American Government and Politics Lecture Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts of American political values, government branches, the U.S. Constitution, federalism, and the judicial system as defined in the lecture notes.

American political values

The core ideals of liberty, democracy, and equality that form the foundation of American political culture and civic life.

Aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by a small, privileged, often hereditary ruling class or nobility.

Checks and balances

A system where each branch of government has the ability to limit or check the powers of the other branches to prevent any one from becoming too powerful.

Collective action problems

Situations where multiple individuals would benefit from a certain action, but the cost or effort makes it unlikely that any one individual will undertake it alone.

Conservative

A political ideology that generally advocates for traditional social values, limited government intervention in the economy, and lower taxes.

Critical consumer of politics and news

Someone who actively evaluates, fact-checks, and analyzes political information for bias and accuracy rather than passively accepting it.

Culture wars

Deep political and social conflicts based on opposing moral values and beliefs, such as debates over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, or religion in public life.

Democracy

A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives, where power rests with the people.

Direct democracy

A system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than having elected representatives do it for them.

Economic individualism

The belief that individuals should be free to pursue their own financial interests with minimal government interference or regulation.

Equality

The principle that all individuals should have the same political, social, and legal rights and opportunities.

Factions

Groups of citizens, as discussed by James Madison, united by a shared interest or passion that is often opposed to the rights of other citizens or broader community interests.

Free market

An economic system governed by supply and demand with little to no government control or intervention.

Free rider problem

The tendency for individuals to benefit from a public good without actively contributing to its creation or maintenance.

Government and governments

The institutions, individuals, and processes through which a society is ruled, public policy is created, and conflicts are resolved.

Ideology

A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs about politics, public policy, and the proper role of government.

Indirect democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf, also known as a representative democracy or republic.

Liberal

A political ideology that generally supports government action to promote social equality, regulate the economy, and protect civil rights.

Liberty

Freedom from arbitrary, tyrannical, or excessive government control; the freedom to act and think as one chooses.

Libertarians

Individuals who advocate for minimal government intervention in all areas of life, emphasizing both strict economic freedom and expansive personal liberty.

Monarchy

A form of government headed by a single ruler, such as a king or queen, whose position is usually inherited.

Norms

Unwritten rules, customs, and socially expected behaviors that guide actions within a society or political system.

Politics

The process of determining who gets what, when, and how in a society; the activities associated with governance and resolving conflicts.

Polity

An organized society or community with a specific form of government; a politically organized unit.

Public goods

Services or resources provided by the government that benefit everyone and from which no individual can be easily excluded, such as national defense or clean air.

Redistributive tax policies

Taxation systems designed to reduce wealth inequality by taxing wealthier individuals at higher rates to fund social programs for lower-income individuals.

Republic

A government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which lacks a monarch.

Separation of powers

The constitutional division of government responsibilities into distinct branches, usually executive, legislative, and judicial, to prevent the concentration of power.

Texas creed

A set of core values in Texas political culture emphasizing individualism, liberty, equality, constitutionalism, and democracy.

Tragedy of the commons

A situation where individuals acting in self-interest deplete a shared resource, ultimately harming the entire group.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which established a weak central government and placed most power in the hands of the states.

Bicameralism

A legislature consisting of two chambers or houses, such as the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

Bill of rights

The first $10$ amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee individual liberties and limits on government power.

Common sense/Thomas Paine

A highly influential $1776$ pamphlet that argued forcefully for American independence from Great Britain.

Constitutional Amendments and process

The method for changing the Constitution, requiring a proposal usually by a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in Congress and ratification by $\frac{3}{4}$ of the states.

Constitutional Convention

The $1787$ gathering in Philadelphia where delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Declaration of Independence

The $1776$ document in which American colonies officially broke ties with Great Britain, asserting natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Elastic clause

Another name for the necessary and proper clause; it grants Congress the power to pass laws needed to carry out its expressed powers.

Electoral college

The indirect system used to elect the U.S. President, where states are granted electoral votes based on their congressional representation.

Enumerated powers

The specific powers explicitly granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central national government and regional state governments.

Federalist 10

A famous essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic is the best defense against the dangers of factions.

Federalist papers

A series of $85$ essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to persuade the public to ratify the new Constitution.

Federalists and Anti Federalists

Federalists supported ratification and a strong central government; Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing federal overreach and demanding a Bill of Rights.

Full faith and credit clause

A constitutional requirement that each state must respect and recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

The agreement creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Impeachment

The formal process by which a legislative body accuses a government official of serious misconduct, potentially leading to their removal.

Implied powers

Powers inferred as necessary to carry out enumerated powers, not specifically listed in the Constitution.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to determine whether laws passed by Congress or actions of the executive branch are constitutional.

Marbury v Madison

The landmark $1803$ Supreme Court case that officially established the principle of judicial review.

