Terms : Hide Images
| 11948093112 | Traditional Democratic Theory | Government depends upon the consent of the governed | 0 | |
| 11948093113 | Pluralist Theory | interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts-everyone gets a piece of the pie-a marketplace of ideas, compromise happens-positive view | 1 | |
| 11948093114 | Elite Theory | A small group of people identified by wealth/ pol. power, who rule in their self-interest | 2 | |
| 11948093115 | Bureaucratic Theory | The hierarchical structure and standarized procedures of govt allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy; proposed by Max Weber | 3 | |
| 11948093116 | Hyperpluralism | Democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling govt in many directinos at the same time, causing gridlock ineffectiveness | 4 | |
| 11948093117 | Social Contract | A voluntary agreement between the government and the governed | 5 | |
| 11948093118 | Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) | Legislative branch-2 houses-one based on population, one based on equal representation | 6 | |
| 11948093119 | Virginia Plan | Madison's plan for a bicameral legislature, whith the executive and judiciary chosen by the legislatureh | 7 | |
| 11948093120 | Three-Fifths Compromise | Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment) | 8 | |
| 11948093121 | Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise | Resolved differences between northern and southern states; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for 20 yrs. | 9 | |
| 11948093122 | Federalists | Federalists Supported a strong central govt & expanded legislative powers | 10 | |
| 11948093123 | Federalist Papers | Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton | 11 | |
| 11948093124 | Anti-Federalists | Opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution b/c it gave too much power to the national govt at the expense of the state govts and it lacked a bill of rights | 12 | |
| 11948093125 | Popular Soverignty | people are the source of all govermental power | 13 | |
| 11948093126 | Judicial Review | Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison | 14 | |
| 11948093127 | Marbury v. Madison | Establishment of judicial review. (1803). Article 3. | 15 | |
| 11948093128 | Delegated Powers | Powers specifically granted to the national govt by the Constitution | 16 | |
| 11948093129 | Implied Powers | Not expressed, but may be considerered through the use of the Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause | 17 | |
| 11948093130 | Elastic Clause (Necessary/Proper) | The necessary & proper clause/Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 18/imlied powers clause- that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its powers | 18 | |
| 11948093131 | Inherent Powers | Powers that exist for the national govt b/c the govt is sovereign | 19 | |
| 11948093132 | Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by the federal and state govts (tax, to define crimes and punishments) | 20 | |
| 11948093133 | Reserved Powers | Powers belonging specifically to the states and the people because they were not delegated to teh national government nor denied to the states | 21 | |
| 11948093134 | Full Faith/Credit Clause | States are required to recognize the laws & legal documents of other states-Article 4 for Federalism | 22 | |
| 11948093135 | Privileges/Immunities Clause | States are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states (article 4) | 23 | |
| 11948093136 | Extradition | States may return fugitives to a state from which they fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's gov | 24 | |
| 11948093137 | Interstate Compacts | Agreements btwn states to work together on common issues | 25 | |
| 11948093138 | Supremacy Clause | National law supersedes all other laws passed by states (Art VI) | 26 | |
| 11948093139 | McCulloch v. Maryland | Supreme Court decision upholding the supremacy of the national government over the states/implied powers clause also strenthened-national bank established because this supported power to tax. 1819 | 27 | |
| 11948093140 | Dual Federalism | Dual federalism Fed. &state govts each have defined responsibilities w/n their own sphere of influence; "layer cake" federalism | 28 | |
| 11948093141 | Cooperative Federalism | Cooperation among federal, state, & local govts; "marble cake" federalism | 29 | |
| 11948093142 | Devolution | An effort to shirft responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size &activites of the fed. govt; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local govts | 30 | |
| 11948093143 | Fiscal Federalism | National govt's use of fiscal policy to influence states through the granting/withholding of appropriations | 31 | |
| 11948093144 | Fiscal Policy | The policies of taxation &spending that comprise the nation's economic policy | 32 | |
| 11948093145 | Grants-in-Aid | Programs, money, & resources provided by the fed. govt to state &local govts to be used for specific projects &programs | 33 | |
| 11948093146 | Categorical Grants | Federal grants for specific purposes define by law | 34 | |
| 11948093147 | Block Grants | Money given to states for general programs within a broad category | 35 | |
| 11948093148 | Revenue Sharing | Giving money back to the state and local government with no strings attached | 36 | |
| 11948093149 | Mandates/Unfunded Mandates | Requirements imposed by the national govt on state &local govts to comply w/ fed. rules & regulation | 37 | |
| 11948093150 | Political Socialization | proccess by how people acquire their political orientation | 38 | |
| 11948093151 | Opinion Leaders | coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals | 39 | |
| 11948093152 | Public Opinion | what the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time | 40 | |
