authority
The right to use power.
bureaucratic view
View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
democracy
The rule of the many.
direct (participatory) democracy
A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
elite
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money or power.
legitimacy
Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.
Marxist view
View that the government is dominated by capitalists.
power elite view
View that the government is dominated by a a few top leaders, most of whom are outside the government.
pluralist view
The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
power
The ability of one person to cause another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions.
power elite
A political theory espoused by C. Wright Mills which holds that an elite of corporate leaders, top military officers, and key political leaders make most political decisions.
representative democracy
A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.
amendment
A new provision the Constitution that has been ratified by the states.
Antifederalists
Those who favor a weaker national government.
federalism
Government authority shared by national and state governments.
Federalists
Those who favor a stronger national government.
Great Compromise
Plan to have popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state.
Habeas Corpus
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.
inalienable
A human right based on nature or God.
line-item veto
An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature.
New Jersey Plan
Proposal to create a weak national government.
republic
A government in which elected representatives make the decisions.
reserved powers
Powers given to the state governments alone.
separation of powers
Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government.
Shays'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.
unalienable
A human right based on nature or God.
Virginia Plan
Proposal to create a strong national government.
block grants
Grants of money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington.
conditions of aid
Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds.
devolution
The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states.
dual federalism
A constitutional theory that the national government and the state government each have defined areas of authority.
grants-in-aid
Money given by the national government to the states.
initiative
Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot.
mandates
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.
necessary and proper clause
Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it (enumerated) by the Constitution.
nullification
The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.
police power
The power of a government to effect laws that promote citizens' health, safety and morals.
recall
Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office.
referendum
Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature.
civic competence
A belief that one can affect government policies.
civic duty
A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.
class consciousness
Belief that you are a member of an economics group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups.
orthodox religion
A belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance.
political culture
A coherent way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out.
political efficacy
A belief that you can participate in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy).
progressive religion
A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems is more important than religion.