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141 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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politics
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process of deciding who gets benefits and who does not
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government
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institution that creates and implements laws and policies that guide conduct of nation and its citizens
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oligarchy
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only elite few hold power
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political systems
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democracy, totalitarian, authoritarianism
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democracy
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political system of gov't in which authority is given by people through free and fair elections. In other words, gov't gets its powers from people"Gov't by the people"
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totalitarian
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when gov't controls everything including political, economic, and social life of nation; gov't has complete control of its citizens w/o accountability and is difficult to get out of power ie North Korea
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authoritarianism
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when ruler or rulers of nation control gov't however, power is restrained by political parties, constitutions, and military. individuals enjoy some rights but not all
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representative
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form of gov't in which representatives are elected by people on behalf of people. Representatives make and enforce laws and policies for society
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constitution
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guiding principle for US gov't; it gives gov't power and limits gov't powers
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constitutional democracy
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enforced limits on power of gov't
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limited gov't
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gov't whose powers are defined and limited by constitution
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democratic values
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personal liberty, respect for individual, popular consent, equality
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personal liberty
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single most important value in American history; individuals are free to achieve their own goals w/o restraint
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popular consent
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gov't derives powers from consent of people
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social equality
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everyone is born on same level and has ability to move up to higher level
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political equality
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everyone has right to equal protection under law as well as equal voting power
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economic equality
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able to improve economic status through education, business opportunities, etc
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well-established political system and stable gov't
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a successful democracy requires
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majority rule
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gov't formed by majority consent (more than 50%)
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freedom of expressions
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individual's rights to communicate its feelings
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right to assemble and protest
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citizens are free to organize for political purposes. they can join groups to pressure, organize, protest, or demonstrate. individuals have right to oppose gov't
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political culture
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shared values, beliefs, and norms about racial, religious, or social group
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race
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group of people w/ same distinctive physical characteristics base on genetic inheritance
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ethnics
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group of people w/ common culture, social view, customs, or language
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ethnocentrism
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belief that ones own culture is superior to others
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demographics
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characteristics of pop such as age, race gender
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political ideology
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belief about way gov't should behave or role of gov't
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liberal
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someone who advocated change, new philosophies, and new ideas (leftists)
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liberals
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feel people have right to be whatever they want to be and that everyone should be treated equally including gays, poor, minorities
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conservative
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someone who avoided change, instead preferring to stick to tried and true (rightist)
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conservatives
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believe in traditional family values, don't believe in gays and gay marriage, believe in low taxes and small taxes except in area of defense
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libertarians
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believe gov't is always in people's business regulating guns, pornography, drugs, and our rights
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economic systems
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capitalism & socialism
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US constitution
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guiding principle for US gov't, gives gov't powers and limits gov't powers, broad and worded vaguely, supreme law of land
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bicameral legislature
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legislature comprised of two parts, called chambers
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Virginia plan
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new governmental structure proposed by Virginia delegation to Constitutional Convention, which consisted of a bicameral legislature (Congress), executive elected legislature, and separate national judiciary; state representation in Congress would be proportional, based o state population; the people would elect members to lower house, and members of lower house would elect members of upper house
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New Jersey plan
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proposal presented in response to Virginia Plan by less populous states at Constitutional Convention, which called for unicameral national legislature in which all states would have equal voice (equal representation), an executive office composed of several people elected by Congress, and Supreme Court whose members would be appointed by executive office
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Connecticut compromise
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(also known as Great Compromise) compromise between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan that created bicameral legislature w/ one chamber’s representation based on population and other chamber having two members for each state
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bill of rights
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written list of citizens' liberties w/in constitution that establishes limited gov't by ensuring both people and gov't know what freedoms gov't cannot violate
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federalists
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individuals who supported new constitution as presented by Constitutional Convention
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anti-federalists
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individuals who opposed ratification of constitution b/c they were deeply suspicious of powers it gave to national gov't and of impact those powers would have on states' authority and individual freedom
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legislative branch
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makes laws
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executive branch
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applies and enforces laws
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judicial branch
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interprets laws
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house of reps (numbers)
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based on pop/state
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senate
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2 us senators/state
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judicial review
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power to determine whether action violates constitution
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federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, bill of rights, bicameralism