| 11948093153 | Straw Polls | unscientific surveys used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies | 41 | |
| 11948093154 | Sampling | Using a represenative cross-seciton of the general population chosen at random in the polling process | 42 | |
| 11948093155 | Political Ideology | A consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy taht sets the framework for evaluation government and public policy | 43 | |
| 11948093156 | Radical | Ideological view that favors rapid fundamental change in teh existing social, economic, or political order | 44 | |
| 11948093157 | Liberal | A person whose views favor more govt involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, &increased govt spending | 45 | |
| 11948093158 | Moderate | Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies | 46 | |
| 11948093159 | Conservative | A person whose pol. views favor more local, limited govt, less govt regulations, conformity to social norms &values; rough on criminals | 47 | |
| 11948093160 | Reactionary | Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs | 48 | |
| 11948093161 | Two-Party System | Several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections | 49 | |
| 11948093162 | Single-Member Districts | Only one representative is chosen from each district | 50 | |
| 11948093163 | New Deal Coalition | Alliance of southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party for 40 years | 51 | |
| 11948093164 | Divided Government | One party controls the executive, &the other party controls on /both houses of Congress | 52 | |
| 11948093165 | Gridlock | When opposing parties &interests often block each other's proposals, creating a pol. stalemate/inaction btwn the executive &legislative branches of govt | 53 | |
| 11948093166 | Dealignment | When a significant # of voters choose to no longer support a particular pol. party | 54 | |
| 11948093167 | Realignment | A shift of voting patterns to form new coalition of party support | 55 | |
| 11948093168 | Soft Money | Money distributed from a national political party organization that wasn't regulated by law; restricted by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 | 56 | |
| 11948093169 | Straight Ticket | Voting for candidates all of the same party on the same ballot-creates the coattail effect | 57 | |
| 11948093170 | Reactionary | Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs | 58 | |
| 11948093171 | Electorate | People qualified to vote | 59 | |
| 11948093172 | Direct Primary | Election within the party to choose their favorite candidate for a particular office | 60 | |
| 11948093173 | Recall | Special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term expires | 61 | |
| 11948093174 | Referendum | Procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval, allowing citizens to vote directly on issues | 62 | |
| 11948093175 | Initative | Allows voters to petition to propose legislation &then submit it for a vote by qualified voters | 63 | |
| 11948093176 | Political Efficacy | Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking-vote makes a difference | 64 | |
| 11948093177 | Motor Voter Law | register to vote when you update your license (1993) | 65 | |
| 11948093178 | Closed Primary | Only registered party members may vote in the primary (independents, greens, etc...not allowed) | 66 | |
| 11948093179 | Blanket Primary | egistered voters may vote for candidates from either party on the same primary ballot | 67 | |
| 11948093180 | Coattail Effect | Weaker/lesser-known candidates from (bottom of the ticket) the president's party profit from the president's popularity-people vote straight ticket because they like the top of the ticket. | 68 | |
| 11948093181 | Caucus | Locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices | 69 | |
| 11948093182 | Presidential Preference Primary | Voters select delegates to the presidential nominating convention | 70 | |
| 11948093183 | Electoral College | Number each state gets is based on the number of representatives and the number of senators that state has. Need 270 to win election | 71 | |
| 11948093184 | Maintaining Elections | Traditional majorty power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty | 72 | |
| 11948093185 | Deviating Elections | Minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, &new voters | 73 | |
| 11948093186 | Realigning Elections | An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties. | 74 | |
| 11948093187 | Dealigning Elections | Party loyality becomes less important to voters, &they vote for the other party candidate/independent | 75 | |
| 11948093188 | Interest Groups | AP Government Vocabulary flashcards | Quizlet | 76 | |
| 11948093189 | Political Action Committees | an independent organization established by interest groups, political candidates, and people who hold office. PACs serve to raise and contribute money to the political campaigns of individuals whose platforms agree with the aims of the PAC. | 77 | |
| 11948093190 | Lobbying | Attempting to influence policymakers though a variety of methods | 78 | |
| 11948093191 | Grassroots | Avg voter at the local level | 79 | |
| 11948093192 | Mass Media | All forms of communication that reach a large portion of the public | 80 | |
| 11948093193 | Gatekeepers | Media executives, news editors, &prominent reporters who decide what news to present &how it will be presented | 81 | |
| 11948093194 | Media Events | A speech or photo opporutnity staged to give a politician's view on an issue | 82 | |
| 11948093195 | Apportionment | Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state | 83 | |
| 11948093196 | Reapportionment | Redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution | 84 | |
