GOVT 1111 Textbook Vocab Pre-Midterm

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government

The institutions through which a land and its people are ruled

autocracy

A form of government in which a single individual rules

oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group of landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions

democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in government, usually through the selection of key public officials

constitutional government

A system of rule that establishes specific limits on the powers of the government

politics

Conflict and cooperation over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

authoritarian government

A system of rule in which the government’s power is not limited by law, though it may be restrained by other social institutions

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totalitarian government

A system of rule in which the government’s power is not limited by law and in which the government seeks to eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

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instrumental

Done with purpose, sometimes with forethought, and even with calculation

institutions

A set of formal rules and procedures, often administered by a bureaucracy, that shapes politics and governance

jurisdiction

The domain over which an institution or member of an institution has authority

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agenda power

The control over what a group will consider for discussion

veto power

The ability to defeat something even if it has made it on to the agenda of an institution

decisiveness rules

A specification of when a vote may be taken, the sequence in which votes on amendments occur, and how many supporters determine whether a motion passes or fails

delegation

The transmission of authority to some other official or body (though often with the right of review and revision)

principal-agent relationship

The relationship between a principal (such as a citizen) and an agent (such as an elected official), in which the agent is expected to act on the principal’s behalf

transaction costs

The cost of clarifying each aspect of a principal-agent relationship and monitoring it to make sure both parties comply with all arrangements

collective action

The pooling of resources and the coordination of effort and activity by a group of people (often a large one) to achieve common goals

free riding

Enjoying the benefits of some good or action while letting others bear the costs

public good

A good that (1) may be enjoyed by anyone if it is provided and (2) may not be denied to anyone once it has been provided. Also called collective good

tragedy of the commons

The idea that a common resource, available to everyone, will more likely than not be abused or overused

path dependency

The idea that certain possibilities are made more or less likely because of historical events and decisions—because of the historical path taken

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

The United States’ first written constitution. Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777, the Articles were the formal basis for America’s national government until 1789, when they were superseded by the Constitution

Great Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of the size of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population size. Also called the Connecticut Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, stating that for the purpose of distributing congressional seats on the basis of state populations, only three-fifths of enslaved persons would be counted

bicameral legislature

A legislative body composed of two chambers, or houses

expressed powers

Powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government

necessary and proper clause

The last paragraph of Article I, Section 8, which gives Congress the power to make all laws needed to exercise the powers listed in Section 8. Also called the elastic clause

judicial review

The power of the courts to determine whether the actions of the president, the Congress, and the state legislatures are consistent with the Constitution

supremacy clause

A clause of Article VI of the Constitution stating that all laws and treaties approved by the national government are the supreme laws of the United States and superior to all laws adopted by any state or local government

separation of powers

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

federalism

The system of government in which a constitution divides power between a central government and regional governments

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights ensures certain rights and liberties to the people

checks and balances

The ways in which each branch of government is able to influence the activities of the other branches

tyranny

Oppressive government that employs the cruel and unjust use of power and authority

federalism

The system of government in which a constitution divides power between a central government and regional governments

sovereignty

Independent political authority

implied powers

Powers derived from the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8) of the Constitution. Such powers are not specifically expressed in the Constitution but are implied through the interpretation of delegated powers

reserved powers

Powers that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states by the Constitution. Under the Tenth Amendment, these powers are reserved to the states

concurrent powers

Authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes

eminent domain

The right of the government to take private property for public use, with reasonable compensation awarded to the owner

police power

The power reserved to the state governments to regulate the health, safety, and morals of citizens

full faith and credit clause

The provision in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that each state normally honor the governmental actions and judicial decisions that take place in another state

comity clause

Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution, which prohibits states from enacting laws that treat the citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner

home rule

The power delegated by a state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs

dual federalism

The system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937, in which fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments, with the states exercising the most important powers

commerce clause

The clause found in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that delegates to Congress the power “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”

states’ rights

The principle that states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government. This view was most popular before the Civil War

cooperative federalism

The system of government that has prevailed in the United States since the New Deal era (beginning in the 1930s), in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities to pursue nationally defined goals

grants-in-aid

Funds given by Congress to state and local governments on the condition that they be used for a specific purpose

