Terms : Hide Images
| 270044660 | Politics | the process of resolving conflicts and deciding who gets what, when, and how. It is the struggle over power or influence with organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges. | |
| 270044661 | Institution | an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society | |
| 270044662 | Government | the preeminent institution within a society in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges. it is unique because it has the ultimate authority for making decisions and establishing political values. | |
| 270044663 | Order | a state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government. | |
| 270044664 | Liberty | the greatest freedom of the individual that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society. | |
| 270044665 | Authority | the right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions to compel obedience | |
| 270044666 | Legitimacy | popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority. | |
| 270044667 | Totalitarian Regime | a form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation. | |
| 270044668 | Authoritarianism | a type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the control of government. | |
| 270044669 | Aristocracy | rule by the "best." aka rule by the upper class | |
| 270044670 | Theocracy | rule by gods or God. In practice, rule by religious leaders, typically self-appointed. | |
| 270044671 | Oligarchy | rule by a few | |
| 270044672 | Anarchy | a condition of no government | |
| 270044673 | Democracy | a system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. Derived from the Greek words Demos and Kratos | |
| 270044674 | Direct Democracy | a system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives. This attained most easily in small political communities. | |
| 270044675 | Legislature | the governmental body primarily responsible for making laws. | |
| 270044676 | Initiative | a procedure by which voters can propose a law or constitutional amendment | |
| 270044677 | Referendum | an electoral decisive where by legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval | |
| 270044678 | Recall | a procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from the state office before his or her term has expired | |
| 270044679 | Consent of the People | the idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the government | |
| 270044680 | Republic | a form of government in which sovereign power rests with the people, rather than a king or monarch | |
| 270044681 | Popular Sovereignty | the concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people | |
| 270044682 | Democratic Republic | a republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies | |
| 270044683 | Representative Democracy | a form of government in which elected representatives make and enforce laws; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role | |
| 270044684 | Universal Suffrage | the right of all adults to vote for representatives | |
| 270044685 | Majority | more than 50% | |
| 270044686 | Majority Rule | the basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies | |
| 270044687 | Limited Government | a government with powers that are limited either through a written document or through widely shared beliefs | |
| 270044688 | Majoritarianism | a political theory holding that in a democracy the government ought to do what the majority of the people want | |
| 270044689 | Elite Theory | a perspective holding that society is ruled by a number of people who exercise power to further self-interest | |
| 270044690 | Pluralism | a theory that views politics as a conflict of interest groups. Political decision making is characterized by compromise and accommodation. | |
| 270044691 | Political Culture | a patterned set of ideas, ways, and values of thinking about government and politics | |
| 270044692 | Political Socialization | the process by which political beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and to our children. The family and the educational system are two of the most important forces in this process. | |
| 270044693 | Dominant Culture | the values, customs, and language established by the group or groups that traditionally have controlled politics and government in a society | |
| 270044694 | Civil Liberties | those are personal freedoms including freedom of religion and freedom of speech that are protected for all individuals. They are set forth in the constitution so government cannot take away these rights. | |
| 270044695 | Bill of Rights | first 10 Amendments of the Constitution | |
| 270044696 | Equality | the idea that all people are of equal worth | |
| 270044697 | Property | anything that is or may be subjected to ownership. | |
| 270044698 | Capitalism | an economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract | |
| 270044699 | Idealology | a comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of the institution in a government | |
| 270044700 | Conservatism | a set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles an a cautious response to change. | |
| 270044701 | Liberalism | a set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change | |
| 270044702 | Socialism | political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society where major business is taken over by the government. | |
| 270044703 | Libertarianism | a political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward most government activities | |
| 270044704 | Communism | a variant of socialism that favors a partisan dictatorship, government control of enterprises and replacement of free market with central planning | |
| 270044705 | Fascism | 20th century ideology. It is often totalitarian that exalts a national collective united behind an absolute ruler. It rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation and glorifies war. | |
| 270044706 | Islamism | a political ideology based on radical and fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. they reject all Western democratic values and often call for worldwide Islamic political order. Many radicals of this group are associated with terrorism. | |
| 270044707 | Representative Assembly | A legislature composed of individuals who represent the population. | |
| 270044708 | Natural Rights | rights held to be inherent in natural law, not dependent on government. John Locke says these rights are "life, liberty, and property" altered to become "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" | |
| 270044709 | Social Contract | voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules | |
| 270044710 | Unicameral Legislature | Legislature with only one chamber as opposed to a bicameral that has two | |
| 270044711 | Confederation | political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for the powers they delegate to a central government. A voluntary association of independent sates in which member states agree to limited restraints on their freedom of action | |
| 270044712 | State | a group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government; may either be a nation or a subunit of one | |
| 270044713 | Supremacy Doctrine | doctrine that asserts the priority of the national law over state law. The principle of the national law over state law. The principle is in Article VI of the Constitution | |
| 270044714 | Great Compromise | combination of the New Jersey and Virginia Plans that created one chamber of congress based on population and one representing each state | |
| 270044715 | Separation of Powers | principle of avoiding governmental powers among different branches of government | |