| 11948093197 | Congressional Districting | State legislatures draw congressional districts for Congressional elections | 85 | |
| 11948093198 | Gerrymandering | Drawing of congressional districts to favor one pol. party/group over another | 86 | |
| 11948093199 | Incumbency Effect | Tendency of those alrady holding office to win reelection due to advgs b/c they already hold the office | 87 | |
| 11948093200 | Constituents | A Voter | 88 | |
| 11948093201 | Speaker of the house | Leading officer in the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party | 89 | |
| 11948093202 | Majority Leader | The elected leader of the party with the most seat in the House of Representatives/Senate | 90 | |
| 11948093203 | President pro tempore | Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the VP; chosen by the majority party | 91 | |
| 11948093204 | Floor Leaders | Direct party strategy &decisions in the House of Representatives & Senate | 92 | |
| 11948093205 | Seniority System | System in which the chairmanship of a committee is given to the member with the longest continuous service | 93 | |
| 11948093206 | Standing Committee | Permanent committees in the House/Senate-every representative and every senator is appointed to 2 or 3. | 94 | |
| 11948093207 | Select Committee | Committee selected for a specific purpose-investigation-hearing | 95 | |
| 11948093208 | Joint Committee | Committee made up of members of both house of Congress-housekeeping issues decided | 96 | |
| 11948093209 | Conference Committee | A temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the House of Representatives & Senate in diff. forms | 97 | |
| 11948093210 | Franking Privledge | Privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters &other materials to constituents postage-free | 98 | |
| 11948093211 | Oversight | Congress monitors policies of the executive branch (money, hearings, investigations)-checks and balances | 99 | |
| 11948093212 | Rules Committee | Determines the rules of debate for bills in the House of Representatives - also known as the calendar committee | 100 | |
| 11948093213 | Filibuster | A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate | 101 | |
| 11948093214 | Cloture | Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate | 102 | |
| 11948093215 | Pork Barrel Legislation | Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary of unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection | 103 | |
| 11948093216 | Logrolling | The exchange of pol. favors for support of a bill | 104 | |
| 11948093217 | Riders | An addition of amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits (senate only) | 105 | |
| 11948093218 | Legislative Veto | To reject the actions of the president/executive agency by a vote of one/both house of Congress w/o the consent of the president; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Chadha | 106 | |
| 11948093219 | Executive Orders | The president directs an agency to carry out policies/existing laws (informal power) | 107 | |
| 11948093220 | Executive Agreements | Agreement w/ another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate | 108 | |
| 11948093221 | Pardons | A convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime | 109 | |
| 11948093222 | Impoundment | Refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated | 110 | |
| 11948093223 | War Power Act | Limits the ability of the president to commit troops to combat-48 hours to tell Congress when and why the troops were sent, they have 60-90 to bring them home if they disagree | 111 | |
| 11948093224 | Bureaucracy | A systematic way of organizing a complex & large administrative structure w/ responsibility for carrying out day-to-day tasks of the organization, departments, & agencies of the govt | 112 | |
| 11948093225 | Hatch Act | Prohibits govt employees from engaging in political activities while on duty/running for office/seeking political funding while off duty; if in sensitive positions, may not be involved w/ political activities on/off duty | 113 | |
| 11948093226 | Cabinet | Govt depts headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy & operate a specific policy are of govt activity | 114 | |
| 11948093227 | Iron Triangles | Alliance- agencies, interest groups, &congressional committees/subcommittees (also known as sub-governments) | 115 | |
| 11948093228 | Issue Networks | Individuals in WA--located w/n interest groups, congressional staff, think tanks, universities, & the media--who regularly discuss &advocate public policies | 116 | |
| 11948093229 | Original Jurisdiction | Court hears and decides a case for the first time | 117 | |
| 11948093230 | Appellate Jurisdiction | On appeal from lower courts-Supreme Court is mostly an appellate court | 118 | |
| 11948093231 | Concurrent Jurisdiction | The authority to hear cases is shared by federal &state courts | 119 | |
| 11948093232 | Constitutional Courts | Federal courts created by Congress under Article III of the Constitution, including the district courts, courts of appeals, &specialized courts such as the U.S. Court of International Trade | 120 | |
| 11948093233 | District Courts | Lowest level of fed. courts, where fed. cases begin &trials are held (bank robbery, environmental violations, tax evasion) | 121 | |
| 11948093234 | Court of Appeals | Federal courts that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, &other fed. courts | 122 | |
| 11948093235 | Senatorial Courtesy | The practice of allowing senators form teh president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to apporve or diapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts ONLY | 123 | |
| 11948093236 | Rule of Four | Requirement that a case can only be heard by the Supreme Court if four justices vote to hear the case | 124 | |
