Federalism and Representation in Political Science

Vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes on federalism and political representation.

Midterm Exam

An assessment scheduled for a week from Wednesday, important for course evaluation.

Term Paper Assignment

A major writing assignment due five weeks from the specified date, focusing on political representation.

Democratic Theory

The idea that there is a link between elected officials' decisions and the policy preferences of constituents.

Delegates

Elected officials who pay close attention to what constituents want, representing their interests.

Trustee Model

Representation where officials make decisions based on their judgment rather than direct constituent preferences.

Bartels

Author who discusses the link between elected officials and public opinion, especially regarding income inequality.

Popkin

Author whose work will be utilized in the term paper to discuss voters' knowledge and political judgment.

Responsive Governance

The degree to which elected officials pay attention to constituents' preferences and needs.

Cooperative Federalism

A system where national and state governments work together and share responsibilities.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies implemented by FDR to combat the Great Depression, significantly expanding government intervention.

National Supremacy

A period in U.S. history where national government powers expanded considerably compared to state powers.

Dual Federalism

The concept of strictly separating the powers of national and state governments, likened to a layer cake.

Sixth Page Requirement

Minimum expectation for the term paper, which requires that at least five full pages are written onto the sixth.

Plagiarism Software

A tool (like Turnitin) used to check submitted papers for originality and plagiarism.

Fundamental Rights Amendments

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments aimed at defining rights post-Civil War, expanding federal power over states.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional, impacting the balance of federalism.

Constitutional Amendments

Changes to the Constitution affecting how power is allocated between national and state governments.

Citing Sources

The practice of giving credit to original authors of ideas or works referenced in papers. Consistency in the citation format is critical.

Thesis Statement

A concise summary outlining the position taken in the term paper regarding the representation of constituents.