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5 characteristics of US constitution
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federal system
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authority is divided between national gov't (central gov't) and state gov'ts. both act directly on people through laws and through elected and appointed officials. however, national laws are supreme
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enumerated powers, inherent powers, necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause
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powers of national gov't
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reserved powers, police powers, concurrent powers
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powers of state gov't
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concurrent powers
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basic gov't functions of all sovereign gov'ts in US they are held by national, state, and local gov'ts and include authority to tax, to make policy, and to implement policy
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enumerated powers
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powers of national gov't that are listed in constitution
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implied powers
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powers of national gov't that are not enumerated in constitution but that congress claims are necessary and proper for national gov't to fulfill its enumerated powers in accordance w/ necessary and proper clause of constitution
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necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)
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clause in Article I, Section 8, of constitution that gives congress power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; basis for implied powers
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supreme law of land
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Constitution's description of its own authority, meaning that all laws made by gov'ts w/in US must be in compliance w/ constitution
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reserved powers
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matters referred to in 10th amendment over which states retain sovereignty
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pluralist theory
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policymaking process is competition among diverse groups whose members attempt to influence policy in numerous settings such as executive, legislative, and judicial branches of gov't
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elite theory
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ruling class composed of wealthy, educated individuals wields most of power in gov't and also w/in top universities, corporations, military, and media outlets. these elites use that power to protect their own economic interests
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solitary incentives
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person who feels of belonging, companionship, friendship, and satisfaction derived from socializing w/ others
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purposive incentives
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person who believes in group's cause from ideological or moral standpoint
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economic incentives
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person who joins group b/c that group works for policies that will provide them w/ economic benefits
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iron triangles
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consist of interests groups (IGs), congress and bureaucracies all trying to work together to make policy. IGs try to influence congress to make policies in their favor; congress relies on IGs to give them information about polices before they are made; IGs donate to congress member's campaigns for influence, bureaucracies give congress information about the details of the laws that they are trying to enforce and IGs have a relationship with bureaucracies to make sure the details of the laws are in their (IGs) favor. It is a mutual relationship between the three members
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interests groups
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organizations that seek to achieve some of their goals by influencing gov't decision making
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quid pro quo
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A give and take structure where you do something for someone expecting a favor or a policy of yours to be supported in return
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Political action committee (PAC)
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group that raises and spends money to influence outcomes of election
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lobby
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to communicate directly w/ policy makers on interest group's behalf
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issue network
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fluid web of connections among those concerned about policy and those who create and administer policy
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iron triangle
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interaction of mutual interests among members of congress, executive agencies, and organized interests during policy making
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litigation
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challenge a policy
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public outreach & electioneering
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indirect strategies
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house of reps and senate
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2 chambers of congress
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435
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# of people in house of reps
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100
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# people in senate
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incumbent
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A person currently holding an office and is running for re-election. This term is frequently heard during elections, when the current office holder is seeking re-election
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franking and name recognititon
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2 advantages of incumbency
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franking
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sending mail free of charge
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representation, policy making, oversight, agenda setting/civic engagement, management of societal conflict
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5 functions of congress
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legislator
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one that creates or enacts laws; member of legislative body
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constituents
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people of area or district who vote for congressperson and are represented by him/her for congressional period
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crossing over
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This is where a member of congress decides to vote against his party position and votes for the other side. For example a democrat voting with republicans on a particular issue.
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trustee delegate
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member of house or senate who follows his or her own conscience deciding issue positions
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instructed delegate
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legislator as representative of his or her constituents that should vote in keeping w/ constituents' views, even if those views contradict legislator's personal views
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casework
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personal work by member of congress on behalf of constituent or group of constituents, typically aimed at getting gov't to do something constituent wants done
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pork barrel
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legislators' appropriations of funds for special projects located w/in their congressional district
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logrolling
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practice in which members of congress agree to vote for bill in exchange for their colleague's vote on another bill
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judicial powers, economic powers, national security powers, regulatory powers, administrative powers
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enumerated powers of congress
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bill
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proposed piece of legislature that must be approved by both houses in identical form
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introduction, committee review, popular vote of house and senate, conference committee reconciliation, presidential approval
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5 steps of legislative process
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filibuster
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procedural move by member of Senate to attempt to halt passage of or change a bill, during which senator can speak for unlimited time on Senate floor
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cloture
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The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster.
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serve 2-yr terms (no limit on how many times)
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how many years do house of reps serve?
