psc 101 final university of alabama

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" that often lead to a solution (but not always).

Multiparty systems

Party systems in which more than two parties could potentially win a national election and govern

proportional representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

Single-member plurality elections

each voter is allowed to vote for only one candidate, and the winner of the election is the candidate who represents a plurality of voters or, in other words, received the largest number of votes.

Duverger's Law

single-ballot majoritarian elections with single-member districts (such as first past the post) tend to favor a two-party system

Protest parties

third parties that arise in response to issues of popular concern that have not been addressed by the major parties

Polarization

Division into two opposite positions

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Four functions of the parties

selecting the proppers candidates to represent the interest of the party and the people.

designing the platform that will be the message and objective of the party and the reason why people will follow.

licensing political appointees to people and other politicians and also the ones who would finance the campaign.

conducting the campaign according the interests of the party, the people and always stay in what was define as the platform of the party.

Party platforms

A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.

Populism

the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite

Enumerated vs. implied powers

Enumerated powers are powers specifically mentioned in the constitution, Implied powers are powers that are not specifically mentioned in the constitution, but are necessary for a successful government, such as the national bank

Elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Unicameral vs. bicameral legislatures

unicameral legislature: a legislature with only one chamber

bicameral legislature: legislature with two chambers (US: Senate and HoR)

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

standing vs select committees

Standing committees are permanent committees that are generally more powerful than other types of committees. Select committees are those created for a specific purpose

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Judicial review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

Descriptive representation

the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents

Substantive representation

representing the interests of groups

Constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

Trustee Representation

Representatives do what they regard as the best interest of the voters independent of what the voters want.

Delegate Representation

When representatives follow expressed wishes of the voters

Filibuster/Cloture

an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

Two roles bureaucracy fulfills

implementation, administration, and regulation

Bureaucracy and state capacity

extend its reach and to unite its territories under a single sovereignty

Departments vs. agencies

department is a part, portion, or subdivision while agency is the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power; action or activity; operation.

Time tax

a levy of paperwork, aggravation, and mental effort imposed on citizens in exchange for benefits that putatively exist to help them

Bureaucratic discretion

bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Cost-benefit analysis

a study that compares the costs and benefits to society of providing a public good

police patrol oversight

a method of oversight in which members of congress constantly monitor the bureaucracy to make sure that laws are implemented correctly

five alarm fire oversight

selective monitoring,triggered by complaints from citizens and interest groups who bring potential problems. to legislators' attention

Whistleblower

Someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action.

civil service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

presidential election process

campaign, primary elections/caucuses, general election, electoral college

Green Lantern Theory

the belief that the president can achieve any political or policy objective if only he tries hard enough or uses the right tactics

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

Constitutional vs. statutory interpretation

The object of interpreting the constitution is to ascertain the underlying principles and values innate in the South African Constitution, whilst statutory interpretation aims to ascertain whether the legislation in question is capable of being interpreted within the framework of the Constitution

precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

Jurisdiction

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

Originalism

A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intentions or original meaning of the Framers. Many conservatives support this view.

attitudinal model

a theoretical model where judicial decisions are primarily determined by the policy goals and ideological agendas of judges

Concurring vs. Dissenting Opinions

Concurring: Minority of judges agree with the outcome, but wish to express a different legal reasoning

Dissenting: Minority of judges disagree with outcome and wish to explain their legal reasoning

economic policy

All the different strategies that government officials employ to solve economic problems

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices

budget deficit

a shortfall of tax revenue from government spending

federal debt

all the money borrowed by the federal government over the years and still outstanding

Federal Reserve System

the central bank of the United States

Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending

mandatory- essentially automatic, programs the gov can't cut (Medicare, Social Security), always get money

discretionary- set by the gov through appropriations bills, can be cut

Contributory vs Noncontributory

-contributory

*employee pays part or all of the premium

*75% of eligible employees must enroll

-Noncontributory

*premium paid by employer

*100% of eligible employees must enroll

income inequality

the unequal distribution of income

Social Security

federal program of disability and retirement benefits that covers most working people

foriegn policy

actions that a nation takes in relations to other nations

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

Isolationism vs. Internationalism

Throughout our history, Americans have debated the role the nation should play in the world. Isolationists believe in detaching one's country as much as possible from international affairs. Internationalists, on the other hand, believe that the greatest possible cooperation between nations in trade, culture, education, government is the best way to build peace.

soft power

The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.

dominant actor in foreign policy

the president

Unilateral vs. Multilateral Action

Unilateralism is an approach in international relations in which states act without regard to the interests of other states or without their support. Unilateralism is usually contrasted with its opposite approach, multilateralism. Multilateralism is acting cooperatively with other states.