POLS 1100 (Government)- Exam #1 Study Guide

Power

the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments

Authority

the recognized right of governments and officials to exercise power

Legitimacy

the government has the right to rule as recognized by those being governed

Government

the governing body of a nation, state, or community, institutes laws, rules, and regulations

Politics

 the process through which a society settles its conflicts; the struggle for power

Political Thinking

the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about political issues

Fields of Political Science

 __Political theory/Political philosophy__ (questioning government)

__Governmental Studies__ (study of gov. at American, state/local, and regional levels)

__Comparative Politics__ (comparing gov. systems),

__International Relations__ (politics about state/federal level)

__Political Economics__ (economics with politics)

Fields related to Political Science

sociology, criminology, law, economics, civics, geography, philosophy, regional studies, cultural/religious studies

The 5 W’s (and H) of Power

__Who__ has power?

__What__ power does this person/organization/group have?

__When__ was this power obtained?

__Where__ does this power come from?

__How__ does this person have power?

__Why__ does this person have power?

How Government Affects Us

taxes, regulations, safety & security, economics, laws, religion & culture (in some countries)

Critical Thinking

determining what can reasonably be believed and then using the information to reach a thoughtful conclusion

Confirmation Bias

our tendency to interpret information in ways that reinforce what we already believe 

Political Culture

the widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of a country’s people about politics

4 Core Values of American Political Culture

Liberty, Individualism, Equality, and Self-Government

Liberty

the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose as long as they don’t infringe unreasonably on the freedoms of other individuals 

Individualism

the belief that people are free to pursue their interests and should be self-sufficient

Equality

the ideal that all individuals are equal in worth in society and are treated equally under the law

Self-Government

the principle that people are the ultimate source of government power and should have a voice in their governing.

Authoritarianism

a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom

Free-Market Economics

an economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible giving as much liberty as possible (capitalism)

Majoritarianism

the idea that the majority prevails not only in elections, but in setting public policy

Pluralism

the idea that public policy is set by competing groups in society (special interests)

Constitutionalism

limiting government power to protect citizens’ liberties (written rules)

Elitism

the idea that wealthy and well-connected individuals exercise the most power in setting public policy

Oligarchy

government power concentrated among a few such as business, military, etc. (small group)

Limited Government

a government that is subject to strict legal limits on uses of power

Representative Government

 a government in which the people govern through the selection of representatives

John Locke

was a philosopher in the 1600s with many ideas, most of them pertaining to human rights. He believed the government was founded on social contract and that people living in a state of nature should be able to enjoy inalienable rights

Social Contract Theory

citizens are willing to give up some of their autonomy for protection, in return government must secure protection of society and uphold our natural rights. If these are not met, it shall be the right of the citizens to change or abolish the government and form a new government.

Inalienable Rights

life, liberty, and property

Articles of Confederation

Adopted during the Revolutionary War, Not a constitution: a fundamental law that defines how a government will legitimately operate, Created a weak national government, Prohibited Congress from interfering in states’ commerce policies, Prohibited Congress from taxation, States retained “sovereignty, freedom, and independence”, Unanimous consent needed to approve amendments (1st government tried in the US)

Shay’s Rebellion

to prevent foreclosures a group of farmers led by daniel shay created an armed rebellion, congress were unable to send an army to deal with the issue and this was worrisome because of the weakness of our government, largely convinced the people that our national government was too weak and we needed to strengthen it.

Virginia (Large State) Plan

representation based on state population, more power to large states

New Jersey (Small State) Plan

each state has one vote, equal power to large and small states

Great Compromise

(bicameral congress), house of representatives, lower chamber: proportional representation, senate, upper chamber: equal representation

Three-fifths Compromise

three-fifths of the enslaved population counted for appointment of taxes and political representation

Ratification

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

Federalists

supporters of the constitution, led by Alexander Hamilton, supporters of a stronger national government

Anti-Federalists

those who were against a strong central government, worried it was too powerful, most were in the south, led by Thomas Jefferson, more in favor of states

Separation of Powers

powers divided among separate branches rather than investing them entirely in a single individual or institution

Judicial Review

the power of the judiciary to decide whether a government official or institution has acted within the limits of the constitution and, if not to declare its action null and void

Marbury V. Madison (1803)

Marbury wanted his appointment from John Adams who had sent them out before leaving the office and went down known for the ‘Midnight Judges’. Madison denied his appointment to be a judge which angered Marbury so he took it to court. It was ruled that Adams's actions were unconstitutional so Marbury didn’t receive his appointment. This case applies to the creation of judicial review. 

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the constitution

Democracy

government where the people govern directly or indirectly through elected representatives, the word democracy derives from “demos” - the people rule together.

Majority Rule

the idea that the group with the most members has the most political power in a country and can make binding decisions

Minority Rights

protected rights that are enjoyed by everyone, even those not considered part of the majority, means the majority can trample on a minorities natural rights

Tyranny of the Majority

the people acting as an irrational mob that tramples on the rights of the minority

Electoral College

an unofficial term that refers to the electors who cast the state's electoral votes

Direct Democracy

everybody in the government votes on every decision or dispute that occurs 

Indirect Democracy

the people select certain representatives to represent them and vote on issues that arise

Federalism

divided sovereignty between the national government and the state’s government 

Sovereignty

supreme and final governing authority

Unitary System

one central government that works as one and makes all decisions

Federal System

a system that has one main government but is broken down into multiple smaller sub-branches

Confederacy

multiple independent states but will work together 

Enumerated (Expressed) Powers

power expressly written and granted to the national government in the constitution 

Implied Powers

powers not expressly written but related to those that are

Supremacy Clause

national laws were the supreme law of the land

Reserved Powers

the states’ powers under the constitution

McCulloch V. Maryland

Maryland legislatures tried to tax the 2nd bank of the US and when they did McCulloch a cashier refused to pay the tax. The state sued him and then they went to court. The ruling was that the states had no power to tax under the supremacy clause. This case applies to both the necessary and proper clause and implied powers through the constitution. In favor of the national government and the supremacy clause.

Dred Scott V. Sandford

Dred Scott escaped from his owner and traveled north. He was then caught and arrested in the north, however, he believed he had freedom because he had been found in a state where slavery was illegal. In a decision that later was nullified by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, the Supreme Court held that former slaves did not have standing in federal courts because they lacked U.S. citizenship, even after they were freed. In favor of the states creating their own laws. (gave more power to the states)

Plessy V. Ferguson

Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark 1896 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. The case stemmed from an 1892 incident in which African American train passenger Homer Plessy refused to sit in a car for Black people. This applies to the creation of segregation and upheld the Jim Crow Laws. 

Dual Federalism

precise separation of national and state authority

Cooperative Federalism

shared policy responsibilities (working together)

Necessary and Proper Clause

the power to make laws in support of expressed powers (in support of implied powers)