Introduction to American and California Government

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the core principles of US and California government, including constitutional foundations, federalism, civil liberties, and political institutions.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and that government policies should come from leaders.

Political Equality

The principle that each citizen carries equal weight in conducting public business.

Political Liberty

The ability of citizens in a democracy to exercise basic freedoms, such as speech, association, and conscience, without government interference.

Pluralist Theory

The theory that political power is in the hands of interest groups of people who compete and influence outcomes.

Majoritarian Theory

The theory that political power is in the hands of the population majority.

Elite Theory

The theory that political power is in the hands of a small, elite group of people.

Political Ideology

A set of values and beliefs regarding the proper role and scope of the government.

Political Culture

Patterns of ideas, beliefs, and values held by citizens about their government and their roles as citizens.

Classical Liberalism

A belief in individual liberties, rights, and free will, with a very limited role for government.

Modern Liberalism

A belief in equality and support for government intervention in society and the economy specifically to promote equality.

Traditional Conservatism

A belief system prioritizing monarchy and church authority in supporting the government’s rule of law.

Modern Conservatism

A belief system prioritizing individual liberties and preferring a smaller government that does not intervene in the economy.

Articles of Confederation

The first basis for the new nation’s government, adopted in 1781, which created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government.

Great Compromise

The agreement between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans that created a two-house Congress, where House representation is based on population and the Senate provides equal representation to states.

Three-fifths Compromise

A compromise between Northern and Southern states to count $\frac{3}{5}$ of the enslaved population along with the free population for purposes of federal taxation and congressional representation.

Checks and balances

A system where one branch of government has the power to limit the power of the other branches.

Separation of Powers

The division of government power into three distinct branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Supreme Court).

Amendment Proposal Process

A change can be proposed by a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in both the House and Senate, or by a Constitutional Convention requested by $\frac{2}{3}$ of the states.

Amendment Ratification Process

A proposed amendment must be approved by the legislatures of $\frac{3}{4}$ of the states or by conventions in $\frac{3}{4}$ of the states.

Unitary System

A government structure where power is concentrated in the central government, and states depend upon it.

Confederal System

A government structure where power resides in the states and the central government is weak.

Federal System

A structure where power is derived from the people and shared between the national and state governments.

Dual Federalism

A model also known as 'layer-cake' federalism, where state and national governments exercise exclusive authority within distinct spheres of jurisdiction.

Cooperative Federalism

A model also known as 'marble cake' federalism, where both levels of government coordinate to solve national problems, resulting in blended layers of authority.

Enumerated Powers

Specific constitutional rights granted to the federal government, including interstate and foreign commerce, raising armies, declaring war, coining money, and conducting foreign affairs.

Reserved Powers

Powers held by state governments, such as passing laws on marriage and intrastate commerce (commerce within state borders).

Civil Liberties

Limitations on the power of government designed to ensure personal freedoms.

Civil Rights

Guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities.

De Jure Discrimination

Segregation resulting from government discrimination.

De Facto Discrimination

Segregation resulting from the actions of private individuals.

Harm Principle

The idea that any sane adult is free to do what they want as long as their actions do not harm or threaten to harm others.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals are trained to join a country's political world through environments like school and family.

Agents of Socialization

Sources of political information intended to help citizens understand how to act in their political system and make decisions on political matters.

Filibuster

A parliamentary maneuver in the Senate, derived from the word for 'pirate' (vribuiter), used to extend debate on legislation to obstruct or kill it.

Neutral Competence

The goal of making the bureaucracy professional and depoliticized, requiring expertise in decisions beyond democratic influence.

Political Appointees

High-level officials chosen by a president or governor to set policy direction and manage agencies.

Street-level Bureaucrats

Government workers who interact directly with the public to implement policy, such as teachers, police, and agency staff.

Duverger’s Law

A political science concept stating that single-member district, winner-take-all systems tend to produce two dominant parties.

Plurality Electoral System

Also known as 'First-Past-the-Post,' where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have a majority.

Majoritarian Electoral System

An electoral system where a candidate must secure at least $50\%$ of the votes to win.

Proportional Electoral System

An electoral system where the percentage of votes a party receives equals the percentage of seats they earn.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties.

Supremacy Clause

The provision in Article VI of the Constitution which establishes that federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Plural Executive

A characteristic of California's government where executive power is divided among several independently elected officials rather than just the governor.

California Constitution (1849)

The document that established California’s territory and government structure, which notably banned slavery to support admission to the Union.

Direct Democracy (California)

A system established post-1911 allowing voters to bypass the legislature through Initiative, Referendum, and Recall.

Initiative

A process where voters can propose laws and constitutional amendments via petition.

Referendum

A process where voters can approve or repeal legislation already passed by the legislature.

Recall

A process where voters can remove elected officials from office before their term ends.

Progressive Reforms (1911)

Refers to changes led by Governor Hiram Johnson to reduce the influence of private interests, like railroads, in government.

Direct Primaries

A reform where voters, rather than party elites, select party nominees for office.

Free Riders

Individuals who receive the benefits of a collective action or interest group's work without contributing to the cost.

Material Incentives

Substantive monetary or physical benefits offered to members of an interest group to overcome collective action issues.

Solidary Incentives

Benefits based on the association with others who share similar interests or backgrounds.

Purposive Incentives

Benefits that appeal to an individual's support for a specific issue or cause to encourage participation.

Direct (Inside) Lobbying

Contacting lawmakers directly to convey an organization's message and influence policy.

Indirect (Outside) Lobbying

Taking an organization's message to the public via media or press releases to pressure lawmakers.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of legislative district boundaries to influence election outcomes for specific candidates or parties.

Packing

A gerrymandering tactic of concentrating opposition voters into one district to reduce their power in other districts.

Cracking

A gerrymandering tactic of splitting a community of opposition voters across multiple districts to dilute their strength.

Standing Committees

Permanent congressional committees responsible for laws in particular policy areas.

Select Committees

Temporary committees created to deal with specific issues not suited for a standing committee.

Joint Committees

Committees containing members from both the House and Senate to coordinate activities and expedite legislation.

Conference Committees

Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a single bill.

Inherent Powers

Presidential powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution, such as the use of executive orders or signing statements.

District Courts

The trial courts where federal cases begin and are tried.

Supreme Court

The final authority in the federal legal system, which selects cases involving constitutional questions or federal law ('certiorari').

Senatorial Courtesy

An informal process where senators exert influence over lower federal court nominations in their home states.

Rule of Four

The Supreme Court practice where at least four justices must agree to hear a case.

Stare Decisis

A legal principle meaning 'let the decision stand,' where courts rely on past decisions or precedents for new cases.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to review actions by the states and other branches of government to determine if they are constitutional.