| 11948093237 | Brief Orders | The returning of a case to a lower court b/c a smiliar case was recently decided | 125 | |
| 11948093238 | Writ of Certiorari | Order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review | 126 | |
| 11948093239 | Brief | Legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a particular position | 127 | |
| 11948093240 | Amicus Curiae Briefs | Friend of the court; interest groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting/rejection arguments of the case | 128 | |
| 11948093241 | Concurring Opinion | Justice/justices who agree w/ the majority's opinion but not with the reason behind the decision | 129 | |
| 11948093242 | Dissenting Opinion | Justice/justices who disagree with the majority opinion | 130 | |
| 11948093243 | Executive Privledge | The right of the president to withhold info from Congress/ refuse to testify; limited by U.S. v. Nixon | 131 | |
| 11948093244 | Judicial Activism | The Court should play an active role in determining national policies | 132 | |
| 11948093245 | Judicial Restraint | Holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social & pol. questions, operation strictly w/n the limits of the Constitution | 133 | |
| 11948093246 | Strict Constructionist | Narrow interpretation of the Constitution | 134 | |
| 11948093247 | Loose Constructionist | broad interpretation of the Constitution | 135 | |
| 11948093248 | Civil Liberties | Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens | 136 | |
| 11948093249 | Civil Rights | Positive acts of govt designed to prevent discrimination & provide equality before the law | 137 | |
| 11948093250 | Writ of Habeas Corpus | right to be told what you are being held for and shown evidence against you-used in death penalty case appeals. | 138 | |
| 11948093251 | Bills of Attainder | Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime w/o a trial | 139 | |
| 11948093252 | Ex Posto Facto Laws | Laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws are unconstitutional | 140 | |
| 11948093253 | Incorporation | Application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under Amend. XIV | 141 | |
| 11948093254 | Symbolic Speech | Using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea | 142 | |
| 11948093255 | Establishment Clause | Prohibits the establishment of a national religion-1st amendment | 143 | |
| 11948093256 | Free Exercise Clause | Congress may not make laws restricting/ prohibiting a person's relgious practices-1st amendment | 144 | |
| 11948093257 | Lemon Test | Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws in regard to establishment clause (3 pronged test) | 145 | |
| 11948093258 | Speech Plus | Verbal and symbolic speech used together | 146 | |
| 11948093259 | Prior Restraint | Censorship of information before it is published or broadcast (unconstitutional in most cases) | 147 | |
| 11948093260 | Substantive Due Process | the law itself is fair or unfair-not the procedures-but the law | 148 | |
| 11948093261 | Procedural Due Process | Method of government action, or how th elaw is carried out according to the established rules and procedures | 149 | |
| 11948093262 | Eminent Domain | Allows the govt to take property for public use but also requires the govt to provide just compensation for that property | 150 | |
| 11948093263 | Exclusionary Rule | Rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used agains the person form whom it was seized | 151 | |
| 11948093264 | Miranda v. Arizona | Right to be told what you are being held for. | 152 | |
| 11948093265 | Plessy v. Ferguson | The Supreme Court case that upheld separate-but-equal segregation in 1896 | 153 | |
| 11948093266 | Brown v. Board of Ed | Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson: ended legal segregation, said school regulation is unconstitutional | 154 | |
| 11948093267 | Equal Protection Clause | Constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally-14th amendment | 155 | |
| 11948093268 | Affirmative Action | LBJ's executive order-designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement by law that positive steps be taken to increase the number of minorities in business, schools, colleges, and labor | 156 | |
| 11948093269 | Incrementalism | Small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget-making--that th ebest indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase | 157 | |
| 11948093270 | Political Agenda | Issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power | 158 | |
| 11948093271 | Policy Fomulation | The crafting of a policy to resolve public problems | 159 | |
| 11948093272 | Discretionary Spending | Spending set by the govt through appropriations bills, including operation expenses & salaries of govt employees (defense, environment, education, space exploration) | 160 | |
| 11948093273 | National Debt | Amount of money owed by the government | 161 | |
| 11948093274 | Federal Budget | Amount of money the federal govt expects to receive &authorizes govt to spend for a fiscal (12 mo.) year | 162 | |
| 11948093275 | Social Welfare Programs | Government programs to enhance quality of life | 163 | |
| 11948093276 | Entitlement Programs | Madatory payments made by the federal government to people meeting eligibility requirements, such as Social Security, vets, welfare, medicare | 164 | |
| 11948093277 | Fiscal Year | A 12-month pd, October through Septmeber, for planning the federal budget | 165 | |
| 11948093278 | Mandatory Spending | Required govt spending by permanent laws | 166 | |
| 11948093279 | Appropriations | Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state | 167 | |
| 11948093280 | Constitutional Law | Laws relating to the interpretation of the Constitution | 168 | |
| 11948093281 | Entitlement Programs | 169 | ||
| 11948093282 | Fiscal Year | 170 |
