Intro to Government Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on government.

What is an amendment in the context of the constitution?

A change or addition to the constitution.

What does bureaucracy refer to?

Organizations that implement government policies.

Define checks and balances.

A system where different parts of a government have the power to limit the actions of the other parts.

What is meant by common good?

Benefit or interest of a society as a whole.

What is civic virtue?

Behavioral norms and basic moral rules that are foundational to a successful society; it includes the idea that citizens should sometimes put aside their personal interests for the common good.

What is the consent of the governed?

Agreement by the people to set up and live under a government, which must rest on this consent according to natural rights philosophy.

What type of government is characterized as democracy?

A form of government in which political control is exercised by all the people, either directly or through their elected representatives.

Define a republic.

A system of government where power is held by the voters and exercised by elected representatives responsible for common welfare.

What does the federal supremacy clause state?

When state and federal laws come in conflict, federal laws take over.

Explain federalism.

A form of political organization in which governmental power is divided between national, state, and local governments.

What is meant by franchise?

The right to vote.

Define general welfare.

Good of society as a whole; the common or public good.

What is the function of the general welfare clause?

It gives Congress the ability to create programs and policies that improve the overall well-being of the nation.

What is impeachment?

The power of the House of Representatives to file charges against the president, vice president, federal judges, and other federal officers.

What is an interest group?

People who try to influence political decision-making.

What is legislative power?

The power to make laws.

Define majority rule.

Rule by more than half of those participating in a decision (50% plus 1).

What is a supermajority?

A majority that is greater than a simple majority, such as two-thirds or three-fifths.

What does plurality mean in an election?

When a party, candidate, or proposition receives more votes than any other but does not receive more than half of all votes cast.

What is a political party?

Any group that seeks to elect government officials under a given label.

What is a revolution in government context?

A complete or drastic change of government and the rules by which government is conducted.

Explain the rule of law.

Nobody is above the law.

What is the meaning of 'rule of men'?

The ability of government officials to put themselves above the law, opposed to the rule of law.

Define separation of powers.

Division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making.

What is the social contract?

A theory that people give up their rights and freedoms for protection from the government.

What does popular sovereignty refer to?

The power and authority of the government come from the people.

Define sovereignty.

The authority of a state to govern itself.

What is meant by 'state' in the context of world government?

A political entity with a defined territory, a permanent population, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

How is 'state' defined within the United States?

A particular geographic territory with a government that can make laws over the people in the territory.

What does the supremacy clause state?

The supreme law of the US includes the constitution, treaties, and federal laws.

What is suffrage?

The right to vote.

Define universal suffrage.

The right of all adult citizens to vote for their representatives in government.

What is pluralist theory?

A political theory where multiple organized interest groups compete to influence public policy.

Describe elitist theory.

The theory that elite and powerful people shape political outcomes.