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95 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Elite Theory
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Because only a few groups have enough power to influence policy
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Hyperpluralist Theory
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Too many groups get much of what they want
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Pluralist Theory
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Interest group activities provide additional representation and compete against each other to influence political outcomes.
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Declaration of Independence
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A document announcing and justifying the Revolutionary War.
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Article of Confederation
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The first “government” of the U.S.
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Shays’s Rebellion
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A series of armed attacks on court houses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms. Spurred interest in strengthening national government.
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New Jersey Plan
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legislature based on equal representation by the states
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Virginia Plan
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a legislature based on the population of each state
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Connecticut Compromise
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(Great Compromise) provided for a two-chamber Congress
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Great Compromise
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(Connecticut Compromise) States would be represented equally in the Senate and representation would be based upon a State's population in the House
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Three-Fifths Compromise
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counted every five slaves as three people for representation and tax purposes
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John Locke
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Father of political liberalism (limited government to protect life liberty & property; right to revolt if government becomes a tyranny); he greatly influenced Jefferson & the Declaration of Independence.
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natural rights
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Rights to which people are entitled by natural law
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Republic
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Power is exercised by representatives of public under consent of governed.
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limited government
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Clear restrictions on what rulers can do. Safeguards natural rights.
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separation of powers
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The three branches of government have distinct responsibilities and act independent of each other.
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Constitution
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A nation’s written law creating governing institutions
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Enumerated Powers
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Powers of Congress found in Article 1
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Implied Powers
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Powers beyond Congress’ enumerated powers ensuring it can carry out its duties.
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Unitary Government
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A system where all power resides in the central government.
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Bicameral Legislature
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A legislature divided into two chambers.
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Coalition Government
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Governments in which smaller parties combine with larger parties to control a majority of seats in a legislature.
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Factions
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Groups of people – currently known as political parties or interest groups – who attempt to control government in their own interests.
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federalism
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A system of shared power between two or more levels of government.
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dual federalism
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Where states and the national government each remain supreme within their own spheres of power
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cooperative federalism
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Where state and national government responsibilities are mingled and blurred like a marble cake – powers and policies are shared.
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Federalists
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Argued for ratification of the new constitution.
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Anti-Federalists
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People who opposed new Constitution. Feared it would weaken states and erode fundamental liberties
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Federalist Papers
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Articles written to convince Americans to support the new constitution. Authors were James Madison
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Bill of Rights
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The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
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judicial review
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Courts have the power to determine whether actions of state and national legislative and executive branches are in accordance with the Constitution. Established under Marbury v Madison.
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Checks and Balances
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Each of the three branches of U.S. government requires consent of one or more of the other branches to act.
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Federalist 10
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Topic = factions (interest groups); minority factions controlled by majority; majority faction controlled by greater size of USA + virtuous leaders
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Federalist 51
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Separation of powers & checks & balances protects against tyranny
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representative democracy
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Form of government that relies on the consent of the people and is often called a republican government.
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delegated powers
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(expressed powers) Powers which are granted to, and exercised ONLY by the national government, specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution at Articles I, II, III.
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reserved powers
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Powers retained by the states, as dictated by the 10th Amendment.
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concurrent powers
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Those powers which are exercised independently by both the national and state governments. Those powers shared by both levels of governments, i.e., state and national.
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full faith and credit clause
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Article IV of the Constitution requires states to provide reciprocity toward other states’ public acts
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privileges and immunities clause
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Constitution stops states from discriminating against other states’ citizens.
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extradition
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The Constitution requires each state to return a person charged with a crime in another state to that state for trial or imprisonment.
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supremacy clause
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Article VI of the Constitution states that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution
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Commerce Clause
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Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate Commerce Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly (Gibbons v. Ogden) until Lopez & Morrison
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categorical grants
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A grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no state discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. Most common type of federal grant because it gives Congress the most control over the states.
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block grants
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Grants ($) given to the states by the federal government for a general purpose (like education or road-building). Unlike categorical grants, states have discretion to decide how to spend the money. Example = Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (States develop and implement welfare programs using federal money).
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project grant
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Categorical grants awarded based on competitive applications.
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formula grants
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A type of categorical grant where local governments do not apply for a grant but receive funds based on a formula.
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fiscal federalism
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Federal government using money (grants) to influence & control states.
