Federalist no. 10
written by James Madison arguing for the ratification of the US constitution. Factions.
Common Sense
a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things that are shared by ("common to") nearly all people and can reasonably be expected of nearly all people without need for debate.
The Great Compromise
A compromise between the large and small states proposed by Connecticut, in which congress would have 2 houses, a senate with 2 legislators per state and a house of representatives in which each state's representation would be based on population.
Articles of Confederation v. the Constitution
AOC was the first attempt at a new government. Restricted national gov. too much. Replaced by the Constitution
dual federalism
national and state gov have separate roles. layer
cooperative federalism
national and state gov work together. marble
civil liberties
protection from the government
civil rights
protection that the government gives you
Circle of Free Speech
hate speech, slander, fighting words, obscenity
Civil War Amendments
13, 14, 15
13th Amendment
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
Citizen are entitled to rights
15th Amendment
African Americans can vote
17th Amendment
direct election of senators
19th Amendment
women can vote
23rd Amendment
DC gets 3 electors
24th Amendment
no poll tax
26th Amendment
18 year olds can vote
House Requirements
2 year terms, up for reelection every even year. 25 years old
Senate Requirements
6 year terms, 1/3 up for reelection, 30 years old
Redistricting
the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. All United States representatives and state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts.
Filibuster
A strategy employed in the United States Senate, whereby a minority can delay a vote on proposed legislation by making long speeches or introducing irrelevant issues. A successful filibuster can force withdrawal of a bill. Filibusters can be ended only by
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
judicial review was established. Precedent was established.
Majority Opinion
the core decision of the Court through which the legal reasoning for said decision is laid out
Concurring Opinion
an opinion written by a justice that agrees with the majority decision but not with legal reasoning
Dissenting Opinion
an opinion written by a justice that disagrees with the outcome of the case
Requirements of Presidency
must be 35 y/o, a resident of the U.S. for 14 years, and a natural born citizen
War Powers Resolution of 1973
a federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress.
Treaties v. executive agreements
...
New York Times v. United States (1971)
Nixon administration tried to prevent the "Pentagon Papers Case" from being published by the NY Times and Washington Post. But it violated the 1st amendment.
Penny Press
mass production of inexpensive newspapers, steam-powering printing.
Yellow Journalism
journalism that is based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration. Equating murder to smoking pot
Muckraking
the action of searching out and publicizing scandalous information about famous people in an underhand way.
Hard news
up-to-the-minute news events that are reported immediately. Politics, economics, crime.
soft news
background info or human-interest stories. Arts, entertainment, lifestyle.
retrospective voting
basing voting decisions on evaluations of past performances
prospective voting
basing voting decisions on informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given role.
Electoral College
winner takes all system. (except in Maine and Nebraska) 270/538 necessary to win. House of Representatives decides in the absence of an outright majority
The number of instances where the candidate winning the popular vote has not been president
5
Invisible Primary
unofficial primary. No votes are cast. the period between when a candidate announces their bid for public office and when the actual primaries take place.
Caucus
30% of states use. Iowa starts
Primary
70% of states use. New Hampshire starts
open primary
any registered voter, regardless of party or membership can vote
closed primary
only registered members of a party can vote in their primary
TOIssues - Valence
vague issue goals (better edu, improved economy, etc.)
TOIssues - Position
more specific (Donald trump wanting to get rid of NAFTA)
TOIssues - Wedge
divisive issue focused on a particular group of the electorate, brought up
with the intent of forcing the other candidate or party to alienate a part of the
electorate (think of gay-marriage or stem cell research)
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
court got rid of any restrictions on independent campaign spending by any organization considered an independent campaign spending by any organization considered an independent expenditure only committee. Cited 1st amendment. COPORATIONS CANNOT GIVE TO PA
McCutcheon v. FEC (2014)
the court ruled that you can donate to as many different candidates as you wish; getting rid of $123,200 limit
Turnout differences on presidential election years versus non-presidential election years
voter turnout is lower during midterm elections
Party Functions
organize election process, provide loyalty opposition, provide a platform and resources, recruit candidates for public office, inform the electorate, mobilizing the electorate, translate preferences into policy, provide a mechanism for accountability
Party-in-the-electorate
people who identify with the party and participate in various ways
Party-in-government
candidates and leaders in offices at all levels. Party caucuses. Control of legislative bodies. Party unity.
Party-as-organization
the structure that united and helps both candidates and the electorate; party leaders and workers
The Development of Political Parties
Jefferson challenged Adams which created Democratic-Republican Party. Under Jackson the Democratic-Republicans became the Democratic party. The Whig party (anti-Jacksonian) became the Republican party
Party Machines
mass-based party systems in which parties provided services and resources to voters in exchange for votes
patronage
system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors
party bosses
party leaders, usually in an urban district, who exercised tight control over elections and patronage
realignment
when the balance of power between political party's changes greatly
3 developments that reduced party control
? merit-based system of government employment
? introduction of secret ballot
? change in the nomination of candidates
Lobbying
interest group activities aimed at persuading policymakers to support the group's position; efforts to influence public policy.
direct lobbying
contact w legislators
indirect lobbying
influence electorate rather than representative
Roles of Interest Groups
representation, participation, education, agenda building, provision of program alternatives, and program monitoring
Problem of Collective Action
the difficulty groups face in recruiting when political members can gain the benefits of the group's actions whether or not they join
selective incentives
benefits that are available only to group members as an inducement to join.
material
tangible rewards that members can use
solidary
benefits from interaction and bonding among group members
expressive
rewards from doing something that you believe in
coercion
eliminating free riding by making membership mandatory
Types of Interest Groups
economic or business, equal opportunity, public, government
Revolving Door
the movement of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists between the public (government) and private (interest groups) sectors
Issue Advocacy Ads
ads that support issues or candidates without telling constituents how to vote
Grassroots Lobbying
indirect lobbying efforts that spring from widespread public concern; from the people
Astroturf Lobbying
efforts to manipulate or create public sentiment and make it look spontaneous
Policymaking Process
Fiscal Policy
government decisions about how to influence the economy by taxing and spending
Monetary Policy
government decisions about how to influence the economy by using control of the money supply and interest rate
The Federal Reserve System
politically independent, influences interest rates and money supply, regulates member banks
Inflation
occurs when the price of goods and services rises.
Deflation
occurs when prices decrease
Keynesian
the idea the gov. can stimulate the economy by increasing spending or by cutting
supply-side economics
the idea that lower tax rates will stimulate the economy by encouraging the people to save, invest, and produce more goods and services
Regressive taxes
taxes that take a longer share of poor people's income than wealthy people's income
progressive taxes
taxes that require upper-income people to pay higher tax rate than lower-income people
Reserve requirement by the fed
the minimum amount of money that a bank is required to have on hand to back up its assets
Contributory programs
social programs financed in whole or in part by taxation or other mandatory contributions by their present or future
noncontributory programs
social programs that provide assistance to people on the basis of demonstrated need rather than any contribution they made
Social security
a contributory welfare program into which working Americans contribute a percentage of their wages and from which they receive cash benefits after retirement or if they become disabled
Medicaid
entitlement program funded by the federal and state governments that provides health care coverage for low-income Americans who cannot afford health care
Medicare
federal health care plan created in 1965 that provides coverage for retired Americans for hospital care, medical care, and prescription drugs