Government
the institution that make/create public policy in a society.
Politics
the collection of laws, programs and procedures that are implemented by the government/policy is the output of government.
Public Policy
the collection of laws, programs and procedures that are implemented by the government/policy is the output of government.
Political System
a set of institutions and activities that link together people, politics, and policy.
Political Issue
an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and a public policy choice.
Policy Agenda
the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time.
Policymaking System
The process by which political problems are communicated by the voters and acted upon by government policymakers. The policymaking system begins with people's needs and expectations for governmental action. When people confront government officials with p
Democracy
A system of selection policy makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.
Republic
A form of government that derives its power, directly or indirectly, from the people. Those chosen to govern are accountable to those whom they govern. In contrast to a direct democracy, in which people themselves make laws, in a republic the people selec
Representative Democracy
is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to either autocracy or direct democracy.
Pluralism
Theory that democracy can be achieved through competition among multiple organized groups and that individuals can participate in politics through group memberships and elections.
Elite Theory
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization. Compare hyper pluralism, pluralist theory, and traditional
Bureaucratic Theory
departments, agencies, bureaus, and offices that perform the functions of government.
Hyper Pluralism
A theory of government and polities contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Hyerpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism. Compare elite and class theory, pluralist theory, and traditional democratic th
Constitutional Democracy
is the dominant form of democracies in the 21st century.
Popular Consent
idea that the government obtains its authority from the people.
Majoritarian Democracy
is a system of government in which either the actual governing is carried out by the people governed (direct democracy), or the power to do so is granted by them (as in representative democracy).
Plurality
Election by at least one vote more than any other candidate in the race.
Supermajority
a number that is much more than half of a total, esp. in a vote.
Necessary and Proper
Clause in Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to enact all laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out those responsibilities specifically delegated to it. Also referred to as the implied powers clause.
Separation of Powers
Constitutional division of powers among the three branches of the national government-legislative, executive, and judicial.
Checks and Balances
Constitutional provisions giving each branch of the national government certain checks over the actions of other branches.
Bicameralism
(of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers.
Federalism
A constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and sub national governments, each of which enforces its own laws directly on its citizens and neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the other.
Unitary System
Constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national government, subnational governments have only those powers given to them by the national government.
Confederation
Constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by and relies on subnational governments for its authority.
Judicial Review
Power of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, to declare laws of Congress, laws of the states, and actions of the president unconstitutional and invalid.
Enumerated/Express Powers
Powers specifically mentioned in the Constitution as belonging to the national government.
Implied Powers
Powers not mentioned specifically in the Constitution as belonging to Congress but inferred as necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated powers.
Inherent Powers
are those powers that a sovereign state holds. A power of the president derived from the loosely worded statements in the Constitution that "the executive Power shall be vested in a President" and that the president should "take Care that the Laws be fait
Concurrent Powers
Powers exercised by both the national government and state governments in the American federal system.
Reserved Powers
Powers not granted to the national government or specifically denied to the states in the Constitution that are recognized by the Tenth Amendment as belonging to the state governments. This guarantee, known as the Reserved Powers Clause, embodies the prin
Block Grants
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services. Compare categorical grants.
Categorical grants
Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions. Compare block grants.
Project Grants
Federal grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications. A type of the categorical grants available to states and localities.
Revenue Sharing
the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.
Restrictions
the limitation or control of someone or something, or the state of being limited or restricted.
Mandates
Perception of popular support for a program or policy based on the margin of electoral victory won by a candidate who proposed it during a campaign, direct federal orders to state and local governments requiring them to perform a service or to obey federa
Preemption
Total or partial federal assumption of power in a particular field, restricting the authority of the states.
Dual Federalism
Early concept of federalism in which national and state powers were clearly distinguished and functionally separate. National Gov. took care of national defense, foreign affairs, tariffs, interstate commerce, and the coinage of money, standard weights and
Marble Cake Federalism
the marble cake stands for how the National government and the state governments shared powers, which were mixed.
Cooperative Federalism
Model of federalism in which national, state, and local governments work together exercising common policy responsibilities. Both the nation and the states would take care of welfare, health, highways, education, and criminal justice. Like a marble cake.
Permissive Federalism
they can only do and have the powers that the national government allows them to have and do.
Competitive Federalism
States (local) competing for grants for economic development.
Centralized Federalism
Model of federalism in which the national government assumes primary responsibility for determining national goals in all major policy areas and directs state and local government activity through conditions attached to money grants. Pineapple upside down
Regulatory Federalism
regulate / dictate the actions of state and local governments.
New Federalism
Attempts to return power and responsibility to the states and reduce the role of the national government in domestic affairs. Nixon and Reagan tried to reduce the responsibility of the national government.
Fascal Federalism
Health of the economy plus the national government, power to tax and spend. Is how federalism is always changing.
Carrot and Stick
you dangle something in front of a person to tempt them to do something for you or you can force them to do it.
Devolution
Passing down of responsibilities from the national government to the states.
Privatization
is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector (government) to the private sector (business).
Centralists
nationalist / democrats
Decentralists
states rights / republicans
Fragmentation
the process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts: the fragmentation of society into a collection of interest groups.
Decentralization
is the process of dispersing decision making governance closer to the people or citizen.