gov vocab

Limited government

Type of government where control is placed onto leadership and powers - use of laws that people have to obey, documents state the laws and the government cant take advantage of citizens because the power is limited

Eg:checks and balances

Natural rights

Derived from John Locke, people are born with inalienable natural rights - god given rights that cant be taken away or given away

Eg: life liberty and property

Popular sovereignty

The right to self govern. The people are the source of all government power.

Eg:we the people

Republicanism

A form of government where people elect representatives to make and carry out laws

Eg: Rome

Ratification

Signing and giving formal consent to a contract which is making it “official”

Eg: article 7 of the constitution

Factions

A group of people in within a bigger group/organization/government that have a different opinion than the people in the larger group.

Eg: dealt in federalist paper #10

Federal grants (grants in aid)

An award of money/property from the us government to fund towards peoples projects/activities that serve a purpose.

Umbrella term for all grants in a way

Eg: highway funding grants

Categorical grant

Formula and project grant are apart of the categorical grant

Specific type of grant - carrot on a stick

Having to jump through the hoops to get the money you’re applying for.

Eg:

Project grants are like UCF prosthetic program

Formula grant are like school lunch program

Block grant

Not as many hoops. Not as specific with requirements

Eg: dental screening, hearing screening, physicals,

Enumerated power

Explicitly written in the constitution

Gives direct power to the congress to regulate areas

VS implied power

Eg: power of congress to levy and collect taxes

Implied power

Powers taken by congress through deduction from expressed powers

VS enumerated power

Eg: necessary and proper clause. - elastic clause - has flexibility

Exclusive powers

Powers that are exercised by the national government by themselves.

VS concurrent powers

Eg: national governments power to coin money, make treaties with foreign states, and put taxes on imports

Concurrent powers

Powers of both the national government and states

VS exclusive powers

Eg: power to levy and collect taxes, to define crimes and set punishments for the crimes, to claim private property for public uses.

Eminent domain

Government is being able to claim private property for public use

Eg: highways/road system - with the 5th amendment

Checks and balances

Ensures that no single branch has an overpowering amount of power.

One branch can check the other branches.

Eg:

Legislative branch: can override presidential vetoes, can propose constitutional amendments

Executive branch: can veto legislation, can nominate federal judges

Judicial branch: can declare laws unconstitutional, can declare executive actions unconstitutional

Formal amendment process

Formal change in the US constitution involving 2 stages of proposal then ratification.

Eg: step 1 the amendment is proposed. Proposed by congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses.

Leaving to step 2 the amendment is ratified. Ratified by the state legislatures of ¾ (38) of the states.

Division of powers

System of federalism. The federal/national government is on top with the constitution. And the state and local governments are below. The state charters cant negate the national constitution.

Eg: vertical construct

Separation of powers

The seperation of 3 branches using checks and balances to keep them separate but equal. Legislative, executive, and judicial.

Eg: horizontal construct

Federalist

In favor of the constitution

Focused on the weakness of the articles and a strong government was needed

Eg: madison, Hamilton, jay

Anti-Federalist

Led by Henry, Richard Henry lee, George mason, Samuel Adam’s

Opposed the constitution

Wanted strong state governments and not a strong national government.

Eg: Henry, Richard Henry lee, George mason, Samuel Adam’s

Elite democracy

Model where small well educated wealthy people hold political powers. Which limits the citizens roles in choosing between competitive leaders.

Only a few people are representing everyone

Eg: the electoral college

Participatory democracy

Citizens are directly engages in political decision making. Citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

Everyone has a voice, everyone can run for office etc.

Eg: town hall(town meeting), ballots

Pluralist democracy

Citizen membership in groups is the key to political power.

Interest groups and how they affect those that are running the government

Eg: US interest group system

Centralized government (unitary)

Political system where power is concentrated in a single national authority.

