RPOS101W- American Politics Midterm Study Set

What is the Declaration of Independence?

Document that founded the U.S. in 1776 and forced separation from British Rule.

What are the Articles of Confederation?

America's first written Constitution from 1777-1789

What was the primary goal of the Articles of Confederation?

Limiting the power of the central government

What does Confederation mean?

A system of government where states regain sovereign authority except for specified powers to the national government.

What was the Great Compromise?

Created a bicameral legislature (combined VA and NJ plans to create Congress).

What was the 3/5ths Compromise?

A compromise that said each slave would be counted as 3/5ths a person in population counts for the purpose of apportioning congressional seats.

What are civil rights?

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

What are civil liberties?

Protected Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens.

What was the primary goal of Federalists?

Wanted a stronger central government and supported the ORIGINAL Constitution (prior to B.O.R.)

Who tended to be Federalists?

Merchants, large land owners, professionals.

What did Anti-Federalists favor?

Strong state governments and weak national government and opposed the constitution (prior to B.O.R.).

What is the Constitution?

The "supreme law of the land" with a stronger national government than the A.O.C.

When was the Constitution written and when was it ratified?

Written in 1787 and ratified in 1788

What is the Bill of Rights and why was it added to the Constitution?

First 10 Amendments in the Constitution guaranteed to all citizens with protection from the government. It was written to address the concerns of Anti-Federalists.

When was the Bill of Rights written and when was it ratified?

Written in 1789 and ratified in 1791.

What is the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution?

It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions, therefore affirming the power of the National Government.

Majority rule, Minority Rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

What are the 3 American Values?

Equality, liberty, and justice.

What does Liberty mean?

Freedom from being controlled by others.

What does Equality mean?

Every citizen enjoys the same privileges, status, and rights before the laws.

What does Justice mean?

Equal treatment under the law.

What is a Representative Democracy?

Citizens elect others to represent them in government.

What is "Winner-Take-All" in elections?

The person with a plurality of votes wins the Election. It is also known as "First-past-the-post".

What is the Single Member District system?

Every member of Congress represents a district or state.

What is Duverger's Law?

The principle that in a democracy with single-member districts and plurality voting, like the United States, only two parties' candidates will have a realistic chance of winning political office.

What is a Direct Democracy?

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.

What is Pluralism?

a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist.

What is a ballot initiative?

a proposed law or policy change that is placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote.

What is a Referendum?

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to the people for a direct decision.

What is a recall in politics?

Allows voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire.

Expressed vs. Implied Powers

Those explicitly mentioned in the Constitution versus those which can reasonably be assumed from the Constitution.

What is the separation of powers in the U.S.?

The 3 branches of Government (Judicial, Executive, and Legislative).

What is Federalism?

A sharing of power between states and national government.

What is Dual Federalism?

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

What is Cooperative Federalism?

When national and state governments both work on common policy areas (law enforcement, immigration, etc.)

What is descriptive representation?

the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents.

What is substantive representation?

representation of the interests of groups of which they themselves are not members.

What are public goods?

a commodity or service that is provided without profit to all members of a society, either by the government or a private individual or organization.

What is public opinion?

the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues.

What is political ideology?

a consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government.

What are values/beliefs in politics?

Principles, standards, and assumptions upheld by individuals which influence how they make political decisions.

What is political socialization?

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

What is partisanship?

identification with or support of a particular party.

What is non-partisan activity in politics?

When one doesn't favor a particular political party.

What is split ticket voting?

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election.

What is straight-ticket voting?

voting exclusively for the candidates of one party.

What is Polarization?

Division between 2 major parties on political issues.

What is Political Participation?

A wide range of activities intended to influence public policy and leadership (ex: voting, campaigning, donating, participating in protests).

What are Social Movements?

group action to carry out, resist, or undo social change (ex: Black Lives Matter)

What are interest groups?

a group of people that seeks to influence public policy on the basis of a particular common interest or concern (ex: Labor unions, business organizations).

What is the First Amendment in the Constitution?

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

What is the Second Amendment in the Constitution?

Right to bear arms

What is the Third Amendment in the Constitution?

No quartering of soldiers

What is the Fourth Amendment in the Constitution?

No unreasonable searches and seizures.

What is the Fifth Amendment in the Constitution?

Grand jury, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

What is the Sixth Amendment in the Constitution?

Right to a speedy trial and an impartial jury.

What is the Seventh Amendment in the Constitution?

Jury trial in civil cases

What is the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution?

excessive bail, and fines; cruel and unusual punishment

What is the Ninth Amendment in the Constitution?

The assignment of particular rights the people in the Constitution and Bill of Rights does not deny other rights not specifically mentioned (right to privacy, marriage, etc.)

What is the Tenth Amendment in the Constitution?

the powers not delegated to the US by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people