the commons

Front 16

The difference between what a person ideally would prefer and what the group with which that person makes collective decisions actually does. Paid by individuals whenever collective decisions produce policy outcomes that do not best serve their interests.

Back 16

Conformity costs

Front 17

The act of one person or body authorizing another person or body to perform an action on its behalf. e.g. Congress often gives responsibilities to the president or administrative agencies to decide the details of policy.

Back 17

Delegation

Front 18

Someone who makes and implements decisions on behalf of someone else.

Back 18

Agent

Front 19

Leaders in this "Government by the Few" are chosen by virtue of wealth, power, or membership in a specific political party.

Back 19

Oligarchy

Front 20

The trends between younger and older voters.

Back 20

American youth are less likely to be informed and participate. Back in the 1970s, the youth (college-aged people) would have been more concerned about politics because of the war and issues of the times. That generation has remained concerned about politics, but our young generation is hardly as concerned. Thus, the older population is more concerned than the younger now.

Front 21

How Americans feel about politics and government.

Back 21

Americans are apathetic about politics and government.

Front 22

The requirements of successful politics (2).

Back 22

Bargaining
Compromise

Front 23

The relationship of choice and conflict.

Back 23

Choices breed conflict (of interest, values, and ideas).

Front 24

The purpose of a constitution for both organizations and governments.

Back 24

To guide an organization's members in making essentially political decisions.

Front 25

The difficulties that arise when nations make political decisions.

Back 25

Larger number of participants.
Complex issues.
Monitoring and enforcing agreements.

Front 26

The reason or necessity for the existence of governments.

Back 26

Governments are necessary because of people. (people are hardly angels).

Front 27

What are the three types of government?

Back 27

Government by One Person
Government by the Few
Government by the Many

Front 28

Two examples of Government by One Person.

Back 28

Monarchs
Dictators

Front 29

Two examples of Government by the Few.

Back 29

Aristocracy (leaders chosen by birth)
Oligarchy (leaders chosen by virtue of wealth, power, or political membership)

Front 30

In the Government by the Many category, what two types of Democracies are most common?

Back 30

Direct democracy
Representative democracy

Front 31

The functions of most governments (5).

Back 31

Maintain a national defense.
Provide public services.
Preserve order.
Socialize the young.
Collect taxes.

Front 32

Explain the types of goods govs. usually provide and their features (3).

Back 32

Private goods: market provides. Individually purchased, individually consumed.

Public goods: government provides. Cost born collectively, everyone benefits. Mixed goods/collective goods a more accurate name, though.

Public "bads" or externalities: byproducts of private activity, like pollution.

Front 33

Describe the difference between authority and power.

Back 33

Authority: the right to make and implement a decision.

Power: an officeholder's actual influence with other officeholders, and, as a consequence, over the government's actions.

Front 34

In a democracy, an organization that manages potential conflicts between political rivals, helps them to find mutually acceptable solutions, and makes and enforces the society's collective agreements. (i.e. Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court)

Back 34

(Political) institutions

Front 35

Describe types of collective action problems and examples of each (2 main types)

Back 35

1. Coordination - Getting people to come to an agreement.

2. Prisoner's Dilemma (individual vs. group)
(a) Free-rider: coasting and not contributing.
(b) Tragedy of the commons: too many boats chasing too few fish.

Front 36

The costs associated with collective action problems (2).

Back 36

Transaction costs: the time, effort, and resources required to make collective decisions.

Conformity costs: being obligated to sometimes do something you don't want to do.

Front 37

The difference between a parliamentary system and a presidential system.

Back 37

A parliamentary system promotes majority rule in the sense that the political party or coalition of parties that controls the legislature also controls the executive.

In effect, parliamentary systems are able to forgo the higher transaction costs embedded in the US Separation of powers...

Front 38

The logic of politics and its application to any group decisions.

Back 38

We have core values embedded in our institutions:

Elections are a means of popular rule.

Equally fundamental notion of protection of individual liberties.

