Studied by 71 people
Limited Government
A type of system of government in which the powers of the government are limited by or kept in check by laws or a written Constitution
Natural Rights
these are rights to which people are entitled by natural law, including life, liberty, and property.
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the right to rule comes from the people
Republicanism
A form of government where people elect representatives to carry out their interests
Social Contract
An agreement between the people, who give up some freedom, in exchange for protection from the government
Participatory Democracy
A theory emphasizing broad citizen involvement in government
Pluralist Democracy
A theory emphasizing group-based activism
Elite Democracy
A theory that the wealthy have more influence
Federalism
A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states and where the states have some protected
Exclusive Powers
The powers that are exclusively granted to the federal government and cannot be exercised by the states
Concurrent Powers
Authority that is shared between the national and state governments
Mandates
When the national government requires the states to do something
Revenue Sharing
When the national government distributes tax revenues to the states to spend as they see fit
Categorical Grants
Money given by the national government to the states to be used for specific, narrowly defined purposes
Block Grants
Money given by the national government to the states to carry out a specific policy, with few restrictions about how it should be spent
Enumerated Powers
Powers that are given to an institution of government directly in the Constitution
Implied Powers
Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution, such as the power of Congress to establish a national bank
Constituency
The voters in a district or state who are represented by a member of Congress
Filibuster
An informal procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death
Cloture
A vote by 60 senators to end unlimited debate
Unanimous Consent
An agreement, usually among congressional leaders, setting the terms for considering a bill
Hold in the Senate
A procedure to prevent a bill from reaching the floor
Discharge Petition
A procedure for getting a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote
Discretionary Spending
Spending on programs not already required by law
Mandatory Spending
Spending that is required under the law, such as Medicare and interest on the national debt
Entitlement Programs
A program for which funding is required that provides guaranteed benefits to those who qualify, regardless of income
Budget Deficit
An annual shortfall between federal revenues and expenses
Pork Barrel Legislation
A provision in a bill that benefits a relatively small group of people
Logrolling
When members of Congress trade votes for favors in order to get bills they support passed
Gerrymandering
Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party
Redistricting
Redrawing congressional district boundaries based on a new census
Reapportionment
Redistributing legislative seats according to the population so that each district has roughly the same population
Divided government
When the president is from one party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by a different party
“Lame Duck” President
A president who is at the end of his second term or who has lost an election or decided not to run for a second term
Trustee Model
The idea that members of Congress should use their expertise and judgment in making policy
Delegate Model
The idea that members of Congress should make the policies favored by their constituents
Politico Model
The idea that members of Congress sometimes use their judgment and sometimes follow the wishes of their constituents in making policy
Pocket Veto
When the president doesn't sign a bill for 10 days, after Congress has adjourned
Executive Order
A presidential statement that has the force of law and does not require congressional approval
Executive agreement
An agreement with a foreign nation that does NOT require congressional approval
Signing Statement
Signing a bill with a written statement that the executive will not carry out a portion of the bill
Stare decisis
When a court follows precedent by allowing a previous court decision to stand. “Let the Decision Stand”
Judicial Activism
A philosophy that the Supreme Court should use its authority to make bold new policy
Judicial Restraint
A philosophy that the Supreme Court should limit itself to constitutional interpretation and avoid making bold new policy
Issue Network/Iron Triangle
The relationship between a congressional committee or subcommittee, an interest group, and bureaucratic agency regarding a policy area
Oversight
When a congressional committee holds a hearing to determine how well an agency is performing
Civil Liberties
Individual rights protected by law from unjust government interference
Civil Rights
Rights provided by the government to protect groups from discrimination
Selective Incorporation
The process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the 14th Amendment
Symbolic Speech
Non-verbal expression protected by the First Amendment, such as wearing an armband
Defamatory Speech
An untrue statement that damage's someone's reputation, which is not protected by the 1st Amendment
Due Process Clause
Constitutional basis for individual liberties and fair treatment by the judicial system
Equal Protection Clause
Constitutional basis for civil rights and equality under the law
Miranda Rule
Policy requiring police to inform suspects in custody of their rights
Exclusionary Rule
The rule that evidence obtained by authorities in violation of the Constitution may not be used in court
Individualism
The belief that people should be self-reliant, free from state control, and responsible for their own success or failure
Equality of Opportunity
The idea that the government should provide citizens with the same chance to succeed
Free Enterprise
The idea that businesses should operate in competition, relatively free from government control
Rule of Law
The idea that everyone, including government officials, is subject to well-defined and established laws that are not arbitrary
Political Socialization
The process by which an individual develops his/her political beliefs
Political Ideology
An individual's set of beliefs about the role of government
Keynesian Theory
A theory that the government should spend money during economic recessions to stimulate demand in the economy
Supply-Side Theory
The theory that government should cut taxes to stimulate economic growth
Monetary Policy
The governments' use of the money supply to influence economic growth
Fiscal Policy
The government's use of taxing and spending to influence economic growth
Liberal Ideology
A political view that government should protect individual freedom and civil rights
Conservative ideology
A political view that supports free enterprise and traditional social values
Franchise/Suffrage
The right to vote
Rational-Choice Voting
Voting for a candidate because they will act in the voters' best interest
Retrospective Voting
Voting for a candidate based on what he or she has done in the recent past
Prospective Voting
Voting for a candidate based on predictions about what the candidate will do in the future
Party-Line Voting
Voting for candidates from one political party
Demographics
The statistical characteristics of a population
General Election
An election for president, members of the House of Representatives, and 1 / 3 of the Senate
Mid-Term Elections
An election for members of Congress two years after a presidential election
Linkage Institutions
Elections, interest groups, political parties, and the media
Critical Election
An election where new coalitions of voters have formed, beginning a new party era
Realignment
When voters leave one of the major political parties and join the other major political party
Proportional System
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
Winner-Take-All System
A system for electing members of the legislature where the person who receives the plurality of votes is awarded the single seat available
Party Coalition
Groups of voters (EX: labor unions, ethnic minorities) who support one political party over time
Bipartisan
Legislation or policy that has the support of both major political parties
Open Primary
A vote to determine a party's candidate for office where that party's members and unaffiliated voters may vote
Closed Primary
A vote to determine a party's candidate for office where only members registered to a political party are allowed to vote
Party Caucus
A vote to determine a party's candidate for office where only members registered to a political party are allowed to vote
Incumbency Advantage
Those who already hold office are more likely to win than their challengers
PAC
An organization that is registered with the Federal Election Commission that donates money to a candidate or campaign
Super PAC
An organization whose members need not be disclosed that may donate unlimited amounts of money to a candidate or campaign
Independent Expenditure
Money spent on ads not sponsored by a candidate or party
Horse Race Journalism
The tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues
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