Vocab for Gov Exam

Natural rights

Rights that an individual has according to the state of nature. listed under U.S. Declaration of Independence as Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.

Commander-in-chief power

U.S. president in charge of the country's armed forces. Has power to deploy forces abroad for military operations when deemed necessary.

Mayflower Compact

rules for self-governance established by the English settlers who traveled to the New World on the Mayflower to maintain social structure.

Executive orders

order issued by the president to executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

Consent of the governed

idea that a government's use of power is justified only when supported by the people under that government.

War Powers Resolution

congressional resolution that limits U.S. president's power to start and increase military actions abroad without the consent of Congress. Requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and prohibits armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days.

Separation of powers

separate bodies of government known as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches that all hold different powers.

Enumeration of powers

powers granted to the U.S. government branches by the U.S. Constitution.

Executive Office of the President

offices and agencies that support the work of the president at the center of the executive branch

Independent regulatory commissions

Federal agencies created by an act of Congress that are independent of the executive departments, members are assigned by but not controlled by the president. Examples: Federal Communications Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Federalism

mode of government, combining general and regional government into a single political system

Standing

Cases brought to Supreme Court must personally affect the individual bringing up case (limits on supreme court power) Example: like if someone wants to sue the state because their grandma was run over. They didn't get run over so they can't bring it forward

Articles of Confederation

agreement among the 13 colonies of U.S. that served as the first frame of government. States received equal representation no matter population size, with a single Congress holding executive and legislative powers.

Judicial review

power of the supreme court stating that it has the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. (Marbury vs Madison case 1803).

Compound republic

(idea formed by James Madison) a form of government that divides official power between two majorities: individual voters and states.

Judicial activism

the political view that courts are best positioned to develop law through the interpretation of statutes in light of the US or State Constitutions and current public sentiment.

Energy in the executive

Idea that executive leader should be strong in order to protect nation from attack and maintain liberty (Hamilton, Federalist 70).

Judicial restraint

the political view courts should refrain from issuing opinions that expand or change the nature of an existing law unless absolutely necessary.  (Ex: Dobbs V Jackson, they gave power to states to decide if they allow abortion.)

Bicameralism

practice of having two legislative houses.

Presidential primaries

process when voters vote for a preferred candidate in their party's presidential nomination.

Three causes that maintain a democratic republic

The peculiar and accidental situation in which Providence has placed the Americans, The laws, The manners and customs of the people.

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Election "fundamentals":

State of economy, circumstances, party affiliation

Civic culture

(Gabriel Almond and Sydney Verba) political culture characterized by accepting state authority and participation in civic duties (voting)

Gender gap in voting behavior

Distinct pattern of voting behavior between men and women for candidates, parties, and elections.

House Rules Committee

Limited Time, Limited amendments (must be germane: they must relate to the bill) Non-germane example: School buses should stop at train crossing AND build a new aircraft

The Rules Committee reviews, adopts and schedules consideration of floor resolutions.

Three faces of a political party

party in the electorate, party organization, party in government

Filibuster

Used to prolong debate, delay/prevent vote on a bill/resolution/amendment.

Single member plurality districts

electoral district represented by a single officeholder, the winner who receives the most votes wins. Refers to a winner takes all voting system.

Committee system

committee that investigates national/international problems in order to draft, consider, and recommend legislation to the Senate

Partisan realignment

shift of party coalitions in the electorate that remain in place for several elections (country transitions from being mostly run by one political party to mostly run by another political party.)

Fenno's constituencies

congress members' view of their constituency through the level of commitment. The inner to outer sections of commitment are (Circle Map 1. Personal voters 2. Primary voters 3. Re-election voters 4. Geographic voters)

Daisy Girl ad

presidential ad for Lyndon B Johnson, had the nuke going off after girl counts Daisy petals. Showed the tensions between the United States and the USSR

3/5 compromise

a compromise between the south and the north to have enslaved persons be counted as 3/5th of a vote to represent in the House of Representatives and for taxation.

Social Security Act of 1935

Created by Franklin D Roosevelt and it gave a pension to anyone retired 65 or above to help them along with their retirement.

Northwest Ordinance

(1787) Prohibits slavery in new/additonal states.

Four categories of economic policy

Fiscal, monetary, regulatory, trade.

Importation clause

Concerned the importation of slaves from Africa, this was enacted to prevent more slaves from being imported. Taxation would be implemented after 1808

Keynesianism

Theory that aggregate demand is the driving force for change in outputs based on the idea that prices are inelastic (ex: spending/taxing/government activism)

Cornerstone Speech

confederate union vice president (Alexander Stephens) reasons split of north and south/defends slavery.

Neo-classical economics

Theory that explains the production, pricing, consumption of goods and services, and income distribution through supply and demand. The supply side includes reduced marginal tax rate, limited regulation, and free trade; the demand side supports monetarism, focuses on monetary policy and limited government.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution. It grants individual rights and freedoms to the people.

Munich paradigm

idea encouraging intervention in small problems to avoid bigger ones (Ex: European countries handed over lands (czechslovakia) to appease Hitler)

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin

Vietnam paradigm

idea encouraging no intervention, especially in 3rd world conflicts. (Ex: losing South Vietnam to North Vietnam in an attempt to defend democracy)

Religious Freedom Restoration Act:

prohibits anyone in U.S. from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion. (Ex: adopted because two native american men failed a drug test and were terminated from their jobs, but the drug used was part of a religious ceremony.)

Focus groups

a group of people who discuss opinions on designated topics, guided by a moderator. This information is used to guide future action of the party that requested this information.

Fatal Force Database

A database that tracks and publishes every fatal shooting of an active police officer in the United States since 2015. It includes details such as race, age, gender, and if the victim was in possession of a weapon or not.

Elements of a valid poll

Sponsorship of the survey (non bias), Dates of interviewing, Method of obtaining the interviews (in-person, telephone or mail), Population that was sampled, Size of the sample, Size and description of the sub-sample, if the survey report relies primarily on less than the total sample, Complete wording of the questions upon which the release is based, and The percentages upon which conclusions are based

Three basic activities of interest groups

Lobbying, Fundraising, generate public pressure

Four active inputs of public policy

ideas, events, people, and politics