Intro to American Gov Midterm (Definitions Only)

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Bicameralism Definition

The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies

De facto segregation

Racial segregation that occurs because of past social and economic conditions and residential racial patterns

De jure segregation

Racial segregation that occurs because of laws or administrative decisions by public agencies

Elastic clause/necessary and proper clause

The clause in Article 1, section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers

Federalism/Federalist system

Authority is divided, usually by a constitution,

between a central government and regional or

subdivisional, governments

Great Compromise

The compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia Plans that created one chamber of the Congress based on population and one chamber representing each state equally; also called the Connecticut Compromise

Representative democracy

A form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies. It may, however, retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role

Direct democracy

A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives. It is probably attained most easily in small political communities

Republic

A form of government in which sovereign power rests with the people, rather than with a king or monarch

Suffrage

The right to vote

Authority

The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions

Legitimacy

Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws

Incumbent

The person currently seated in office

Civil disobedience

A nonviolent, public refusal to obey allegedly unjust laws

Packing

In gerrymandering, packing as many voters as possible of the opposing party into a single district

Cracking

In gerrymandering, splitting the opposing party’s voters into many different districts

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative district boundary lines for the purpose of obtaining partisan advantage. A district is said to be gerrymandered when its shape is manipulated to determine which party will win it