Not shared with regional bodies

Eg: Iran/china

Another name for unitary government

Decentralized government (federal)

Body of government that shifts power/authority/resources from central governments to lower bodies like regional/local authorities. Local governments can also have power

Eg: USA

Federal

State sovereignty

For local units of government in the USA have sovereignty. Each state holds governing power. They can manage health, education, law enforcement etc.

Eg: individual us states creating their own laws on : marijuana, education, gun control.

10th amendment gives the states the ability for this.

Mandate

Legislature gives an official order to the local communities to do something but its UNFUNDED

Eg: schools need to keep the doors locked but with no more funding.

minimum wage / ADA - American disabilities act

Extradition

When you commit a crime and flee to another state, every state has an agreement to help get the fugitive back for prosecution.

Eg:Article IV - extradition clause

Impeachment

The process where a legislative body presses charges against a public official due to the officials misconduct.

Needs the house votes to accept the charges for the impeachment to go through.

Eg:House of Representatives - creates a committee and brings charges and collect evidence, then the house votes for impeachment. 2/3rds vote

After the 2/3rds vote it goes to the senate and they go to trial. and then they vote to convict 2/3s

Discretionary spending

Funds that congress has to formally approve when they want to spend money on whatever’s out there.

Eg: national Defense, education, transportation

Mandatory spending

Spending that’s REQUIRED by laws

Eg: social security, Medicaid, Medicare.

Constituency (2)

The voters or residents in a district represented by an elective officer

Eg: local governments

Partisan (2)

Vs bipartisan

Makes it very difficult to compromise or pass laws

PART isan = apart because they cant make a compromise

Eg: vote where all democrats vote no and all republicans vote yes based on their ideaology

Divided government(2)

One political party controls the presidency while another party controls 1/both houses of congress.

Eg: Ronald Regan had a democratic house

Bipartisan (2)

Vs partisan

Able to reach a bipartisan agreement which is making a compromise

Eg: foreign policy

Discharge position(2)

A means of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee by discharging the committee from further consideration of a bill or resolution

Eg: Legislative action

Veto(2)

The power of the president to reject legislation passed by congress. Congress can override with a 2/3 majority

Eg: Presidential veto

Pocket veto(2)

IF the president does it assign a bill within 10 days and congress adjourns during that time, the bill dies and congress cannot override

Eg: Barack Obama used a pocket veto on interstate recognition of notarizations act

Executive order(2)

Directs international operations in the us government. Issued by just the president

Not a law but an order

Vs executive agreement

Eg: emancipation proclamation

Executive agreements(2)

International agreements made with foreign nations

Vs executive order

Eg: NAFTA

Lame duck(2)

20th amendment.

An elected official (president/member of congress) that holds office during period of election and inauguration of the next. They have less influence because it’s a transition period but they can use this time period to pass certain controversial legislation or issues.

Eg: john Adam’s appointed federalist judges before Thomas Jefferson took office - midnight judges

Congressional term(2)

Vs congressional session

2 years and numbered consecutively where a specific congress serves

Eg: todays is the 119th congress (1/3/25)

Congressional session(2)

Vs congressional term

1 years term.

Time when they’re actually working. Adjourning and convening.

Has recess

Eg: 28 in history both houses -Truman’s in 1948 last one

Presidential succession(2)

The order of success for the president if something were to happen to the president.

Eg: 25th amendment

Reapportionment act of 1929(2)

States that the house size is permanent at 435

After each census the seats will be determined for each state

The president sends plans to congress

The house can reject or accept

Eg: 1911 house reapportionment act

Iron triangle(2)

Powerful mutual beneficial long term alliance with congressional committees

Eg: see picture

Government gridlock(2)

Situation that comes up when legislation faces difficulties in being passed due to different party controls in the legislature or the executive

Eg: budget shutdowns and debt ceiling

War powers act 1973(2)

Helped reserve the precedent set by the fund of Tonkin resolution

Gave tge president sweeping powers in Vietnam

Eg: Persian gulf war

Bully pulpit(2)

Conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to

Coined by Theodore Roosevelt - referred to his office as a bully pulpit

Eg: presidents state of the union address

Civil service(2)

Approximately 2.8 million civil servant jobs are filled in the executive legislative and judicial branches

Administer government policies

Eg: police officers

Bureaucracy(2)

Administrative body of appointed officials

A way to administratively organize large numbers of people who need to work together

Eg: EPA

Public policy(2)

Course of government action/inaction in response to public problems

Associated with formally approved policy goals and means

Eg: clean air regulations

Civil liberties (3)

Vs civil rights

The bill of rights

Legal constitutional protection against government

Eg: freedom of speech

Civil rights (3)

Vs civil liberties

14th amendment

What the government has to do to ensure equal protections

Eg:right to vote

Lemon test (3)

Ruled that state funding for religious schools violated the first amendment

Eg: school sponsored prayer (invalidated)

Slander (3)

False spoke statements that hurts someone’s reputation

Vs libel

Eg: false accusations of cri,e

Libel (3)

Written false statement that hurts someone’s reputation

Vs slander

Eg: a fake google review

Secular (3)

Used to distinguish a belief/position thats not religious.

Eg: public school

Parochial (3)

Related to church

Eg: religious school

Selective incorporation (3)

Applying part of the amendment to the state

Eg: right to bear arms

Total incorporation (3)

Apply the amendment to the state. The entire time

Eg: Adam’s on v California 1947

Prior restraint (3)

Judicial suppression of material that would be published or broadcast on the grounds that is libelous or harmful.

Eg: near v Minnesota

infringement (3)

A violation of a right

Eg: copyright/trademark

Affirmative action (3)

Procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination

Eg: diverse hiring panels

De facto (3) SEGREGATION

By fact

It exists by customs regardless of how it is meant to be. Something in practice

Eg:2. People who aren’t legally married but share a home and assets

De jure (3) SEGREGATION

By law

Something that exists as a result of a law or is recognized by a law.

Eg: Jim Crow laws

Wall of separation (3)

Separation of church and state

Eg: McCollum v board of education

Social movement (3)

Organized and collective efforts from citizens to make an influence

Eg: civil rights movement

Social order (3)

Structured behaviors and norms that allow for a society to function

Eg: legal system/law enforcement

Exclusionary rule (3)

Prevents the government from using evidence that was obtained violating the 4th amendment of unreasonable searches

Eg: warrantless home search

Defamation (3)

False statement presented as a fact that hurts someone’s reputation

Eg: libel or slander

Render (3)

To submit deliver provide or officially issue something

Eg: rendering aid

Symbolic speech (3)

Nonverbal, no written forms of communication

Eg: armbands or sit ins

Counsel (3)

Lawyers who provide legal advice and representation

Eg: FDA

Political party

Major party

Minor party

Straight ticket voting

Voters that support the same party every election

Split ticket voting

Voters that support different parties every election

Primary election

Blanket primary

People can vote for any candidate for whatever party and the last one standing with the most votes goes to the general election

Closed primary

Only people who are declared worth members can vote

Open primary

Any qualified voter can vote

Eg: blanket primary

Political efficacy (4)

Does your vote actually count. The higher the politics, efficacy the more likely someone is to be involved in politics

Compulsory voting (4)

You must vote and you’re forced to

Political party system (4)

One party system (4)

One major pp voters have no choice

Eg communism with North Korea

Two party system (4)

Two major political parties that control the political agenda. Eg: is with democrats and republicans

Multi party system (4)

3+ strong pops fighting for gov control and they have to work together in coalition to work together to run gov

Eg Germany

PAC - political action committee (4)

Donating money and supporting certain political candidates and parties

Super pac (4)

Cannot directly donate money to the candidate they need to invest funds in other sctivities that advertise against a political candidate