MIDTERM

What is Political Culture?

Shared beliefs about how politics should operate.

What are the Core Values of American political culture?

Liberty, Equality, Individualism, and Self-Government.

Define Liberty in the context of political culture.

Freedom from government interference.

What does Equality mean in the context of political culture?

All individuals treated the same under law.

What is Individualism in the context of political culture?

Personal responsibility and independence.

What is the meaning of Self-Government?

People are the ultimate source of authority.

What does politics entail according to the notes?

Struggles over power & influence in government.

What is the Social Contract?

An agreement between people & government; people consent to be governed in exchange for protection of rights.

What is Constitutionalism?

Government limited by law.

What is the definition of Democracy?

Rule by the people.

Define Pluralism in terms of politics.

Politics is competition among groups.

What does Majoritarianism entail?

Majority rules, but can risk minority rights.

What is meant by Limited Government?

Powers restricted by the Constitution.

What is a Republic?

A government where people elect representatives to govern.

What was The Great Compromise?

A bicameral legislature (House based on population, Senate has equal representation).

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation & taxation.

What are the Federalist Papers?

Essays advocating ratification of the Constitution, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

What is Federalism?

Power shared between national & state governments.

Define Confederacy.

A political system where states hold power, resulting in a weak central government.

What is a Unitary System?

A political system where the central government holds power and states are subordinate.

What powers are reserved for the states?

Powers outlined in the 10th Amendment.

What can national leaders do?

Print money, declare war, and enforce the Constitution.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal law is supreme as stated in Article VI.

What was the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Confirmed Congress's ability to create a national bank and stated that states cannot tax federal institutions.

What is the Necessary & Proper Clause also known as?

The Elastic Clause; it allows Congress to expand its powers.

What is Dual Federalism?

A period (1865–1937) when state and national governments operated separately.

Define Cooperative/Fiscal Federalism.

A system where federal and state governments share responsibilities, often through funding.

What role does California play in federalism?

It has the most diverse population, the largest electoral college delegation, and a powerful state economy with global impact.

What are Civil Liberties?

Protections from government interference (negative rights).

What does the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause prevent?

It prevents states from denying fundamental rights.

What is Procedural Due Process?

Government must follow fair procedures, including the right to trial and lawyer.

What is Prior Restraint?

The government's inability to censor the press before publication.

What is the Right to Privacy?

A right inferred from multiple amendments that protects personal autonomy.

What is the Exclusionary Rule?

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in trial.

What key case is associated with the Exclusionary Rule?

Mapp v. Ohio (1961).

What are Equal Rights / Civil Rights?

The government's duty to ensure equal treatment under the law.

What does the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause provide?

It serves as the basis for civil rights protections.

What are the Levels of Scrutiny for discrimination cases?

Strict Scrutiny for race, Intermediate Scrutiny for gender, and Reasonable Basis Test for age.

Define De Jure discrimination.

Discrimination by law, such as segregation laws.

What is De Facto discrimination?

Discrimination arising from social or economic causes.

What landmark case upheld the 'Separate but equal' doctrine?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

What did Mendez v. Westminster (1947) address?

It challenged school segregation in California for Latino students.

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

It overturned Plessy and ended legal segregation.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?

It ended segregation and outlawed discrimination in public places and employment.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibit?

Housing discrimination.

What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

It ended literacy tests and enforced minority voting rights.

What is Affirmative Action?

Programs intended to address historic inequality.

What historical event involved WWII Japanese Internment?

Executive Order 9066 in 1942.

What change was made to California Workplace Protections after a 2020 SCOTUS ruling?

Protections were extended to LGBTQ+ individuals.

What is Political Socialization?

The process of acquiring political beliefs.

What are the primary agents of Political Socialization?

Family and school.

What are secondary agents of Political Socialization?

Peers, media, leaders, and events.

What are Frames of Reference in Political Socialization?

Group identity, party identification, and political ideology.

Define Conservative ideology.

Advocates for limited government and traditional values.

What does Liberal ideology support?

Advocates for active government, social programs, and equality.

What is the Populist ideology?

The belief that government should help economically and uphold traditional morality.

What is the Libertarian ideology focused on?

Individual liberty and minimal government intervention.

Define Public Opinion.

Collective attitudes on issues and leaders.

What is Political Polling?

The process of measuring public opinion.

What factors contribute to the accuracy of Political Polling?

Random sampling and question wording, along with margin of error and representative samples.