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single-issue groups
Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.
linkage institutions
the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda
policy agenda
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.
majority rule
the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.
minority rights
A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.
representation
A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.
pluralist theory
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
elite and class theory
argues that society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite rules on the basis of its wealth.
Hyperpluralism
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened
policy gridlock
A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done.
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Factions
Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.
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
"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
writ of habeas corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
seperation of powers
dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Federalist 51 (Madison)
Separation of powers, checks and balances
Federalist #78 (Hamilton)
discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.
Federalist #70 (1788)
Written by - Hamilton (Federalist) Argues for a strong executive leader, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak executive under the Articles of Confederation. "energy in he executive is the leading character in the definition of good government."
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Federalist #10 (factions)
penned by James Madison. He attacks the anti federalists fear that a republican form of government will inevitably give rise to "factions"- small political parties or groups united by a common interest- that will control the government. He explains there will be so many different factions, that no single one of them will dominate national politics.
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Brutus 1 (1787)
an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government
Federalist Papers
Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Equal Rights Amendment
constitutional amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
intergovernmental relations
The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments - including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information - that constitute the workings of the federal system.
Supremacy Clause
Federal law is supreme over state law
10th Amendment
Powers not given to federal government go to people and States
enumerated powers
Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.
implied powers
powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.
Gibbons v. Ogden
Regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
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.
Cooperative Federalism
system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems
project grants
Federal categorical grants 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 regulations.
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
Civil Liberties
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens
1st Amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
14th Amendment
Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws
incorporation doctrine
The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Establishment Clause
First Amendment ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion"
Free Exercise Clause
First Amendment requirement that law cannot prevent free exercise of religion
probable cause
reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion
exclusionary rule
a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial.
5th Amendment
The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process
civil rights
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
equal protection of the laws
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
Suffrage
the legal right to vote
Voting Rights Act of 1965
a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting for those suffering discrimination.
comparable worth
the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility
Disability Act
A law passed in 1990 that requires employers and public facilities to make "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment.
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantaged group.
Letter from Birmingham Jail
A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism.
Census
A complete enumeration of a population.
Reapportionment
the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census
political socialization
The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.
random sampling
a method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected
exit poll
public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
gender gap
a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men
Civil Disobedience
A nonviolent, public refusal to obey allegedly unjust laws.
mass media
Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication.
media event
Events that are purposely staged for the media and that are significant just because the media are there.
investigative journalism
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trial balloons
an intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction
sound bite
a brief, memorable comment that can easily be fit into news broadcasts
Rational Choice Theory
A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
party identification
loyalty of people to a political party
ticket splitting
voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election
party machines
a centralized party organization that dominates local politics by controlling elections
Patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
closed primary
a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members
open primary
A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place
blanket primary
a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties
National Convention
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.
national committee
representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party
critical election
an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities
party realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.
New Deal Coalition
coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930's to the 1960's. its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
third parties
electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
winner-take-all system
an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins
proportional representation
an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.
coalition government
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.
responsible party model
A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.
nomination
the process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office
national party convention
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.
Caucus
A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.
Superdelegates
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.
Frontloading
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.
national primary
A proposed nationwide primary that would replace the current system of caucuses and presidential primaries.
regional primaries
A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to replace these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographic region.
party platform
A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.