Political Science 102 Exam 1

Political Culture

the orientation of citizens of a state towards politics.
-Freedom from: (negative liberty) religion to practice.
-Freedom to: (positive liberty) public education, to vote

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by Locke and Hobbes and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence. Rights and Libert

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Pluralism/Elitism

-an open, participatory style of governments in which any different interests are represented/

Ideology

Sets of values and beliefs people hold about scope and tole of government

popular sovereignty

19th century term referring to the question of slavery in a territory, put to a popular vote by all the white male residents. The right of people to self-government.

equality

all citizens enjoy the same privileges, status, and rights before the laws.

individualism

the idea that individuals, not the society, are responsible for their own well-being.

Shay's Rebellion

A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Great Compromise

At the Constitutional Convention, larger states wanted to follow the Virginia Plan, which based each state's representation in Congress on state population. Smaller states wanted to follow the New Jersey Plan, which gave every state the same number of rep

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Federalism

a system where power is shared between states and national government, power is derived from people

New Deal

A plan by President Franklin Roosevelt intended to bring economic relief, recovery, and reforms to the country after the Great Depression.

Great society

Lyndon B. Johnson. Purpose was to eliminate poverty and racial injustice. As well as increase public education funding and health care reform, (another large expansion of Federal Government/Power). Created Medicare, Medicaid, and federal funding for publi

Necessary Clause

power to make laws necessary to carry out enumerated powers

Proper Clause

(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

New Federalism

A policy in 1969, that turned over powers and responsibilities of some U.S. federal programs to state and local governments and reduced the role of national government in domestic affairs (states are closer to the people and problems). no child left behin

Devolution

attempt to have less national government

Full Faith Clause

Clause in the Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Court ruled that congress did have authority to charter bank, citing the necessary and proper clause; States couldn't tax government property.
- reinforces supremacy clause (state cannot tax federal government) and implied powers/necessary and proper clau

initiatives

A process in which citizens propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution; they permit the public to circulate a petition that proposes a new law or amendment to the Constitution; an example of direct democracy.

line item veto

In the state of California, the power of the executive branch ( governor) to veto a particular item(s) of a bill without having to veto the entire bill. This is a specific power over the legislative branch. *The president no longer has this power because

10th amendment

Asserts that powers not delegated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved to the states.

16th amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution (1913) gave Congress the power to tax income.

19th amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1920) extended the right to vote to women in federal or state elections.

pluralism

everyone should have the same opportunity to be represented, influence government decisions and put on agendas for people

elitism

you need $ for interest groups in order to get signature

direct democracy

pro's- power to the people, can be faster than legislature and hold legislature accountable
con's- costly, wording unclear, assume legislatures aren't doing their jobs.

first amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redre

second amendment

A law that protects the right to bear arms for citizens in the United States.

third amendment

The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776; declared independence from Great Britain, a call to raise arms, stated the colonies wanted to revolt but gave reasons for doing so, list of grievances to King George III.
It is important because it is the first time ever that colonists sent

Conservatism

Favor limited government role and regulations and preference for state and local government.(traditional values ie pro-life) Economic standpoint favors free market

Liberalism

Favor a more active government in bringing change and promoting political rights, social rights, and reform.

Purpose of US Constitution (1787)

The constitution replaced the articles of confederation. It creates a central government, gives the government powers (like to collect taxes), provides procedures for scenarios such as elections and supreme court nominations, and protects the rights of th

Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

: The compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. In the end a combination of these two was used; a bicameral structure of congress that includes a lower house proportional to the state population and an upper house/senate with an equal

Virginia Plan

Strong central government made up of 3 branches, a bicameral congress, and greater legislative power and favored by the larger states.

New Jersey Plan

Unicameral legislature where each state gets one vote, congress revenue power, and court appointments for life. Favored by the smaller states.