Government
the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society
public goods
goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share
politics
the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies theses leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues
Political Participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. Voting is the most common but not the only means of political participation a democracy. Other means include protest and civil disobedience.
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
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
Public policy
a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.
Political Issue
an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.
linkage institutions
the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. includes: elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
power
the ability to do something or act in a particular way, the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviors of others or events
majoritorian politics
traditional political philosophy which asserts majority or pop is entitles to a certain degree of primary in society and has the right to make decisions that affect the society
indirect democracy
system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic
direct democracy
a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.
traditional democratic theory
rests upon a number of key principles that specify how governmental decisions are made in a democracy
majority rule
a fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory; in a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire is respected
pluralism
a theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies; bargaining and compromise - best policy emerges; both sides win
representation
a basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers
hyperpluralism
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. This is an extreme form of pluralism.
elitism or class theory
small number of interest group that has influence controlled by those with power (particularly big businesses); big businesses run policies, not politicians; policies benefit corporate interest and the wealthy win
republic
a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
popular sovereignty
supreme or ultimate authority derived from the people over an autonomous state. , rule by the people
minority rights
a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that hey might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned arguement
constitution
a nation's basic law. it creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees o citizens.
The Declaration of Independence
the document approved by representation of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.
natural rights
rights inherent in human beings, not dependent of governments, which include life, liberty, and property.
consent of the governed
the idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.
limited government
the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
U.S. Constitution
the document written in 1797 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of US government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation
a constitution drafted by the newly independent states in 1777 and ratified in 1781. It created a weak national government that could not levy taxes or regulate commerce. In 1789 it was replaced by our current Constitution in order to create a stronger na
Shay's Rebellion
a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
Factions
interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper #10.
New Jersey Plan
the proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population
Virginia Plan
the proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the US population
Connecticut Compromise
the compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established 2 houses of Congress, the House of Representatives & Senate. The House of Reps' representation is based one a state's share of the US population, and the Senate represents each state
Three-Fifths Compromise
a compromise between Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the enumerated population of slaves would be counted for representation purposes regarding both the distribution of taxes and the
writ of habeas corpus
a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
checks and balances
features of the Constitution that limit government's power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions.
separation of powers
a feature of the Constitution that requires each of the 3 branches of government-executive, legislative, and judicial, to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these 3 institutions
Federalists
Those who favor a stronger national government
Antifederalists
Those who favor a weaker national government
The Federalist Papers
a collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
Marbury vs Madison
the 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, in th
Judicial Review
the power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and, by implication, the exutive are in accord to the US Constitution. Judicial Review was first established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury v. Madison.
social contract
agreement to give up our freedom to protect our individual rights. ie: articles of confederation/ constitution
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 government
A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government. Most national governments today are unitary governments.
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, press, and guarantee defendant's rights.
Confederation Government
It is a government where the states hold most of the power. The central Government has little power. The states tell the central government what to do. There is a legislative and justice system, but no executive branch.
Intergovernmental Relations
the workings of the federal system--the entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments, including regulations, transfers of funds, and sharing of information
supremacy clause
the clause in article VI of the Constitution that makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws as long as the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Tenth amendment
the constitutional amendment stating, "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
McCulloch v. Maryland
An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments. The Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the powers enumerated in the Const
Concurrent powers
Powers shared by the national and state governments
Delegated Powers
also called "enumerated powers." Delegated powers are those which are specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution as being granted to the Congress.
Reserved powers
Powers given to the state government alone
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.
elastic clause
the final paragraph of Article I section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out enumerated powers.
Gibbons v. Ogden
a landmark case decided in 1824 in which the supreme court interpreted very broadly the clause in article I section 8 of the constitution giving congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, as encompassing virtually every form of commercial activit
Full faith and credit clause
clause in article IV of the constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.
extradition
a legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
privileges and immunities
the provision of the constitution according citizens of each state the privileges of citizens of other states.
dual federalism
a system of government in which both states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible
cooperative federalism
a system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and national government
fiscal federalism
the pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local government
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
project grants
federal categorical grant given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications
formula grants
federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulation
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.
revenue sharing
Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states
new federalism
New Federalism is a political philosophy of devolution, or the transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government back to the states. The primary objective of New Federalism, unlike that of the eighteenth-century political philosophy of
interstate commerce clause
the national government has the power to regulate anything involved with interstate commerce.
Formal Amendment Process
Article V; the (difficult) process of adding or deleting words to the constitution (27 times since 1788); propose by 2/3 vote of Congress or Constitutional Convention (never used); ratify by 3/4 vote of state legislators or state convention (only used onc
Informal Amendment Process
Changing the meaning of the Constitution without a formal amendment (ex. Supreme Court opinions, laws, custom)
devolution
transferring responsibility for policies from the federal gov't to state and local governments
enumerated powers
powers of the federal gov't that are specifically addressed in the Constitution, listed in Article I
political system
a complete set of institutions, interest groups (such as political parties, trade unions, lobby groups), the relationships between those institutions and the political norms and rules that govern their functions (constitution, election law).
political ethics
Political ethics is the practice of making moral judgements about political action and political agents.
funded mandates
when a level of U.S. government tells a branch of government to do something and gives money to help them
unfunded mandates
statute of regulation that requires state or local government to preform certain actions with no money provided for fulfilling the requirements