Political Vocabulary Review

A series of vocabulary flashcards designed to help students review key political terms and concepts for their exam.

Limited government

A political system in which there are restrictions placed on the powers of the government to protect individual rights.

Participatory democracy

A model of democracy in which citizens have the power to make decisions directly, rather than through elected representatives.

Federalist #10

A document by James Madison that argues for the prevention of factions through a large republic.

Brutus #1

An anti-Federalist paper that argues against the Constitution and the potential for a strong central government.

Reserved powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or prohibited to the states, which are reserved for the states.

Factions

Groups of individuals, such as interest groups or political parties, that unite to promote their common interests.

Articles I-VII

The sections of the U.S. Constitution that outline the structure and powers of the government.

Federalist #51

An essay by James Madison that discusses the need for checks and balances in government.

Concurrent powers

Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments.

“Marble Cake” federalism

A concept of federalism that emphasizes the intermingling of government responsibilities at various levels.

Fiscal federalism

The financial relationship between federal, state, and local governments, particularly in relation to funding and mandates.

Mandates

Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments.

Categorical grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose with particular conditions attached.

Tenth Amendment

The amendment to the U.S. Constitution that reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Commerce Clause

The clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but inferred from its language.

State sovereignty

The concept that states have independent authority and governance over their own affairs.

Statute

A written law passed by a legislative body.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case that established the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

United States vs. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court case that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals learn and develop their political beliefs and values.

Individualism

A belief in the importance of individual rights and freedoms.

Rule of law

The principle that the law applies equally to all individuals, including government officials.

Benchmark polls

Polls conducted to measure public opinion on issues or government performance over time.

Conservative ideology

A political philosophy that advocates for limited government, traditional values, and free market principles.

Keynesian economic policies

Economic theories advocating for government intervention to stimulate economic growth.

Fiscal policy

Government policy regarding taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Congressional committee

A group of members of Congress assigned to consider legislation and conduct investigations.

Organization of Congress

The structure and arrangement of how Congress is organized, including its leadership and committees.

Filibuster

A legislative tactic used to delay or prevent a vote on a bill.

Rules Committee

A committee in the House of Representatives that determines the rules for debate and amendments.

Pork barrel legislation

Legislation that provides funding for local projects, often seen as wasteful spending.

Earmarks

Specific provisions in legislation that direct funds to particular projects.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors or votes among legislators to gain support for projects.

Partisanship

Strong allegiance to one's own political party, often leading to a refusal to compromise.

Baker v. Carr (1961)

A Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of legislative redistricting.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court case that ruled against racial gerrymandering.

“Politico” role

A legislative role that combines both the delegate and trustee models of representation.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president to manage the operations of the federal government.

Federalist #70

An essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for a strong executive branch.

Bully pulpit

The president's use of their platform to promote agenda and influence public opinion.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.

Federalist #78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton discussing the role of the judiciary.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

Precedent

A legal principle established in previous court cases that is binding on future cases.

Stare decisis

The doctrine that courts should follow precedents set in earlier cases.

Judicial activism

The approach of judges to interpret the Constitution more broadly, often to promote social change.

Federal bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, which in the U.S includes federal agencies.

“Iron triangles”

The stable, mutually beneficial relationships between government agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.

Spoils system

The practice of a political party giving jobs to its supporters.

Merit system

A system of hiring and promoting government employees based on their qualifications and performance.

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Legislation that established the merit system for federal employment.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

A government office that assists the President in the development and implementation of the federal budget.

Rational Choice voting

A theory that suggests individuals make electoral choices based on rational calculations of benefits.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on the past performance of a political party or candidate.

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance of a political party or candidate.

Party-line voting

Voting in accordance with the political party's policies and positions.

Voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Structural barriers to voting

Obstacles that prevent individuals from voting, such as strict ID laws or registration requirements.

Fifteenth Amendment

The amendment that prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race.

Seventeenth Amendment

The amendment that established direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote.

Nineteenth Amendment

The amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

The amendment that prohibited poll taxes in federal elections.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

The amendment that grants the right to vote to citizens who are 18 years of age or older.

Political parties

Organized groups that seek to gain power through elections.

Interest groups

Organizations of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence public policy.

Linkage institutions

Channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.

Political Action Committee

An organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates.

Super PAC

An independent political action committee that can raise unlimited funds but cannot directly coordinate with candidates.

Lobbyist

A person who is employed to persuade lawmakers to support legislation that favors their organization.

Front-loading

The practice of scheduling primaries early in the election cycle to gain influence.

Horserace journalism

Media coverage that focuses on the competitive aspects of elections rather than on policy issues.

Watchdog

The role of the media in monitoring government actions and holding public officials accountable.

Ideologically oriented programming

Media content that promotes a particular ideological perspective.

Sound bite

A short, catchy statement or segment from a political speech or news program.

Media Bias

The tendency of media outlets to favor one perspective or political viewpoint.

Caucus

A meeting of members of a political party to select candidates or decide policy.

Open Primary

A primary election in which voters are not required to be registered party members.

Swing State

A state where both Democratic and Republican candidates have similar levels of support.

Delegate

A person chosen to represent a group at a political convention.

Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in the party system.

Third-party candidate

A candidate who is not affiliated with the two major political parties.

Critical elections

Elections that signal a party realignment due to a major shift in voter allegiance.

Party conventions

Large meetings of party delegates to nominate candidates and establish party platforms.

Proportional voting system

An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Incumbency advantage

The electoral edge afforded to those who already hold office.

Midterm Congressional Elections

Elections held halfway through a president's term, often affecting Congressional control.

Presidential Election

An election in which voters elect a president and vice president.

Closed Primary

A primary election in which only registered party members can vote.

Winner-take-all voting system

An electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins all of the electoral votes.

Power of the purse

The ability of a group to control its own financial resources and budget.