gov test #1

liberty

government shouldn't infringe on someone's individual rights

democracy

government by the people

aristocracy

rule by a few

checks and balances

used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one branch

collective action

An action taken by a group of like-minded individuals to achieve a common goal (when we work together as a team)

collective action problem

can lead to overusing resources but the government can regulate this! an example is postcards costing same no matter where they send it

direct democracy

everyone within a small group votes

indirect democracy

people are ruled by elected representatives (for larger groups)

economic individualism

ones bility to control their finances

free riders

people who get credit without doing any of the work

factions

groups such as parties or interest groups

monoarchy

rule by one

polity

the form of government of a country or other organization

republic

system of government that allows indirect representation of the popular will (slightly restrictive like you can only vote @ 18)

ideology

a system of social or political ideas (cohesive way of thinking)

separation of powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

texas creed

individualism, liberty, constitutionalism, equality, democracy (LICED)

tragedy of the commons

situation in which people acting individually and in their own interest use up commonly available but limited resources, creating disaster for the entire community

public goods

goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share.

theocracy

government run by religious leaders

propriety colony

colony run by individuals or groups to whom land was granted

pluarlaism

a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests.

full faith and credit clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

formal and informal constitution

United States' Constitution is formal: written

United Kingdom's is informal: not written down (based on court cases)

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution

implied powers

powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution

marbury v madison

Established judicial review

judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

natural rights

life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness

necessary and proper clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

republican democracy

A form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders

reserved powers

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

second treatise on government

John Locke's work argues that proper political authority comes not from God or precedent but from the people

social contract

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules

limited government

a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

republicanism

elected representatives serving the people, the government is based on the consent of the governed.

great compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

censure

formal statement of disapproval in the form of a resolution that is adopted by majority vote

casework

the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem

categorical grants

federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

coercive federalism

federal government pressures the states to change their policies by using regulations, mandates, and conditions (often involving threats to withdraw federal funding).

commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations

competitive federalism

a form of federalism in which states compete to attract businesses and jobs through the policies they adopt.

confederal government

states hold power over a limited national government

denied powers

powers the Constitution denies to the national government

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

ex post facto

a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

fiscal federalism

the federal government's use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states

formula grant

Type of categorical grant that is usually based on a state's population

dred scott v. sandford

1857 Supreme Court decision that stated that slaves were not citizens; that living in a free state or territory, even for many years, did not free slaves; and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitional

marshall court

1801-1835: Established judicial review; national government laws over state laws; protect existing contracts.

mccullough v maryland

Established national supremacy; established implied powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax federal institution

new federalism

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

nullification

states can call out unconstitutional laws and decide to abide

police power

state power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals

preemption

the federal government's ability to take over a state government function

privileges and immunities clause

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

revenue sharing

the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments

spillover effects

uncompensated side effects that either benefit or harm a third party not involved in the activity that caused it

unitary government

government has all the power (lots of power over local and regional governments)

free market

an economic system in which prices and wages are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses, without government regulation or fear of monopolies.

constitution

document that allocates powers and repsonsibilities (also limits powers)

common sense

persuaded people of the colonies to seerate

10th amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to people and States

14th amendment

due process clause, citizenship for african americans, 2) repeal of 3/5 compromise

elastic clause

the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers (allows congress to amend laws with the prgression of america)

supremacy clause

Federal law is supreme over state law

federalist 10

factions are good because individualism is good (more factions means less control)

federalism

US system as we get power from the people

confederal government

states hold power over a limited national government

concurrent power

power shared by the states and federal government (borrow $, make and enfore laws, charter banks, take private prpoperty e/ compensation)

cooperative federalism

shared power and responsibility and accountability of failure for both state and antional goveremnt

picket fence federalism

different specific policy areas that are organized but not completely separate

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

revenue sharing

the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.

program grant

Grants that fund specific programs like being affected by a hurricane

catergorical grants

Federal grants to states or local govts that are for specific programs or projects (medicare)

denied powers

powers the Constitution denies to the national government

marshall court

Chief Justice John Marshall; established the power of the federal government over the states; supremacy clause; supported by McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden

roll call vote

a voting method in the Senate in which members voice their votes in turn

presidential coatails

When candidates are elected to office because they are of the same party as the president

gerymandeing

redrawing lines of districts to get votes

reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

ticket splitting

voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices

seniority rule

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.

substantive representation

representing the interests of groups

trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

cloture

a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

whips

know voting headcounts, write summaries of bills

cracking

taking one district and dividing it into many districts, weakens the opponent's voter base.

packing

put people of a specififc people in a specific district

speaker of the house

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives (appoints committee members, and decided where committee bills go)

oversight

congress making sure everyone is doing their job

dicharge petition

bring a bill out of committee for consideration by the full House if it has been stalled for more than 30 days

ranking member

Leader of the minority party members of a committee

continuining resolution

temporary spending bills that allow federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President

standing committees

permentant commitees thst have subcommittees

select committees

temporary committees, most for specififc cases of misconduct

joint committees

house and senate work together to solve things