categorical grants-in-aid

Funds given to state and local governments by Congress that are earmarked by law for specific policy categories, such as education or crime prevention

project grants

Grants-in-aid for which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies, which provide funding for them on a competitive basis

formula grants

Grants-in-aid for which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state or local government will receive

regulated federalism

A form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on state and local governments that requires them to meet national standards

unfunded mandates

National standards or programs imposed on state and local governments by the federal government without accompanying funding or reimbursement

block grants

Federal funds given to state governments to pay for goods, services, or programs, with relatively few restrictions on how the funds may be spent

legislative supremacy

The preeminent position within the national government that the Constitution assigns to Congress

divided government

The condition in American government in which one party controls the presidency, while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress

executive privilege

The claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the president’s consent

writ of habeas corpus

A court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention; habeas corpus is guaranteed by the Constitution and can be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion

constituency

The citizens who reside in the district from which an official is elected

delegates

Legislators who vote according to the preferences of their constituents

trustees

Legislators who vote according to what they think is best for their constituents

agency representation

The type of representation in which representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly. That is, constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives

bicameral legislature

A legislative body composed of two chambers, or houses

money bill

A bill concerned solely with taxation or government spending

incumbent

A current officeholder

casework

Efforts by members of Congress to gain the trust and support of constituents by providing personal services. One important type of casework is helping constituents to obtain favorable treatment from the federal bureaucracy

patronage

Direct services and benefits that members of Congress provide to their constituents, especially making partisan appointments to offices and conferring grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters

pork-barrel legislation

Appropriations that members of Congress use to provide government funds for projects benefiting their home district or state

gerrymandering

The drawing of electoral districts in such a way as to give advantage to one political party

Speaker of the House

The chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives; elected at the beginning of every Congress on a straight party vote, this person is the most important party and House leader

majority leader

The elected leader of the party holding a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. In the House, the majority leader is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the Speaker

minority leader

The elected leader of the party holding less than a majority of the seats in the House or Senate

standing committee

A permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area

gatekeeping authority

The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered

proposal power

The capacity to bring a proposal before the full legislature

after-the-fact authority

The authority to follow up on the fate of a proposal once it has been approved by the full chamber

conference committee

A joint committee created to work out a compromise between House and Senate versions of a bill

oversight

The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

seniority

The priority or status ranking given on the basis of how long an individual has served on a congressional committee

agency loss

The difference between what a principal would like an agent to do and the agent’s performance

staff agencies

The agencies responsible for providing Congress with independent expertise, administration, and oversight capability

congressional caucus

An association of members of Congress based on party, interest, or social characteristics such as gender or race

party caucus or party conference

A nominally closed meeting to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters. Termed a caucus in the Democratic Party and a conference in the Republican Party

closed rule

The provision by the House Rules Committee that restricts the introduction of amendments during debate

open rule

The provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of amendments to a bill

cloture

A procedure by which three-fifths of the members of the Senate can set a time limit on debate over a given bill

filibuster

A tactic in which members of the Senate prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority abandons the legislation. Once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak, and a cloture vote by three-fifths of the Senate is required to end a filibuster

veto

The president’s constitutional power to reject acts of Congress

pocket veto

A veto that occurs automatically when Congress adjourns during the 10 days a president has to approve a bill and the president takes no action on it

distributive tendency

The tendency of Congress to spread the benefits of a policy over a wide range of members’ districts

party votes

A roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50 percent of the members of one party take a particular position and are opposed by at least 50 percent of the members of the other party

roll-call votes

Voting in which each legislator’s yes or no vote is recorded

whip system

A party communications network in each house of Congress. Whips poll their party’s members to learn their intentions on specific bills and also convey the leadership’s views and plans to members

logrolling

Agreements among members of Congress to vote for one another’s bills

executive agreement

An agreement between the president and another country that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate’s “advice and consent.”

impeachment

The process of charging a government official (president or other) with “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” and bringing that person before Congress to determine guilt

single-member districts

An electoral district that elects only one representative—the typical method of representation in the United States

Electoral College

An institution established by the Constitution for the election of the president and vice president of the United States. Every four years, voters in each state and the District of Columbia elect electors who, in turn, cast votes for the president and vice president. The candidate receiving a majority of the electoral vote for president or vice president is elected