National supremacy clause (supremacy clause)

A constitutional provision establishing that federal laws and the Constitution take precedence over state laws when they conflict.

Natural rights

Inherent rights described by John Locke as life, liberty, and property.

Necessary and proper clause

The constitutional clause giving Congress authority to pass all laws required to execute its enumerated duties.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention favoring small states, calling for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Parliamentary system

A democratic system of government where the executive branch derives legitimacy from the legislature.

Pluralism

A theory of democracy emphasizing politics as a competition among various interest groups pressing for preferred policies.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that government authority is created and sustained by the consent of its people, the source of all political power.

Power of the purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise revenue and spend money, providing leverage over government operations.

Proprietary Colony

An early English colony where the Crown granted land and administrative authority to a specific person or group.

Reserved powers

Powers not explicitly given to the federal government are reserved for the states, guaranteed by the $10^{th}$ amendment.

Second Treatise on Government (John Locke)

A foundational text outlining theories of natural rights and the social contract, influencing the American Founders.

Shays Rebellion

A $1786$ uprising of debt-ridden farmers that exposed the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.

Social contract

The concept that individuals give up some freedoms in exchange for the government's protection of core rights.

theocracy

A form of government in which a deity is recognized as the supreme ruler and laws are interpreted by religious authorities.

Three-fifths compromise

The agreement counting each enslaved person as $\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for state population representation and taxation.

Virginia Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention favoring large states, calling for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

10th amendment

Establishes the concept of reserved powers, stating powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.

14th amendment

Guarantees equal protection and due process under the law to all citizens; used to apply the Bill of Rights to the states.

Block grants

Federal funds given to state or local governments for broad, general purposes with relatively few strings attached.

Categorical grants

Federal funds provided to state or local governments for highly specific, strictly defined purposes or programs.

Coercive federalism

A relationship where the national government uses regulations and mandates to pressure states into adopting federal policies.

Commerce clause

A constitutional provision granting Congress power to regulate interstate commerce, expanding federal authority.

Concurrent power

Responsibilities shared by both federal and state governments, such as levying taxes or building roads.

Confederal government

A system where independent states join in a loose union, retaining most sovereignty and granting limited power to a weak central government.

Cooperative federalism

A system where national, state, and local governments work collaboratively, often visualized as a 'marble cake'.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

An $1857$ Supreme Court ruling declaring enslaved people were property, not citizens, and that Congress lacked power to ban slavery in territories.

Dual federalism

A historical view of federalism where national and state governments have separate spheres of authority, compared to a 'layer cake'.

Ex Post Facto

A retroactive law that criminalizes an action that was legal when committed; prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.

Exclusive power

Powers designated entirely to the federal government, such as declaring war or coining money.

Federal Preemption

The legal principle allowing the national government to override state actions in certain policy areas based on the supremacy clause.

Fiscal federalism

The system of taxing, spending, and providing grants that dictates the financial relationship between national and state governments.

Formula grant

A type of categorical grant where funds are distributed based on a mathematical formula, such as population or poverty levels.

McCullough v Maryland

An $1819$ case affirming the federal government's implied powers to create a national bank and prohibiting states from taxing federal institutions.

New federalism

Efforts to shift power back to the states, often through block grants, popularized by presidents like Nixon and Reagan.

Nullification

A debunked theory asserting a state has the right to invalidate any federal law it deems unconstitutional.

Picket fence federalism

A model of cooperative federalism where vertical policy experts collaborate across horizontal levels of government.

Police power

The inherent authority of state governments to enact laws protecting the health, safety, welfare, and morals of citizens.

Privileges and immunities clause

A provision preventing states from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner regarding basic civil rights.

Unfunded mandates

Federal regulations requiring states to perform specific actions without providing the necessary federal funding.

Unitary government

A system where all primary political power is concentrated in a single, central national government.

Basic Duties of Congress

Core responsibilities including making laws, representing constituents, and performing oversight of the executive branch.

Casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents helping them resolve problems with federal agencies.

Censure

A formal, public reprimand adopted by a majority vote of a legislative chamber to condemn a member's severe misconduct.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate used to break a filibuster, requiring the votes of $\frac{3}{5}$ of the Senate ($60$ votes).

Committee on Rules

A powerful House committee that dictates terms and conditions for debating and amending a bill on the floor.

Conference committees

Temporary joint committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a specific bill.

Cracking

A gerrymandering technique dividing a group among multiple districts to dilute their voting power.

Descriptive representation

The idea that a legislative body should reflect the demographic characteristics of the population it represents.

Discharge petition

A House procedure allowing a majority of $218$ members to force a bill out of committee onto the floor.

earmarks

Federal funds directed by members of Congress to specific projects in their home districts, often called pork barrel spending.