| 270044716 | Madasonian Model | a structure of government proposed by James Madison in which the powers of government are separated into 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial | |
| 270044717 | Checks and Balances | major principle of the American system where each branch of government can check the actions of others | |
| 270044718 | Electoral College | a group of persons called electors selected by the voters in each state and DC; this group officially elects the president and vice president. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of each states representatives in both chambers of congress. | |
| 270044719 | Federal System | system of government in which power is divided between a central and regional government. Each level must have some domain in which policies are dominant and some political or constitutional guarantee of its authority | |
| 270044720 | Ratification | formal approval | |
| 270044721 | Federalists | the name given to the one who was in favor of the adoption of the US Constitution and the creation of federal union with a strong central government | |
| 270044722 | Anti-Federalists | individuals who opposed the ratification of the new constitution in 1787. They are opposed to a strong central government | |
| 270044723 | Executive Agreements | international agreement between chiefs of state that does not require legislative approval | |
| 270044724 | Judicial Review | the power of the Supreme Court and other courts to declare unconstitutional federal or state laws and other acts of government | |
| 270044725 | Executive Order | rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. Executive orders can implement and give administrative effect to provisions in the US Constitution, treaties, or statutes. | |
| 270044726 | Unitary System | a centralized government system in which ultimate governmental authority rests in the hands of the national or central government | |
| 270044727 | Confederal System | a system consisting of a league of independent states each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states | |
| 270044728 | Enumerated Powers | powers specifically granted to the national government by the constitution. the first 17 clauses of Article I Section 8 specify most of these powers | |
| 270044729 | Elastic Clause | grants congress the power to do whatever is necessary and proper to execute its delegated powers | |
| 270044730 | Police Power | authority to legislate for the protection or health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the US, most police power is reserved to the states. | |
| 270044731 | Concurrent Power | powers held jointly by national and state governments (Ex: right to tax) | |
| 270044732 | Supremacy Clause | constitutional provision that makes the constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws | |
| 270044733 | Interstate Compact | agreement between two or more states. Agreements on minor matters are made without congressional consent, but any compact that tends to increase the power of the contracting states relative to other states or relative to the national government generally requires the consent of congress | |
| 270044734 | Commerce Clause | the section of the constitution in which congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign commerce | |
| 270044735 | Dual Federalism | model of federalism which the states and national government each remain supreme within their own spheres. The doctrine looks on nation and state as co-equal sovereign powers. Neither the state government nor national government should interfere in the others sphere. | |
| 270044736 | Cooperative Federalism | model of federalism in which the states and national government cooperate in solving problems | |
| 270044737 | Picket-Fence Federalism | model of federalism in which specific programs and policies involve all levels of government-- national, state, and local | |
| 270044738 | Categorical Grants | Federal grants to state or local governments that are specific for programs or projects | |
| 270044739 | Block Grants | federal programs that provide funds to state and local government for broad functional areas, such as criminal justice or mental health programs | |
| 270044740 | Federal Mandates | requirement in federal legislation that forces states and municipalities to comply with certain rules | |
| 270044741 | Devolution | transfer of powers from a national or central government to state and local governments | |
| 270044742 | Incorporation Theory | the view that most of the protections of the bill of rights are incorporated in the 14th Amendments protections against state government actions | |
| 270044743 | Establishment Clause | prohibits the establishments of a church that is officially supported by the national government. It is applied to the questions of legality of giving state and local governments aid to religious organizations and schools, allowing or requiring school prayers, and teaching evolution versus intelligent design | |
| 270044744 | Free Exercise Clause | the provision of the First Amendment guaranteeing the free exercise of religion. The provision constrains the national government from prohibiting individuals from practicing the religion of their choice. | |
| 270044745 | Prior Restraint | restraining an activity before it has actually occurred. When expression is involved, this means censorship. | |
| 270044746 | Symbolic Speech | expression made through the articles of clothing, gestures, movements, and other forms of non-verbal conduct. Symbolic speech is given substantial protection by the courts. | |
| 270044747 | Commercial Speech | Advertising statements which increasingly have been given First Amendment protection | |
| 270044748 | Clear and Present Danger | This test proposed by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes for determining when government may restrict free speech. Restrictions are permissible only when there is clear and present danger to the public. | |
| 270044749 | Defamation of Character | wrongfully hurting a persons good reputation. The law imposes a general duty on all persons to refrain from making false, defamatory statements against others | |
| 270044750 | Slander | the public uttering of false statement that harms the good reputation of another. The statement must be made to or with the hearing of persons other than the defamed body | |
| 270044751 | Libel | a written defamation of a persons character, reputation, business, or property rights | |
| 270044752 | Actual Malice | either knowledge of a defamatory statements falsity or reckless disregard of the truth | |
| 270044753 | Public Figure | a public official, a public employee who exercises substantial government power or another person such as a movie star known to the public because of his or her position in activites | |
| 270044754 | Gag Order | an order issued by a judge restricting the publication of news about a trial or a pretrial hearing to protect the accused's rights to a fair trial | |
| 270044755 | Writ of Habeus Corpus | literally meaning "you have the body" A writ of habeus corpus is an order that requires judges to bring a prisoner before a court or judge to explain why that person is being held | |
| 270044756 | Arraignment | the first act in a criminal proceeding in which the defendant is brought before a court to hear the charges against him or her and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty | |
| 270044757 | Exclusionary Rule | the judicial policy prohibiting the admission at trial of illegally seized evidence |
