SJSU Pols 15 Final-Abrahams

Antifederalists

a term used to describe people who were against the ratification of the constitution as well as a strong federal government. Some famous Anti-Federalists would be Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe

block grants

federal grants in aid that permit state and local authorities to decide how it is spent such as on education or health

categorical grants

federal grants that are to be spent by local and state authorities on a specific issue

Checks and Balances

a system in place in the US that allows each branch to operate separately but not allowing one branch to become too powerful, i.e. separation of powers

clientele groups

special interest groups that directly benefit from activities of specific bureaucratic agencies, thus making them strong advocates of said agency

Cooperative Federalism

a situation where all levels of government work together

de facto discrimination

discrimination against race, religion, gender, and ethnicity, all stemming from social, cultural, and economic biases

de jure discrimination

discrimination against race, religion, gender, and ethnicity, all results of a law

delegated powers

powers directly listed in the constitution that can be performed by the federal government

denials of power

means of limiting governmental actions by listing the powers the government is not allowed to use

due process clause

14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

enumerated powers

powers listed under Article 1, Section 8 such as taxation and regulation of commerce

enumerated rights

rights inferred from other rights, but not written

equal protection clause

a clause within the 14th amendment that says states should not deny anyone under its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

equal rights amendment

provides equal rights regardless of gender

equality of result

to provide the same standard of living to everyone, equating to everyone having the same results or outcomes

federalism

a form of government where power is divided into national and regional levels

fiscal federalism

a term referring to spending funds on programs run through the state and local areas

free exercise clause

prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion

gerrymandering

redistricting in order to turn areas in favor of one party

governor

elected head official of a state in the US, i.e. Gavin Newsom is California's governor

grants-in-aid

federal cash payments to states and localities for programs they administer

establishment clause

forbids the government from favoring one religion over another, prohibits congress from passing laws respecting the establishment of religion

hard money

campaign funds directly given to candidates for them to spend as they see fit

House Rules Committee

the committee that decides what bills go though and when they will be discussed as well as who ( which committee/ entire house) discusses it

Implied Powers

powers not directly mentioned in the constitution that, i.e. necessary and proper clause

judicial activism

to create new principles of law when a judge sees the case compelling enough, even if precedent conflicts

jurisdiction of a committee

the area/policies in which a committee is allowed to act on

lemon tests

The three-part test to determine whether a law relating to religion is valid: it must have a secular purpose; it must neither advance nor inhibit religion; and it must not cause excessive entanglement with religion.

merit system

the basis that people are hired into government jobs based on their skills not if they know someone in government

Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

Authority granted to congress in Article 1, Section 8. Allows government to expand its powers

oversight function

Allows congress to supervise executive and ensure laws are being carried out faithfully

party coalition

The groups and interests that support a political party.

Party realignment/dealignment

realignment involves people changing from one party to another or one party becoming the major/minor party, dealignment means that people are gradually moving away from both parties

Pendelton Act

Passed in 1883, this act gave us the merit system and made it to where one could not be hired simply through political affiliations

plural executive

having more than one executive person making decisions

pluralism

A theory of American politics that holds that society's interests are substantially represented through the activities of groups.

precedent

an action that serves as the basis for all further similar actions, i.e. George Washington stepping down after two terms

primary election

an election held to choose a party's nominees for public office, voting in this election is often restricted to those who identified with a party when then registered

prior restraint

government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast

Procedural Due Process

the government must follow proper legal procedures before someone is punished

proportional representation

a form of representation where everyone is represented proportionally based on how many members are in that state

Redistricting

process of redrawing district lines to make all areas equal in population. occurs after every census or every 10 years

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

reserved powers

powers given to the state under the 10th amendment

reverse discrimination

to favor individuals belonging to a group that has been discriminated against previously

selective incorporation

process by which certain rights become applicable through the 14th amendment to the actions of states

separated institutions sharing power

separates branches of government but allows them to check each other not allowing one to do something without the input of the other 2 branches

Shay's Rebellion

a Rebellion led by Daniel shay, showed us how weak the government truly was

single-member district

form of representation where the candidate with the most votes wins office

split-ticket voting

when a voter chooses candidates who are in different parties

standing committees

permanent committees with specific responsibilities with an area of policy

State Treasurer

In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill

substantive rights

basic rights possessed by people in an ordered society

suffrage

right to vote

superior courts

a higher court, such as a court of appeals

Supremacy Clause

Article 6 of the Constitution, which makes national law over state law when the national gov in acting within their limits

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) i.e. Fidel Castro and Cuba

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

Connecticut Plan

Plan which provided for a two house Congress; the Senate with two representatives per state and the House of Representatives with representatives based on population

voter turnout

The proportion of persons of voting age who actually vote in a given election

Voting Rights Act of 1965

prohibited racial discrimination in voting

White House Office

core of the presidential staff, Most trusted advisors are here

civil rights act of 1968

a law that banned discrimination in housing

Federalist 10

Topic = factions (interest groups); minority factions controlled by majority; majority faction controlled by greater size of USA + virtuous leaders

Bradenburg v. Ohio (1969)

speech can be prohibited if it is malicious in intent or is likely to incite violence, otherwise it cannot

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Extends to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Established precedent of federalizing Bill of Rights (applying them to the states); states cannot deny freedom of speech --protected through due process clause of Amendment 14

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Evidence illegally gathered by the police may not be used in a criminal trial

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 Supreme Court decision that sets guidelines for police questioning of accused persons to protect them against self-incrimination and to protect their right to counsel.

NYT v. Sullivan

Libel and slander are not protected, and you need to prove malicious intent.

NYT v. US

The ruling made it possible for the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.

Plessy v. Ferguson

a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal, "Separate but Equal"

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Struck down Texas law that banned flag burning, which is a protected form of symbolic speech.

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