Front 39

The act of organizing a group to achieve a common goal. It remains a prerequisite for effective collective action even after prisoner's dilemma problems have been solved.

Back 39

Coordination.

Front 40

A political system in which citizens select government officials who, acting as their agents, deliberate and commit the citizenry to a course of collective action.

Back 40

Representative government (democracy)

Front 41

Goods that are collectively produced and freely available for anyone's consumption.

Back 41

Collective (or mixed) goods

Front 42

Know the two minds American express about the presidency.

Back 42

People want a president who is powerful and who can do good.

They also don’t want the president to get too powerful.

Front 43

The two routes to the presidency.

Back 43

1. Election (Electoral college, term of four years, only two terms allowed)
2. Succession (If president leaves office due to death, resignation, or removal)

Front 44

The formal requirements for the presidency (3).

Back 44

35 years old
natural-born citizen
resided in the US for 14 years

Front 45

Trends in recent decades concerning presidential elections.

Back 45

--Incumbent President or Sitting VP
--Favors state governors
--Geographically, large states or Southern states

Front 46

How does the Electoral College work?

Back 46

1. Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators
2. Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes
3. Electors meet in Dec., votes are reported in Jan.
4. If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the House of Reps votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.

Front 47

What is the importance of the Electoral College?

Back 47

1. Introduces a bias into the campaign and electoral process (the less populated states are overrepresented)

2. Candidates will focus on winning the states where there appear to be a close contest

Front 48

The powers and duties of the President or the different presidential “hats”. (4)

Back 48

1. Commander in chief: makes important military decisions, commanding a standing military and nuclear arsenal. Has “first mover” advantage.

2. Chief diplomat: Negotiates treaties (which must be approved by 2/3 of Senate) with other countries.

3. Chief Executive: Executive privileges, executive orders.

4. Chief Legislator: Veto laws, addresses Congress, can call Congress into special session.

Front 49

Reason the Congressional check on declaring war is a "hollow" check.

Back 49

It cannot be enforced.

Front 50

The resources used by president to push their legislative agenda.

Back 50

Party Leadership
Public support/going public
Legislative skills

Front 51

A body of electors in each state, chosen by voters, who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state’s number of electoral votes equals its representation in Congress (the District of Columbia has three votes).

Back 51

Electoral college

Front 52

How much of a majority of the total electoral vote is required to elect a president and vice president?

Back 52

Absolute majority

Front 53

Candidates must campaign for nomination first. Nominees for chief executive are chosen by party activists. U.S. unusual in the length of nomination and it’s open to all eligible voters.

Back 53

Nomination

Front 54

These campaigns have three effects on voters: reinforcement, activation, and conversion. Usually only reinforce and activate.

Back 54

General election

Front 55

Held before general election in which voters decide which of a party’s candidates will be the party’s nominee for the general election.

Back 55

Primary

Front 56

Amendment that requires electors to cast two distinct votes: one for President, one for Vice President.

Back 56

12th Amendment

Front 57

Amendment that set the term limit for the president.

Back 57

22nd Amendment

Front 58

Amendment that permits the District of Colombia to choose Electors for President and Vice President.

Back 58

23rd Amendment

Front 59

What did "Article II, Section I" do?

Back 59

Established the Electoral College.

Front 60

The President's duties as Chief Diplomat.

Back 60

Negotiates treaties with other countries.
Treaties must be approved by 2/3 of Senate.
Uses executive agreements in lieu of treaties.

Front 61

Things the President does as Chief Executive.

Back 61

Executive privilege (U.S. vs. Nixon-- privilege to withhold information).
Gives executive orders.

Front 62

Based on the “take care” clause. A presidential directive to an executive agency establishing new policies or indicating how an existing policy is to be carried out.

Back 62

Executive Orders

Front 63

President's abilities as Chief Legislator.

Back 63

Can call Congress into special session.

Must report from time to time to Congress with State of the Union address.

Veto laws.

Front 64

President’s committee on administrative management.

