gov 312L midterm

dual mandate

citizens demand government be representative and effective

defensive self interest

care about who governs because state power can be deployed against us or for us

long term societal impact

gov policies structure everyday realities (tech regulation, reproductive healthcare)

power (relational and technological)

x causes y to do a which y would not otherwise do

direct = executive orders, indirect = interest groups

authority

political power backed by a recognized right of claim (legitimacy) if x is government and y is society

the American standard

legitimacy is rational legal (weber), anchored entirely by widespread belief in the law and U.S. and state constitutions

direct democracy

citizens participate directly in office holding or policymaking

representative democracy

procedural/organized struggle for the people’s vote through free, fair, competitive elections

core safeguards

freedom of speech, assembly, independent press, meaningful voter choice

demagoguery

political strategy to win support by exciting emotions, fears, prejudices, desires rather then reasoned arguments facts or sound policy (trump)

marxist/class (karl marx/engels)

corporate and financial capital → wall street + tech monopolies dictating tax and labor laws

power elite (c. wright mills)

military, cooperate, political triumvirate → defense contractors driving foreign policy

bureaucratic (weber)

unelected administrative experts → FDA, EPA, federal reserve officials making binding rules

pluralism (1950s/1960s Pol. Sci)

fragmented, competing interest groups → labors unions, big tech locked in perpetual bargaining

factionalism

too many factions dominating and coalescing with other groups to monopolize government attention against the many, leads minority groups to overthrow regime

participatory democracy

direct + representative democracy = citizens actively engage in continuous political processes, community discussions, decision making, often influencing representative framework

1787 constitutional convention

to replace articles of confederation during time or peace but political instability to restore rights

montesquieu

seperation of powers

locke

natural rights, social contract (consent of the governed)

Ancient Rome/Greece

mixed government - elements of monarchy, aristocracy, democracy

shay’s rebellion

armed uprising against high taxes and debt, lack of hard currency which exposed inability to raise an army by articles of confederation

virginia plan

strong national government - representatives in house/senate based on population

New Jersey plan

weak national government (more states power with 2 representatives for each state)

great compromise

members of the house apportioned among states based on population, 2 senators from each state chosen by state legislatures( now directly by people 17th amendment)

elections for house, state legislatures chose senators, electors choose president (majoritarian rule - majority of voters/states)

enumerated powers (federal gov only)

authority to print money, declare war, make treaties, foreign affairs, regulate commerce between states and internationally

reserved powers (only state)

issue licenses, regulate commerce within a state

concurrent powers (both)

collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, courts

veto points

access points (incentivizes group formation)

status quo bias

hard to make change because more opposition, prevent factionalism + tyranny

status quo

current state of affairs

insider tactics

be status quo, build relationships with policy makers

outsider tactics

be the next status quo, mobilize broader public support

majoritarian

winner take all electoral rules → legislative power concentrated into single part majorities with dominant two party system

proportional representation (Germany, Netherlands)

multi party coalition bargaining, formal co-governance

mandate (political mandate)

authority granted by voters to elected office to enact specific policies, represent public after election

incumbent

current holder of a political office running for re-election or finishing their term

primary paradox

to survive primary elections, candidates must cater to core ideological activists

general election pivot

to win general election, candidates must pull back toward median voter (extreme policy positions create electoral vulnerability)

valence issues

insider groups frame demands abound low visibility tweaks

retrospective voting

consider past performance to vote

prospective voting

vote based on candidates promises for future actions

insider game

quiet lobbying, technical expertise, veto points to protect status quo or win low visibility concessions away from public scrutiny

reform dilemma

for groups opposing status quo, quiet lobbying fails because risk averse politicians prefer inaction over controversial shifts

inertia

natural tendency of object to resist change in state of motion or rest

party organization

hierarchical, structural framework of political party

party in the public

voters who identify with and support a party

party in the government

elected and appointed officials who advance the party’s policy goals

majoritarianism

political philosophy that a numerical or cultural majority of a population should have the primary right to make decisions and rule over a society

collective action problem

all members of a group benefit from working together but individual self interest discourages joint action → worse outcome for everyone

