POSI

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Democracy

Lets people decide for themselves what to think and how much effort to put into it.

Authoritarian regime

Requires people to think a certain way or risk punishment.

American political culture

Centers on a set of core ideals- liberty, equality, self government, and individualism.

Political culture

The widely shared and deep seated beliefs of individuals about politics.

Liberty

The principle that individuals should be free from arbitrary and oppressive government.

Individualism

A commitment to personal initiative and self sufficiency.

Equality

The notion that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and entitled to equal treatment under the law.

Self government

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of governing authority.

Cultural beliefs of Americans

Idealistic, promising a government of high purpose.

Politics

The means by which society settles its conflicts.

Power

Basic to politics; affects who wins and who loses in political decisions.

Authoritarian government

Represses political opponents through intimidation and prohibitions on free expression.

Majoritarianism

Political leaders acting on behalf of the majority.

Constitutionalism

The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power.

Totalitarianism

A centralized and dictatorial system requiring complete subservience to the state.

Limited government

Subject to strict legal limits on the use of power.

Representative government

Government where the people govern through the election of representatives.

Social contract

A voluntary agreement by individuals to form a government.

Inalienable (natural) rights

Rights possessed in the state of nature, including life, liberty, and property.

Virginia plan

A constitutional proposal for a strong congress with two chambers based on numerical representation.

New Jersey plan

A proposal for a strengthened congress with each state having one vote.

Electoral votes

Method of voting to choose the US president based on state population.

Anti-federalist

Opponents of the constitution during the debate over ratification.

Four major goals of the writers of the constitution

Strong government, federal government, limited government, representative government.

Grants of power

Limiting the US government to powers expressly granted in the constitution.

Denials of power

Power expressly denied to national and state governments by the constitution.

Separation of power

Division of national government’s power among three branches.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the constitution listing individual rights.

Tyranny of the majority

The potential of a majority to monopolize for its own gain.

Direct democracy

A form of government where citizens directly decide on issues.

Republic

Government where representatives decide policy, structured to protect individual liberty.

Primary election

Election where voters choose a party's nominees for public office.

Constitutional democratic republic

A government that is constitutional with provisions for minority rights and rule by law.

Sovereignty

The supreme authority to govern within a certain geographic area.

Federalism

Authority divided between national and regional governments.

Unitary system

Governmental system where national government has sovereign authority.

Confederacy

A system where sovereignty is vested entirely in state governments.

Enumerated (expressed) powers

The 17 powers granted to the national government under Article 1, Section 8.

Supremacy clause

Article 6 of the constitution making national law supreme over state law.

Argument against federalism

It would correct the national government’s defects in powers to tax and regulate commerce.

Necessary and proper clause

Authority granted to Congress to make all laws necessary and proper.

Implied powers

Federal government's constitutional authority to take action not expressly authorized.

Reserved powers

Powers granted to the states under the 10th amendment.

Nationalization

Process of authority shifting from states to national government.

Dual federalism

Doctrine advocating the separation of national power and state power.

Cooperative federalism

Situation where all government levels work together to solve problems.

Fiscal federalism

Expenditure of federal funds on programs through states and localities.

Grants in aid

Federal cash payments to states and localities for administered programs.

New federalism

Term indicating reduction of federal programs traditionally reserved for states.

Categorical grants

Federal grants that can only be used for designated projects.

Block grants

Federal grants allowing state and local officials to decide spending.

Devolution

Passing down authority from the national government to state and local government.

Elitism

Power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals.

Commerce clause

Authority granted to Congress to regulate commerce among the states.

Tenth amendment

Delegates some powers to state governments or the people.

Interstate commerce clause

Gives executive power to regulate commerce between states.

Equal protection clause

Requires states to treat all citizens equally under the 14th amendment.

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize judgments and public records of other states.

Popular sovereignty

Idea that power in state constitutions rests with the people.

Social contract theory

Idea that individuals possess inalienable rights and submit to government for protection.

Statutes

Laws passed by state legislatures.

Ordinances

Laws passed by local governments.

Initiative

Process allowing citizens to propose constitutional changes through petitions.

Federal judges' appointment

Nominated by the president and confirmed by the majority of the Senate.

Federal judges' term

They serve until they die or retire.

Federalist No. 78

Hamilton argued life tenure was needed for judiciary's independence.

Statutory law

Laws that federal courts must follow derived from statutes.

Precedent

Federal courts follow legal principles based on previous cases.

Judicial review

Power of courts to decide if a government institution acted within its constitutional powers.

Jurisdiction

Court's authority to hear specific case types.

Original jurisdiction

Authority of a court to be the first to hear a case.

Appellate jurisdiction

Authority of a court to review cases tried in lower courts.

US courts of appeals

13 courts, most decide cases from district courts across various states.

Supreme Court

9-member court with specific original and appellate jurisdictions.

Rule of 4

Supreme Court accepts a case if at least 4 justices agree to hear it.

Writ of certiorari

Permission for a losing party to appeal a case to a higher court.

Majority opinion

Court opinion when a majority of justices agree on a decision.

Plurality opinion

Court opinion when a majority agree on a decision but not on the legal basis.

Concurring opinion

Separate opinion by a justice who agrees with the majority but not the reasoning.

Dissenting opinion

Opinion explaining a justice's disagreement with the majority's decision.

Per curiam opinion

An unsigned decision written for the court as a whole.

State courts

Judges can be appointed, elected, or subject to retention elections.

Administrative law

Rules made by government agencies during the enforcement of statutory law.

Interest groups

Can submit briefs to make a court aware of their position on a case.

Judicial restraint

Judges deferring to elected lawmakers' decisions.

Judicial activism

Judges act based on their belief in elected officials' constitutional actions.

Originalism theory

Meaning of constitutional provisions is fixed in their time of writing.

Living constitution theory

Constitutional law should change with societal needs.

ACLU

Interest group that files cases seeking to protect individual rights.

Imperial presidency

An office too powerful for constitutional checks and balances.

Imperiled presidency

An office too weak to meet the nation's needs.

Presidential power changes

Changes with political conditions and the abilities of officeholders.

Executive branch control

President needs many appointees to control the executive branch.

Election qualifications

President must be at least 35 years old, a US resident for 14 years, and a natural born citizen.

22nd amendment

Limits a president to two terms in office.

Chief diplomat

Role of the president responsible for relations with other countries.

Chief legislature

Role giving the president authority to recommend legislative measures.

Chief executive

Role that makes the president responsible for executing laws.

Head of government

The highest-ranking executive official.

Head of state

The ceremonial role of the president representing the country.