Foundations of American Democracy and Political Participation

Declaration of Independence

natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty.

Constitution

structure and powers of government, federalism, checks and balances.

Federalist No. 10

factions and a large republic.

Brutus No. 1

fears of a large central government.

Federalist No. 51

checks and balances, separation of powers.

Popular Sovereignty

power from the people.

Limited Government

restricted government power.

Republicanism

elected representatives.

Social Contract

people agree to be governed.

Federalism

division of power between national and state governments.

Separation of Powers

each branch has distinct powers.

Checks and Balances

each branch can limit the others.

Participatory Democracy

direct citizen involvement.

Pluralist Democracy

group-based influence.

Elite Democracy

limited participation, small group influence.

Enumerated Powers

federal government.

Reserved Powers

state governments.

Concurrent Powers

shared by both.

Commerce Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause, Supremacy Clause

expand federal power.

McCulloch v. Maryland

strengthened federal power.

U.S. v. Lopez

limited federal power under the Commerce Clause.

Bicameral legislature

House (population) and Senate (equal).

Enumerated Powers vs. Implied Powers

distinction between powers explicitly stated and those inferred.

Filibuster, Cloture, Holds, Unanimous Consent

Senate procedural tools.

Discharge Petition

force a bill out of committee (House).

Discretionary Spending vs. Mandatory Spending

types of government spending.

Formal powers

Veto, commander-in-chief, treaty making.

Informal powers

Executive agreements, bargaining, bully pulpit.

War Powers Resolution

limits on president's use of military.

State of the Union

agenda-setting.

Bureaucracy

Implement laws, write regulations.

Iron Triangle

Congress, bureaucracy, interest groups.

Issue Networks

more fluid and temporary.

Congressional Oversight

hearings, power of the purse.

Marbury v. Madison

judicial review.

Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint

approaches to judicial interpretation.

Life Tenure

independence from political pressure.

Selective Incorporation

Bill of Rights applies to states via the 14th Amendment.

First Amendment

Establishment Clause - no official religion, Free Exercise Clause - freedom to practice religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition.

Tinker v. Des Moines

symbolic speech protected.

Schenck v. U.S.

"clear and present danger" limit.

New York Times v. U.S.

prior restraint not allowed.

Gideon v. Wainwright

right to counsel.

Roe v. Wade

right to privacy, abortion.

McDonald v. Chicago

2nd Amendment to states.

14th Amendment

Equal Protection Clause.

Brown v. Board of Education

desegregation.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

ended segregation.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

no literacy tests.

Title IX

gender equity in education.

Bakke Case

race can be a factor, not quotas.

Political Culture

the set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that shape the political behavior of a group.

Political Socialization

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

Political efficacy

the belief that one's actions can influence political processes.

Opinion Polls

surveys of public opinion on various issues.

Tracking Polls

polls that track changes in public opinion over time.

Entrance and Exit Polls

polls conducted before and after voters cast their ballots.

Conservative Economic Ideology

Lower taxes, less regulation.

Conservative Social Ideology

Traditional values, pro-life.

Liberal Economic Ideology

More regulation, welfare programs.

Liberal Social Ideology

Progressive values, pro-choice.

Libertarian Economic Ideology

Free-market, minimal government.

Libertarian Social Ideology

Personal liberty, non-interventionist.

Traditional Conservatives

Focus on economy.

Social Conservatives

Focus on morality/religion.

Democratic Party Economic Ideology

Support social welfare, regulation.

Democratic Party Social Ideology

Support civil rights, liberties.

Republican Party Economic Ideology

Deregulation, tax cuts.

Republican Party Social Ideology

Traditional values, religious liberty.

Reinforcing Cleavages

Strengthen divisions (e.g., rural poor conservative).

Cross-Cutting Cleavages

Overlapping interests (e.g., wealthy minority).

Entitlements

Benefits all who qualify.

Means-Tested

Based on income (e.g., Medicaid).

Non-Means-Tested

No income requirement (e.g., Social Security).

Social Security

A federal program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, and for some younger people with disabilities.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income.

Affordable Care Act

A comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in March 2010 aimed at expanding access to health insurance.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a program that provides financial assistance to low-income families.

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program that provides food-purchasing assistance.

Stimulate Economy

Cut taxes, increase spending.

Slow Down Economy

Raise taxes, cut spending.

Monetary Policy

Controlled by Federal Reserve; adjusts interest rates and controls money supply.

Fiscal Policy

Controlled by Congress & President; uses taxing and spending to influence economy.

Keynesian Economics

Economic theory advocating government intervention to stabilize the economy.

Laissez-Faire

An economic theory advocating minimal government interference in the economy.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Provides economic data to Congress.

Mandatory Spending

Required by law (e.g., Social Security).

Discretionary Spending

Decided annually (e.g., defense).

15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

17th Amendment

Establishes the direct election of United States senators by popular vote.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

24th Amendment

Prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18 years.

Rational Choice

A model of voting behavior that assumes voters make decisions based on personal benefit.

Retrospective Voting

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

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance.

Party Line Voting

Voting for candidates of the same political party.

Political efficacy

The belief that one's vote matters and can influence political outcomes.

Political parties

Organizations that nominate candidates, inform voters, coordinate policy, and serve a watchdog role.