American Government and Politics Key Terms

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, structures, processes, and terminology in American and Texas political science.

Government

Institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

Politics

Conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments

Autocracy

A form of government in which a single individual—a king, queen, or dictator—rules

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group—landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants—controls most of the governing decisions

Popular Sovereignty

A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

Democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

Constitutional Government

A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

Authoritarian Government

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

Totalitarian Government

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

Direct Democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

Majority Rule, Minority Rights

The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

Representative Democracy (Republic)

A system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision-making

Political Power

Influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies

Pluralism

Competition among groups and organized interests for influence in the government

Citizenship

Membership in a political community that confers legal rights and carries participation responsibilities

Political Knowledge

Information about the formal institutions of government, political actors, and political issues

Disinformation

False information that is shared intentionally to reach a political goal

Political Efficacy

The belief that one can influence government and politics

Political Culture

Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function; American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, democracy, equality, and justice

Liberty

Freedom from governmental control

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Laissez-faire Capitalism

An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

Political Equality

The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"

Equality of Opportunity

A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

Justice

The fairness of how rewards and punishments are delivered, especially by governments and courts, but also in society

Fairness

Impartial decision-making; the quality of treating people equally, free from discrimination

Social Justice

The just allocation of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments

Sovereign

Having the highest political authority within a particular geographic area

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional rule that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties take priority over conflicting state laws

Tenth Amendment

States that powers not given to the federal government or denied to the states are reserved to the states or the people

Elastic Clause

Gives Congress authority to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its constitutional powers

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to generally recognize the laws and court decisions of other states

Public Policy Exception

Allows a state in some situations not to recognize another state’s action when it conflicts with its own public policy

Reconstruction

The period after the Civil War when much of the South was placed under federal military control

Civil War Amendments

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments adopted after the Civil War

Fourteenth Amendment

Protects people from state actions that deny due process or equal protection under the law

Incorporation of the Bill of Rights

The process by which protections in the Bill of Rights were applied to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment

Separate but Equal

A former doctrine allowing racial segregation if supposedly equal facilities were provided

Dual Federalism

A system in which state and national governments have clearly separated powers and responsibilities

Layer-Cake Federalism

Another name for dual federalism, where state and federal responsibilities remain separate

Dual Sovereignty

The principle that both state and federal governments have authority to make and enforce laws

Police Power

The states’ authority to make laws protecting health, safety, welfare, and morals

Cooperative Federalism

A system in which state and national governments work together and their responsibilities overlap

Marble-Cake Federalism

A description of cooperative federalism where state, local, and federal responsibilities are mixed together

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to states or local governments for a specific purpose

New Federalism

Efforts to return more authority and responsibility from the federal government to the states

Block Grants

Federal funding given to states with broad freedom over how the money is spent within a general policy area

Coercive Federalism

When the federal government pressures states to change policies in order to meet national goals

Unfunded Mandates

Federal requirements that state or local governments must carry out without receiving enough federal money to pay for them

Preemption

When federal law takes priority over conflicting state law or regulation

Independent State Grounds

The ability of states to provide greater rights through their own constitutions than the U.S. Constitution requires

Preclearance

A former Voting Rights Act requirement that certain states receive federal approval before changing voting laws or procedures

Individual Mandate

A requirement under the Affordable Care Act that individuals obtain health insurance

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

A policy protecting certain undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and allowing eligible recipients to work

Constitution

The legal framework of a government that establishes its authority, powers, and limits

Separation of Powers

The division of government power among separate institutions that must cooperate when making decisions

Checks and Balances

A system in which different branches have overlapping powers that prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Tyranny

The concentration of excessive government power in one person or branch

Necessary and Proper Clause

Gives Congress authority to pass laws needed to carry out the powers granted to it by the Constitution

Unicameral

A legislature consisting of only one chamber or house

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two separate chambers or houses

Confederacy

The Confederate States of America, formed by Southern states that seceded from the United States during the Civil War era

Radical Republicans

Republicans in Congress who supported Black voting rights and stronger federal control of the South during Reconstruction

Grange

A farmers’ movement in the late nineteenth century that worked to improve economic and political conditions for farmers

Republican Government

A representative system in which government authority comes from the people through elected officials

Plural Executive

An executive branch in which power is divided among several independently elected statewide officials rather than concentrated in the governor

Impeachment

A formal accusation by the Texas House of Representatives that can lead to a Senate trial and possible removal of a state official

Constituency

The people who live in the area represented by an elected official

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature made up of two separate chambers or houses

Delegate

A representative who votes according to what their constituents want

Trustee

A representative who votes based on their own judgment about what is best for constituents

Descriptive Representation

Representation in which elected officials share characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or education with their constituents

Substantive Representation

Representation based on how well an official supports the interests and policy preferences of constituents

Incumbency

Holding the political office that a person is currently running for again

Pork Barrel

Government spending directed toward local projects, often to benefit a representative’s district and help with reelection

Apportionment

The distribution of House seats among the states after each census

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries, usually after the census to account for population changes

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries in a way that gives an advantage to a political party or group

Conference

A meeting of House Republicans used to choose leaders and organize party activity

Caucus

A meeting of party members used to choose leaders, plan strategy, or make legislative decisions

Speaker of the House

The House’s presiding officer and its most powerful party leader

Majority Leader

The elected leader of the majority party who helps direct the party’s legislative strategy

Minority Leader

The elected leader of the minority party in the House or Senate

Whip

A party leader who gathers votes, communicates party positions, and encourages members to support party legislation

Standing Committee

A permanent congressional committee responsible for legislation in a particular policy area

Select Committee

A temporary committee created to investigate or study a particular issue

Joint Committee

A congressional committee containing members from both the House and Senate

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee that works out differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

Seniority

A ranking based mainly on how long a member has served in Congress or on a committee

Bill

A proposed law introduced in Congress

Committee Markup

The stage when a congressional committee reviews, changes, and rewrites a bill

Rules Committee

The House committee that decides how and under what rules a bill will be debated on the House floor

Closed Rule

A House rule that limits or prevents amendments from being added to a bill during floor debate

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block action on legislation through extended debate or procedural delay

Cloture

The Senate procedure used to limit debate and overcome a filibuster, generally requiring three-fifths of the Senate

Unanimous Consent

An agreement in the Senate allowing action to occur without objection from any senator

Veto

The president’s rejection of legislation passed by Congress

Veto Override

Congress’s power to enact a bill despite a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers

Pocket Veto

A veto that occurs when the president does not sign a bill within 10 days and Congress adjourns during that period