Olson - logic of collective action

large groups don’t automatically organize for common interest unless smaller size, selective incentive, or coercion force participation

logrolling

trade support or votes for one bill or measure in exchange for another politician’s vote on a seperate bill

ad hoc majority

temporary or spontaneous case by case coalition formed for pass a specific measure, vote, or piece of legislation

party coalition

alliance of 2+ parties that join forces to share power in government or to build a brand electoral majority

spoils system

winning party hands out government jobs, public office, and contracts to its campaign supporters

Pendleton act

replaced political spoils system with merit based system for selection Ana managing federal employees

direct primary

voters choose candidates through direct vote

McGovern- fraser commission

requires open and public delegate selection processes

buckley v. valeo

limits on direct campaign contributions

citizens v united

free speech clause in first amendments prohibits government from restricting independent political expenditures

judicial review

examine the actions of the legislative, executive, and administrative branches of government and declare them null and void if they violate the constitution

constitutional finality

legal and political idea that the U.S. Supreme Court has the final, conclusive word on what the U.S. Constitution

fed 70

energy in the executive, single executive

adminsitrative discretion

flexible power given to public officials and regulatory agencies to make choices and apply judgment when implementing laws

common law governance

health, safety, commerce governed locally, tort courts = classical majoritarian delegation through congress

tort court

civil lawsuits between individuals or companies

sovereign execution

government’s supreme, independent authority to enforce laws, implement policies, and carry out executive functions within its territory without external interference

agency docket

public collection of documents, notices, studies, and comments that a government or administrative agency uses to track a rulemaking action, permit, or general proceeding

political culture (dilution + wilson)

a patterned and sustained way of how you think political and economic life shoudl eb carried out

5 elements of American political culture

liberty, equality of opportunity, individualism, democracy, civic duty

american creed

core values of Americans, ongoing driver of political struggle and reform

faction paradox

citizens see their own groups as noble civic movements while seeing opposing civil movements as corrupt special interests

astroturfing

fake grassroots fronts to deceive public

revolving door lobbying

former officials commodifying public service for private gain

shadow lobbying/regulatory capture

all unreported lobbying(fundraisers, PR firms) but also quietly/anonymously writing agency rules behind closed doors

economic and producer groups (V.O.Keys)

business/industry, organized labor and agriculture

groups organized around production, capital defense, worker/farm protections

non economic and identity groups

veterans, religious/moral movements, civic leagues

organized around social cohesion, shared identity, or moral reform

interest group

organized, trying to influence government decision, not running candidate for office

Dilulio + Wilson - an organized group that is trying to influence public policy without running a candidate for office

institutional interests (Wilson and dilulio and nownes)

individuals or organizations that represent other pre existing organizations rather than individual citizens (business, trade associations, universities)

ex. Tesla (corporation mainly hiring lobbying firms)

general motors (corporation mainly using in house lobbyists)

national association of realtors (trade/industry association)

U.S. chamber of commerce (represents business community as a whole)

government group (national governors association)

trade association

type of organization representing commercial and business interests of an entire industry

professional group

focuses on individual workers - educational requirements, enforces ethical codes, credentials for individual practitioners (ex. American medical association)

mass membership interests

organization supported by individual citizens who voluntarily join (unions, citizen action groups, AARP)

solidarity groups - league of women voters, national PTA, NAACP

material membership groups - Illinois farm bureau and American association of retired persons

purposive membership groups - public interest law firms, think tanks, ideological groups, general public interest groups (ACLU, heritage foundation)

Olson free rider problem

collective goods benefit everyone equally, rational individuals have incentive to “free ride” → systemic funding challenges

staff effect (Wilson and DiIulio)

professional staff running membership groups have more extreme ideological views than ordinary members

use contentious issues to drive fundraising and organizational growth

truman disturbance theory

social disturbances (industrialization, urbanization) spark counter mobilization

social diversification and communication innovations

energy space area (ESA) model of competition (gray and lowery)

high group density in issue area = more resource competition for donors, embers, policymaker attentions

political representation -

political actors act in the interest of, express the preferences of, or embody identity of citzens in policymaking

anticipatory

prospective voting

promissory

retrospective voting

gyroscopic