Terms : Hide Images
| 6682389215 | Articles of Confederation: Weaknesses | Government didn't have power to tax; one vote per state; one branch of gov't; no army | 0 | |
| 6682389216 | Great Compromise | bicameral legislature with upper house (Senate) based on equal representation and lower house (House of Representatives) based on population | 1 | |
| 6682389217 | principles of the Consitution | separations of power- legislative, executive, and judicial; checks and balances | 2 | |
| 6682389218 | Amendment process | A change to the Constitution must be proposed by 2/3 of Congress OR 2/3 of the state legislatures and THEN ratified by ¾ of the states *Every amendment but 1 was done the first way | 3 | |
| 6682389219 | informal amendment | A change made in Constitution not by actual written amendment, but by the experience of government under the Constitution; the methods include: (1) legislation passed by Congress; (2) actions taken by the President; (3) decisions of the Supreme Court; (4) the activities of political parties; and (5) custom | 4 | |
| 6682389220 | formal amendment | change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of the methods set forth in the Constitution *there are only 27 formal amendments | 5 | |
| 6682389221 | Types of powers | Expressed, Implied, Reserved Concurrent | 6 | |
| 6682389222 | Federalism | A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments; power is shared, but ultimately the national government is supreme | 7 | |
| 6682389225 | Pluralist Theory | Belief that American political system basically works; competing interest groups all get heard at different times and places in government. Federalism helps (more layers of government). | 8 | |
| 6682389226 | Elitist Theory | a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas | 9 | |
| 6682389227 | Hyper-pluralist theory | The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups | 10 | |
| 6682389228 | Tenth Amendment | The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. | 11 | |
| 6682389229 | Fiscal Federalism | The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments. | 12 | |
| 6682389230 | block grants | 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). | 13 | |
| 6682389231 | categorical grants | Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions. | 14 | |
| 6682389232 | formula grants | Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations. | 15 | |
| 6682389233 | dual federalism | A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. |  | 16 |
| 6682389234 | cooperative federalism | 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. |  | 17 |
| 6682389235 | devolution | An effort to shirft responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size & activites of the federal government; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local govts | 18 | |
| 6682389236 | full faith and credit clause | Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state | 19 | |
| 6682389237 | necessary and proper clause | Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government | 20 | |
| 6682389238 | Political Socialization | process by how people acquire their political orientation: views and beliefs. Sources: family, life experiences, media, school, religion, race, ethinicity | 21 | |
| 6682389239 | Political Ideology | set of values and beliefs about the purpose of government held by groups and individuals | 22 | |
| 6682389240 | Political efficacy | belief that one's political participation matters- one vote can make a difference | 23 | |
| 6682389241 | Divided government | one party controls the White House and one party controls one or both houses of government. | 24 | |
| 6682389242 | Forms of participation | Lobbying, Litigation, Grass Roots activities, Interest groups, Electioneering | 25 | |
| 6682389243 | Voter Turnout | Voter turnout is low because people believe their votes don't matter, uneducated, elderly, too busy, registration process, mobility | 26 | |
| 6682389244 | Obstacles to participation | voter apathy, having to register in advance, minorities have a lack of access, greater youthfulness | 27 | |
| 6682389245 | Demographics | The area you live in can contribute to your participate in politics | 28 | |
| 6682389246 | Mass Media | television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication | 29 | |
| 6682389247 | Political Parties | A group of people seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election. | 30 | |
| 6682389248 | Issue Generalists | generalists vs specialist parties have their opinions on certain things | 31 | |
| 6682389249 | Third Parties- | a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation, especially a dispute. | 32 | |
| 6682389250 | Elections | to choose the candidate to represent the country or a political party | 33 | |
| 6682389251 | Nominations | the person selected by the delegates of a political party to be the party's nominee for President of the United States, typically at the party's national nominating convention. | 34 | |
| 6682389252 | Primaries | a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election. | 35 | |
| 6682389253 | Electoral College | a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. | 36 | |
| 6682389254 | Campaign Finance Reform | Legislation aimed at placing limits on political candidates accepting money and gifts from individuals and special interest groups | 37 | |
| 6682389255 | Voter Turnout | voter turnout continues to decrease. It is higher in older americans than younger and more whites vote. | 38 | |
| 6682389256 | Intrest Groups | encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected. (Lobbying, litigating, and electionering) | 39 | |
| 6682389257 | Federalist #10 | essay written by James Madison as the tenth of The Federalist Papers, a series arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution. | 40 | |
| 6682389258 | Issue Specialist | inform the buisness community about key topics | 41 | |
| 6682389259 | Pluralism | A conviction that various religious, ethnic, racial, and political groups should be allowed to thrive in a single society. | 42 | |
| 6682389260 | Hyperpluralism | A state in which many groups or factions are so strong that a government is unable to function. | 43 | |
| 6682389261 | Elite Theories | theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society. | 44 | |
| 6682389262 | Linkage Institutions | Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions. | 45 | |
