Missouri State Government and Political Dynamics

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts discussed in the lecture on Missouri State Government and the wider political dynamic in the United States.

Federal Government vs. State Government

The major difference is related to the federal government being one of enumerated powers.

Missouri Constitution Bill of Rights

The Missouri Constitution includes a Bill of Rights that has similar provisions as the federal Bill of Rights.

Missouri State Legislature vs. U.S. Congress

Key differences exist between the Missouri State Legislature and the U.S. Congress in structure and function.

Missouri Executive Branch

Includes many elected officials, such as Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, and Attorney General.

Ballot Initiative

A process through which a proposal can get on the ballot and be approved by the voters.

County Roles

Each county has numerous elected officials like sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, assessor, recorder of deeds, and coroner, each with specific roles.

Local vs. State Government Relationships

The relationship between local and state governments differs from that of state and federal governments.

Modes of City Governance

Cities can be governed in two ways, which affect their local governance structure.

Political Attitudes

The structure and relationship between political attitudes, political values, and ideology are foundational to understanding public opinion.

Partisanship

Partisanship influences how people perceive the political world and tends to remain stable over a person's lifetime.

Political Values

Includes individual liberty, equality, use of military force, and traditional values, each related to varying ideologies.

Types of Ideologies

Liberal, conservative, populist, and libertarian ideologies vary in their alignment on two dimensions of ideology.

Political Polarization

Political polarization refers to the growing divide in political attitudes and its changing effects over time.

Trust in Government

Trust in government has declined over time, affected by social and political environment factors.

Demographic Party Support

Different demographic groups tend to support different political parties based on various influences.

Primary Election vs. General Election

Primary elections determine party nominees while general elections decide officeholders.

Electoral College

A system that influences how presidential campaigns are conducted based on state voting.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of legislative district boundaries to benefit a particular political party.

Super-PACs

Independent political committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

PAC vs. Super-PAC

Traditional PACs have contribution limits whereas Super-PACs can raise unlimited funds.

Self-Funding Candidates

Candidates can use their own resources to fund campaigns, a right protected by the First Amendment.

Media in Political Campaigns

Differentiates between free media, which are unpaid, and paid media, which involves advertising.

Micro-Targeting

A technique used in political campaigns to tailor messages to specific voter demographics.

Incumbency Advantage

Incumbents often have advantages in elections due to established recognition and resources.

Voter Turnout

Turnout levels vary by election type with different influencing factors like civic duty and partisanship.

Political Party Definition

A political party is an organization that coordinates activities to elect politicians and simplify politics.

Two-Party System in America

America's political system is dominated by two major parties, limiting third-party success.

History of Political Parties

The first American political parties were the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

Electoral Realignment

A significant change in the balance of party power, which occurs due to various social and political factors.

Functions of the Media

The media serves to inform, educate, and entertain the public, holding power accountable.

Selective Exposure

The tendency of individuals to favor information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs.

Agenda-Setting

The media’s ability to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda.