U1 Vocab

Political participation

The many different ways that people take part in politics and government

Single-issue groups

groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance

Linkage institutions

Institutions that connect citizens to government: mass media, interest groups, and political parties

Policy agenda

the list of issues that the federal government pays attention to

Policy making institutions

the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues

Political issue

an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it

Public policy

the course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem

Democracy

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Majority rule

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected.

Minority rights

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.

Representation

a person or group acting on behalf of another person or group

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Elitism

A theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class elite will hold most of the power and thus in effect run the government.

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

Policy gridlock

A condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done.

Political culture

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

Egalitarianism

the belief that all people should have equal political, economic, social, and civil rights

Populism

the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite

Laissez-faire

Policy that government should interfere as little as possible in the nation's economy.

Natural rights

Life, Liberty, and Property

Consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of 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

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Shays' Rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.

Annapolis Meeting

meeting originally called to discuss trade and navigation in hopes that the delegates would realize the need to change the Articles of Confederation.

Annapolis Meeting

1786. Meeting that spurred the Constitutional Convention, the idea of Alexander Hamilton. Delegates met to discuss the economic trouble and lack of government throughout the states.

Factions

Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.

U.S. Constitution

A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

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.

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

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 citizens choose their leaders by voting

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Equal Rights Amendment

constitutional amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Unitary government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

Supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

enumerated powers

Powers given to the national government alone

Implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Elastic Clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

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

Project grants

Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications

mandate

an official order or commission to do something.