| 6682389263 | PACs | Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties | 46 | |
| 6682389264 | Political Efficacy | The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference | 47 | |
| 6682389265 | Roles of the Presidency | Chief of State:making speeches, award medals, greet people, and be the living symbol of the nation. Chief Executive: Decide how laws of the U.S. should be enforced, and choose officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch. Chief Diplomat: with the help of advisors he makes foreign policy of the United States, and decides what ambassadors and diplomats shall say to foreign government. Commander-in-Chief: he is in charge of the armed forces, and determines where and when to send them. Chief Legislator: he influences Congress in its lawmaking, and may also urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not favor. Chief of Party: The president helps members of his political party get elected or appointed in to office. Chief Guardian of the Economy: He's concerned with unemployment, taxes, high prices, etc. | 48 | |
| 6682389266 | Vetoes | The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to congress and with reasoning for rejecting it. A two-thirds vote in house can override it. | 49 | |
| 6682389267 | 25th Amendment | If the president dies, resigns or is impeached then the Vice President will be President. The Vice President will also become President if the President is no longer able to execute the duties | 50 | |
| 6682389268 | Presidential Powers | Sign/veto legislation, command the armed forces, adjourn/convene Congress, grant/receive pardons, and appoint/receive ambassadors. | 51 | |
| 6682389269 | Cabinet | A group of advisors that the President chooses to help aid in making decisions | 52 | |
| 6682389270 | War Powers Resolution | A law that requires the President to consult with Congress whenever it is possible before using the military and after 60 will have to withdraw unless Congress decides to declare war or grant an extension. | 53 | |
| 6682389271 | Checks and balances |  | 54 | |
| 6682389272 | Original Jurisdiction | the power to hear a case for the first time | 55 | |
| 6682389273 | Appellate Jurisdiction | when a court has the power to review a lower court's decision | 56 | |
| 6682389274 | Precedent | the Supreme Court looks at the ruling of a previous court case to help decide the ruling of the case they are dealing with. | 57 | |
| 6682389275 | Amicus Curiae briefs | "Friend of the court", a person or group who is not a party to a lawsuit, but has a strong interest in the matter, will petition the court for permission to submit a brief in the action with the intent of influencing the court's decision. | 58 | |
| 6682389276 | Writ of Certiorari | "To be informed of, or to be made certain in regard to." Also, the name given to certain appellate proceedings for re-examination of actions of a trial court, or inferior appeals court. | 59 | |
| 6682389277 | 14th Amendment | due process Amendment and Equal Protection under the law; states that no one shall be denied a job or opportunity based on | 60 | |
| 6682389278 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 | states that no one should be denied a job or opportunity based on sex or race | 61 | |
| 6682389279 | Affirmative Action | due process Amendment; states that no one shall be denied a job or opportunity based on race or sex, without due process of law | 62 | |
| 6682389280 | Supreme Court Appointments | The President appoints the justices,and the Senate approves them. Congress can also impeach them. | 63 | |
| 6682389281 | Judicial Activism | judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law, the opposite of judicial restraint | 64 | |
| 6682389282 | Judicial Restraint | a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power. It asserts that judges should hesitate to strike down laws unless they are obviously unconstitutional, though what counts as obviously unconstitutional is itself a matter of some debate. | 65 | |
| 6682389283 | Judicial Review | the power may invalidate laws and decisions that are incompatible with a higher authority, such as the terms of a written constitution.Also, a procedure by which a court can review an administrative action by a public body and in secure a declaration, order, or award. | 66 | |
| 6682389284 | Civil Liberties | Personal freedoms that the government can't take away or inerfere with | 67 | |
| 6682389285 | Types of Speech | Pure Speech which is verbal, Speech Plus which verbal but also action, and Symbolic Speech using a symbol. | 68 | |
| 6682389286 | Establishment Clause | a clause that placed a limitation on Congress preventing it from passing legislation repcecting an establishment of religion | 69 | |
| 6682389287 | Free Exercise Clause | in the First Amendment, states that Congress shall make no law using a religion as a basis | 70 | |
| 6682389288 | Limitations of 1st Amendment Freedoms | First amendment freedoms are limited when they interfere with someone else's rights ex: free exercise clause for religions (Wisconsin v. Yoder) and clear and present danger (Gitlow v. New York) | 71 | |
| 6682389289 | Rights of the Accused | right to a fair trial, trial by jury, right against self-incrimination | 72 | |
| 6682389290 | What is the Equal Protection Amendment? | the Fourteenth Amendment | 73 | |
| 6682389291 | Right to Privacy | A citizens protection of their personal information from public judgment, established under Griswold v. Conneticut court case | 74 | |
| 6682389292 | Selective Incorporation | The application of the BIll of Rights to the states, established under Gitlow v. New York court case | 75 | |
| 6682389293 | iron triangle | A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group |  | 76 |
| 6682389294 | bureacracy | A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by government officials rather than by elected representatives | 77 | |
| 6682389295 | federal agencies | Enact policy, make budget requests, can prosecute in order to enforce policies, establish official guidelines for policies | 78 | |
| 6682389296 | entitlements | Programs such as unemployment insurance, disaster relief, or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens. | 79 | |
| 6682389297 | merit system | A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage. | 80 | |
| 6682389298 | patronage | The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party. | 81 |
