US Gov KVQ Pightified

Federalists

Supporters of the ratification of the constitution. Supporters of strong central government.

Antifederalists

Opponents of the ratification of the constitution. Opponents of a strong central government.

Separation of Powers

Division of powers among the 3 branches. Legislative makes laws, executive applies and enforces said laws, judiciary interprets the laws.

Checks and balances

The constitutional grant of powers that let each branch of government check some of the acts of the other branches. Makes sure no one can dominate.

Divided government

Governance divided between different parties. Example: one party holds the presidency, the other holds the houses or a house of congress.

Judicial Review

The power of court to be able to say no to enforcing a law or regulation that the judges don't think aligns with the constitution of a state or the US.

Impeachment

A formal accusation by the lower house against a government official. The first step to having them removed.

Executive Order

An informal power used by a president or governor that has the power of law.

Federalism

Basically the distribution of power between a central government and subdivisions of government. Example: the central government and our states.

Implied powers

Powers that can be inferred from expressed powers on what congress can do.

Necessary and Proper Clause

This is what makes the implied powers. Says that congress, in addition to their expressed powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out the powers the constitution states they have.

Commerce Clause

Gives congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect multiple states or other nations.

Concurrent powers

Powers that the constitution gives to both the national and state governments. Example: The power to levy taxes.

Linkage institutions

The way people can express individual preferences regarding the development of public policy.

Political culture

The common beliefs, values and norms about how citizens relate to governments and each other.

Political ideology

A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Interest group

A group of people who share a common interest or attitude and want to influence the government for specific reasons. They usually do this through lobbying.

Caucus

Meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office.

Open primary

An election where any voter, regardless of party, can vote to narrow down candidates seeking party nomination.

Closed primary

An election where only voters registered with that party's primary can vote to narrow down candidates seeking a party nomination.

Winner takes all system (SMDP)

Election system where the candidate with the most votes (plurality) wins.

Minor party/3rd party

A tiny political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or has ideologies on the right or left and lasts a while. Example: the Green Party and Bernie Sanders.

De-alignment

The weakening of partisan (people with strong party loyalties) and a rise in the number of independents.

Public opinion (polling)

The distribution of individual opinions on an issue, candidate, or institution with a specific population.

Political socialization

The process by which we build our political attitudes, values and beliefs. Usually families and schools.

Electoral College

The system used in electing the president and vice president in which voters vote for electors to cast their ballots for party's candidates.

Reserved powers

Powers given to the states by the 10th amendment because they aren't given to the national government.

Retrospective voting

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be elected again based on the recent past.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the person's individual interests.

Prospective voting

Voting based on how a candidate is predicted to perform in the future.

Trustee model

A member of congress who considers the views of their constituents and uses their own judgment to decide how to vote.

Delegate model

A member of congress who always follows their constituents' voting preferences.

Politico

A member of congress who acts as a delegate on issues their constituents care about, and as a trustee on issues their constituents don't care about.

Popular sovereignty

Government's power comes from the people/consent of the governed. Example: the political party changing each election.

Limited Government

Political system in which there are certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual liberties and rights.

Natural rights

Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and property; can't be taken away.

Republicanism

The authority of the government comes from the people. Representatives.

Social contract

People allow their government to rule over them and give up some freedoms for protection and order.

Pluralist democracy

Democracy where no one group dominates and organized groups compete for influence.

Participatory democracy

Democracy in which citizens have power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions.

Elite democracy

Democracy in which a small amount of people, usually the wealthy/educated, have a larger influence on political decision making.

Supremacy Clause

States that the federal laws and constitution make it superior to state constitution and laws.

Block Grant

Federal grants issued to states or local governments to support broad programs. Increases the power of states.

Categorical grant

Federal grants for specific purposes. Increases power of federal government.

Filibuster

Tactic used by senators to block a bill by holding the floor to speak and having unlimited debate.

Pork barrel

Using federal funding to finance local projects. Usually bringing money into a representative's district to please constituents and boost the representative's chances of election.

Judicial Activism

The belief that the role of a judge is to defend individual rights and liberties, even those not in the constitution.

Judicial restraint

The role of a judge is to defer decisions and policy making to elected branches of government and just focus on interpreting the bill of rights.

Redistricting

The process of adjusting electoral districts in the US by state legislatures.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of seats in the US House of Representatives because of changes in population.

Stare decisis

The principle of making legal decisions on past precedents.

Bully Pulpit

The idea that the presidency is a platform from which the president could promote an agenda directly to the public.

Advice and consent

Authority of the senate to ratify treaties, confirm cabinet's, and judicial appointments. Allows the senate to constrain the powers of the president in appointment and treaty making.

Free exercise clause

Prevents the federal government from interfering with its citizens' religious beliefs and practices.

Establishment Clause

Stops federal government from supporting an official religion.

Due process clause

Provisions of the 5th and 14th amendments that limit the power of the government to deny natural rights. Must have correct legal procedure.

Equal protection clause

Part of the 14th amendment that says states can't deny equal protection of the laws from any students.

Selective incorporation

The slow application of amendments to state and local government because of the 14th amendment.

Political action committees (Pac's)

An organization that represents an interest group or company and raises money with the intention of supporting/defeating candidates/parties/legislation.

Super Pacs

Type of political committee that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support a candidate or party, as long as they don't directly coordinate with or donate to the candidate or party they are supporting.

Iron triangle

A longstanding mutually beneficial relationship between an interest group, congressional committees or some other agency devoted to similar issues.

Horserace Journalism

Focuses on who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than on candidates' policy agenda or debates.

Gatekeeping

The media's role in setting the political agenda by drawing public and government attention to certain issues.

Watchdog

The role played by the media in investigating personalities and exposing scandals.

Candidate centered

Political campaigns that focus on the candidates for office, their personalities and issues, rather than the parties they represent.