Back 64

Brownlow Committee

Front 65

A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. Crucial precedent limiting the power of the President.

Back 65

US vs. Nixon

Front 66

A presidential message to Congress under the constitutional directive that he shall “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."

Back 66

State of the Union (address)

Front 67

Highest advisory body to the president on military and diplomatic issues. Established in 1947, this agency in the Executive Office of the President helps the president coordinate the actions of government agencies, including the State and Defense Departments and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, into a single cohesive policy for dealing with other nations.

Back 67

National Security Council

Front 68

These people meet in December and votes are reported in January.

Back 68

Electors.

Front 69

Term used to describe government when one political party controls the executive branch and the other political party controls one or both houses of the legislature.

Back 69

Divided government

Front 70

A closed meeting of a political or legislative group to choose candidates for office or to decide issues of policy.

Back 70

Caucus

Front 71

Member of a group representing an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level.

Back 71

Delegates

Front 72

Person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions

Back 72

Clerkship

Front 73

Title given to President by the Constitution and that denotes the president’s authority as the head of the national military.

Back 73

Commander-in-Chief

Front 74

Agreements between the president and one or more other countries. Similar to a treaty, but unlike a treaty, it does not require the approval of the Senate.

Back 74

Executive agreements

Front 75

President’s right to withhold information from Congress and the courts. Presidents assert that executive privilege, nowhere mentioned in the Constitution, is necessary to maintain separation of powers among the branches of government.

Back 75

Executive privilege

Front 76

Provision in Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution instructing the president to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”

Back 76

"Take Care" clause

Front 77

Formal power of the president to reject bills passed by both houses of Congress. Can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each house.

Back 77

Veto

Front 78

Collection of agencies that help the president oversee department and agency activities, formulate budgets and monitor spending, craft legislation, and lobby Congress.

Back 78

Executive Office of the President

Front 79

Organization dedicated to helping the occupant of the Oval Office.

Back 79

Institutional presidency

Front 80

Current holder of a political office.

Back 80

Incumbent

Front 81

Presidents do this when they engage in intensive public relations to promote their policies to the voters and thereby induce cooperation from other elected officeholders in Washington.

Back 81

Go public

Front 82

In the summer of every presidential election year, political parties in the United States typically conduct national conventions to choose their presidential candidates. At the conventions, the presidential candidates are selected by groups of delegates from each state. After a series of speeches and demonstrations in support of each candidate, the delegates begin to vote, state-by-state, for the candidate of their choice. The first candidate to receive a preset majority number of delegate votes becomes the party's presidential candidate.

Back 82

Process of obtaining nomination of a political party for the presidency

Front 83

Effects of presidential campaigns on voter behavior.

Back 83

reinforcement**
activation**
conversion

**most common

Front 84

Importance of Brownlow report on the presidency.

Back 84

Brownlow report stated that the President needed help. It called for six loyal assistants to the President. Now, there are four hundred aids.

Front 85

Over time, the number of viewers of the State of the Union address.

Back 85

Percentage has decreased since 1978. 2000 brought an all-time low of 20%, but ratings were up to 32% in 2004.

Front 86

The role of the National Security Council to the President.

Back 86

Compiles reports and advice from the State and Defense Departments and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Keeps president well informed on international affairs. National security adviser, head of agency, conducts foreign policy that is close to what secretary of state does.

Front 87

Criticisms of the primary and caucus system.

Back 87

1. Front-loaded system.
2. Campaigns are too long.
3. Money plays too big a role.
4. Participation is unrepresentative low.
5. Too much power to the media.

Front 88

Different strategies used by George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton in dealing with Congress. (pg. 294-298)

Back 88

Both of them threatened the veto and sought the support of the American public. Bush conceded his point, but Clinton laid low at first before growing a backbone and standing his ground on what was important to him.

Front 89

How presidents succeed in transforming his position from clerkship to real leadership. (pg. 294)

Back 89

president's skill as a politician: whether he recognizes the opportunities offered by his setting and is skilled enough to take full advantage of them.