Untitled Flashcards Set

Political Science

The systematic study of political phenomena using empirical or philosophical methods.

Politics

The process for resolving disputes and allocating scarce resources through collective decision making; often summarized as 'who gets what, where, when, and how'.

Sovereign

The entity (person or institution) that holds supreme authority over a domain.

Legitimate

Authority used in ways that are true to the rules.

Authority

The entity (person or institution) holding legitimate power in a specific realm.

Critical Thinking

Reflective thinking focused on deciding what can reasonably be believed and then using this information to make judgments.

Elitism

The notion that wealthy and well-connected individuals exercise power over certain areas of public policy.

Free-Market System

An economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible.

Majoritarianism

The idea that the majority prevails not only in elections but also in determining policy.

Pluralism

A theory of American politics that holds that society’s interests are substantially represented through the activities of groups.

Political Culture

The characteristics and deep-seated beliefs of a particular group of people.

Public Policies

Decisions by government to pursue particular courses of action.

Checks and Balances

The elaborate system of divided spheres of authority provided by the U.S. Constitution to control government power.

Constitution

The fundamental law that defines how a government will legitimately operate.

Great Compromise

The agreement of the constitutional convention to create a two-chamber Congress, with the House apportioned by population and the Senate apportioned equally by state.

Liberty

The principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal for a strengthened Congress where each state would have a single vote.

Separation of Powers

The division of the powers of government among separate institutions or branches.

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement by individuals to form a government that is obligated to work within the confines of that agreement.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise worked out at the 1787 convention where each slave counted as three-fifths of a person for federal taxation and congressional apportionment.

Tyranny of the Majority

The potential of a majority to monopolize power for its own benefit to the detriment of minority rights.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal for a strong Congress with two chambers based on numerical representation.

Block Grants

Federal grants-in-aid allowing state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general area.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants-in-aid for states and localities that can be used only for designated projects.

Commerce Clause

The authority granted to Congress to regulate commerce among the states.

Confederacy

A governmental system where sovereignty is vested entirely in subnational (state) governments.

Cooperative Federalism

The situation where national, state, and local levels work together to solve problems.

Devolution

The passing down of authority from the national government to state and local governments.

Dual Federalism

A doctrine based on the idea that a precise separation of national and state power is both possible and desirable.

Enumerated Powers

The 17 powers granted to the national government under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Federalism

A governmental system where authority is divided between national and regional levels.

Fiscal Federalism

The expenditure of federal funds on programs run in part through states and localities.

Grants-in-Aid

Federal cash payments to states and localities for programs they administer.

Implied Powers

The federal government’s authority to take action not expressly authorized by the Constitution.

Nationalization

The process of authority shifting from the states to the national government.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The authority granted to Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for implementing its enumerated powers.

Reserved Powers

Powers granted to the states under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution making national law supreme over state law when within constitutional limits.

Unitary System

A governmental system where the national government alone has sovereign authority.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, including rights such as freedom of speech and religion and due process protections.

Civil Liberties

The fundamental individual rights of a free society, protected by the Bill of Rights.

Clear-and-Present-Danger Test

A Supreme Court test defining the limits of free speech concerning national security.

Due Process Clause (14th Amendment)

The clause used to apply the Bill of Rights to state governments' actions.

Establishment Clause

First Amendment provision that prohibits government from favoring one religion over another.

Exclusionary Rule

Legal principle that prohibits using evidence obtained by unconstitutional means in trials.

Freedom of Expression

Americans' right to communicate their views, foundational to First Amendment rights.

Free-Exercise Clause

First Amendment provision that prohibits government interference with religious practice.

Imminent Lawless Action

A legal test stating the government cannot suppress advocacy unless it promotes imminent lawless action.

Lemon Test

A three-part test to determine the validity of laws relating to religion under the establishment clause.

Libel

Publication of false material that damages a person’s reputation.

Prior Restraint

Government prohibition of speech or publication before the fact, presumed unconstitutional.

Procedural Due Process

The requirement that government must follow proper legal procedures before punishment.

Right of Privacy

An implied right granting individuals personal privacy from government intrusion.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which rights in the Bill of Rights become applicable to state actions via the 14th Amendment.

Slander

Spoken falsehoods that damage a person’s reputation.

Symbolic Speech

Actions intended to convey a political message, like flag burning.

Equal-Protection Clause

A clause of the 14th Amendment forbidding states from denying equal protection of the laws.

Equal Rights (Civil Rights)

The right to equal protection under the law and access to society's opportunities.