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cooperative federalism
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System of federalism where federal & state governments help each other perform governmental duties. Also known as marble-cake federalism. E.g., After hurricanes federal and state agencies work together to provide relief. Can cause confusion and/or conflict among different levels of government. Best explanation of how federalism works today (instead of dual federalism)
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Devolution
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Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal to state and local governments
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condition of aid
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A technique of fiscal federalism used by Congress to control states. Requires states to do something in order to get the money (ex. South Dakota v. Dole, raise drinking age 21 to get highway money).
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veto
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The power of the President to refuse to sign a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless both houses override the veto by passing it again (with a two-thirds majority). When Congress is in session, the President has ten days (not counting Sundays) in which to veto a bill or it becomes law without the President’s signature.
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pocket veto
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The indirect veto by the President of the U.S. of a bill presented to him by Congress within ten days of its adjournment, by failing to sign and return the bill before Congress adjourns.
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amendment
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The modification of the constitution or a law. Modification may be either formal (written) or informal (unwritten).
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Ratification
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The procedure followed by the states to approve the Constitution and/or its formal amendments.
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establishment clause
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The statement in the Constitution saying Congress has the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.
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selective incorporation
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The process by which certain of the guarantees expressed in the Bill of Rights become applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
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cabinet
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The group of official advisors to the President. The Cabinet is composed of the heads of the executive departments of government.
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governor
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The elected chief executive of a state government. The governor’s role in state government is similar in many respects to the President’s role in the federal government. For most states, the term of office is four years. However, in three states—New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont—the governor serves a two-year term. If the governor is unable to complete a term of office, the state’s lieutenant governor replaces the governor.
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line-item veto
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The objection to a single item in a piece of legislation by a president; the president does not have the authority to remove the item, he must accept or reject the legislation as a whole. Passed by Congress in 1996, declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998.
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item veto
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Power held by 43 State governors (but not the President) to eliminate (veto) one or more provisions (items) in a bill without rejecting the entire measure"
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confederation
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(Confederated system) Form of government in which an alliance of independent states creates a central government of very limited power; the member states have supreme authority over all matters except in those few areas in which they have expressly delegated power to the central government.
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The Establishment Clause
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First amendment prohibits government from establishing a religion; is the basis for separation of church and state.
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The Free Exercise Clause
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Government is prohibited in the First Amendment from interfering in the practice of religion.
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Writ of Habeas Corpus
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Enables people detained by authorities to know why they’ve been detained.
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Ex Post Facto Laws
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(retroactive law) Laws that punish conduct that was not illegal when it was performed. These laws are always unconstitutional.
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Bill of Attainder
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Laws that punish individuals or groups without a trial. These laws are always unconstitutional.
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Exclusionary Rule
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Prohibits government from including illegally obtained evidence in a trial.
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1st Amendment
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Freedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech, press, assembly, and petition.
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2nd Amendment
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Right to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest group & Republican Party.
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3rd Amendment
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no forced quartering of troops in homes during peacetime
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4th Amendment
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No "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v. US, Mapp v. Ohio)
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5th Amendment
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(1)No Self-Incrimination (Miranda) (2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges) (3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment)
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6th Amendment
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The right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in criminal trials.
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7th Amendment
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Right to jury in civil trials.
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8th Amendment
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Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of "cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, non-murder crimes...
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9th Amendment
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Unenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenumerated rights in addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open ended)
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10th Amendment
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(reserved powers) or (states' rights) Specifies that powers not delegated to the national government are reserved for the state government or the people.
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11th Amendment
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Federal courts have no authority in suits by citizens against another state or foreign states
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12th Amendment
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Provides for separate electoral voting for president and vice president
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13th Amendment
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Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.
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14th Amendment
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Prohibits states from denying equal protection of the laws.
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15th Amendment
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States cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race.
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16th Amendment
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Power of Congress to tax income
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17th Amendment
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Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)
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18th Amendment
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Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages
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19th Amendment
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States cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
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20th Amendment
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Congress begins new term on January 3; president and vice president begin terms on January 20 of year following their election
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21st Amendment
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Repealed Eighteenth Amendment
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22nd Amendment
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Limits the president to two terms
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23rd Amendment
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Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)
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24th Amendment
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Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections.
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25th Amendment
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Passed in 1967
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26th Amendment
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States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
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27th Amendment
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Congress prohibited from changing its pay for the current congressional term
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