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speaker of house
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duties include listening and managing floor debates, making majority party committee assignments, assigning members to Rules Committee, negotiating w/ members of minority party and white house, and guiding legislation through house
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house majority leader
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leads majority party and helps speaker develop and implement strategy and works w/ other members of house of reps
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house minority leader
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leader of minority party and mirrors that of majority leader
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party whips
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majority whips (go-between with majority leadership and party members in house) and minority whips go-between with minority leadership, whose job mirrors that of majority whip but without same level of power).
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political parties, congressional colleagues and staff, interest groups, president, constituents
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5 entities who influence decision making in congress
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committees
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subgroups w/in House of Reps and senate, which are composed of legislators who have expertise in bill's subject matter, and therefore review bill
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executive agreement
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internat'l agreement between US and other nations, not subject to senate approval, and only in effect during administration of president who negotiates agreement
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cabinet
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15 departments of federal gov't; group of experts chosen by president to serve as advisers on running country
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executive office of president (EOP)
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offices, counsils, and boards that help president to carry out day-to-day responsibilities of office
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white house office (WHO)
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office that develops policies and protects president's legal and political interests
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chief of staff
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among most important staff member of WHO; serves as both adviser to president and manager of WHO
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press secretary
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president's spokesperson to media
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white house counsel
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president's lawyer
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national security council (NSC)
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consisting of top foreign policy advisers and relevant cabinet officials, this is arm of EOP that president consults on matters of foreign policy and national security
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office of management and budget (OMB)
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office that creates president's annual budget
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bureaucracy
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large gov't agency that implements laws; has uniform rules, regulations, and procedures. it's part of executive branch w/ political appointee heading each agency. president oversees
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bureaucrats
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people employed in gov't executive branch unit to implement public policy; public admins; public servants
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contracting out
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aka outsourcing/privatizing; process by which gov't contracts w/ private for-profit or nonprofit organization to provide public services
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political appointees & patronage
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(based on who you know) presidents have authority to hire bureaucrats, selecting whomever they want and establishing whatever qualifications they desire
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civil servants
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bureaucrats hired through merit-based personnel system who have job protection
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hatch act
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limits civil servants' rights to engage in political actitivity
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politics-adminstration dichotomy
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concept that elected gov’t officials, who are accountable to voters, create and approve public policy, and then competent, politically neutral bureaucrats implement public policy
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policy
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plan of gov't action to deal w/ particular public concern
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policy formulation
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Defining problem that has made it to agenda and setting plan of action (policy) to address problem
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authorization law
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law that provides plan of action to address given societal concern and identifies executive branch unit that will put plan into effect
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administrative discretion
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authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy
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administrative adjudication
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process by which agencies resolve disputes over implementation of administrative rules
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sunshine laws
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legislation that opens up gov’t functions and documents to public
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watchdog groups
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private organizations that monitor and evaluate activities of bureaucrats
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whistle blower
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servant who discloses mismanagement, fraud, waste, corruption, and/or threats to public health and safety to gov’t
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inspectors general
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political appointees who work w/in gov’t agency to ensure integrity of public service by investigating allegations of misconduct by bureaucrats
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judicial review
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power to interpret constitution. The courts authority to determine an action taken by gov’t violates constitution
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common law
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by deciding cases and establishing principles that bind future cases
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prosecutor
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The person who has the authority to charge an offense of which they must have probable cause to believe that the accused committed the crime.
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public defender
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Public officials (lawyers) hired by the govt to defend poor people.
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plea bargain
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When defendants plea guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to go trial and face a stiffer penalty.
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indictment
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Formal charges brought against the defendant.
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supreme court
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high court w/ limited original jurisdiction whose decisions may not be appealed; serves as court of last resort in US judiciary
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judiciary
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branch of gov't comprising of courts and judges who preside over them
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civil law
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body of law dealing w/ rights of private citizens
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stare decisis
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from latin "let decision stand"; principle that binds judges to reply upon holdings of past judges in deciding cases
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precedent
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legal authority by legislators to regulate behavior of individuals and organizations
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code law
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laws created by legislators to regulate behavior of individuals and orgs
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statutes
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law enacted by Congress or by state legislatures to deal w/ particular issues or problems, sometimes more detailed and comprehensive than common law
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dual court system
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two-part judicial system such as that of US, which has both federal and state courts
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jurisdiction
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power of court to hear a case and to resolve it, given to court by either constitution or statute
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appellate jurisdiction
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authority of court to review application or interpretation of law in previous decisions reached by another court in a case
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chief justice
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leading justice on Supreme Court, who provides both organizational and intellectual leadership
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senate
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presidential appointees must be approved by _____ before taking office
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