American gov- Chapter 1-4

globalization

The increasing interdependence of citizens and nations across the world

government

the legitimate use of force to control human behavior; also, the organization or agency authorized to exercise that force

national sovereignty

a political entity’s externally recognized right to exercise final authority over its affairs

order

established ways of social behavior. maintaining order is the oldest purpose of government

liberalism

the belief that states should leave individuals free to follow their individual pursuits. Not that this differs from the definition of liberal later in this chapter

communism

a political system in which, in theory, ownership of all land and productive facilities is in the hands of the people, and all goods are equally shared. The productive and distribution of goods are controlled by an authoritarian government

public goods

benefits and services, such as parks and sanitation, that benefit all citizens but are not likely to be produced voluntarily by individuals

freedom of

an absence of constraints on behavior, as in freedom of speech or freedom of religion

freedom from

immunity, as in freedom from want

police power

the authority of a government to maintain order and safeguard citizens’ health, morals, safety, and welfare

politcal equality

equality in political decision making: one vote per person, with all votes counted equally

social equality

equality in wealth, education, and status

equality of opportunity

the idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life

equality of outcome

the concept that society must ensure that people are equal and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality are actually achieved

rights

the benefits of government to which every citizen is entitled

political ideology

a consistent set of values and beliefs about thee proper purpose and scope of government

totalitarianism

a political philosophy that advocates unlimited power for the government to enable it to control all sectors of society

socialism

a form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in regulating existing private industry and directing the economy, although it does allow some private ownership of productive capacity

democratic socialism

a socialist form of government that guarantees civil liberties such as freedom of speech and religion. Citizens determine the extend of government activity through free elections and competitive political parties

capitalism

the system of government that favors free enterprise (privately owned business operating without government regulation)

libertarianism

the political ideology that is opposed to all government action except as necessary to protect life and property

libertarians

those who are opposed to using government to promote either order or equality

laissez-faire

an economic doctrine that opposes any form of government intervention in business

anarchism

a political philosophy that opposes government in any form

conservatives

those who are willing to use government to promote order but not equality

liberals

those who are willing to use government to promote equality but not order

communitarians

those who are willing to use government to promote both order and equality

autocracy

a system of government in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual

oligarchy

a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few people

democracy

a system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either directly or indirectly

procedural democratic theory

a view of democracy as being embodied in a decision-making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness

universal participation

the concept that everyone in a democracy should participate in governmental decision making

majority rule

the principle-basic to procedural democratic theory- that the decision of a group must reflect the preference of more than half of those participating; a simple majority.

participatory democracy

a system of government where rand- and file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf

E-government

online communication channels that enable citizens to easily obtain information from government and facilitate the expression of opinion to government officials.

representative democracy

A system of government where citizens elect public officials to govern on their behalf

responsiveness

a decision- making principle, necessitated by representative government, that implies that elected representatives should do what the majority of people wants.

peaceful transition of power

a principle of procedural democracy that requires candidates that lose election outcomes and allow their political opponents to govern. Instead of trying to train power by force, they instead try to regain power through subsequent elections

substantive democratic theory

the view that democracy is embodied in the substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedure.

minority rights

the benefits of government that cannot be denied to any citizen by majority decision

majoritarian model of democracy

the classical theory of democracy in which government by the people is interpreted as government by the majority of the people

interest group

an organisation that seeks to influence public policy; also called a lobby

pluralist model of democracy

an interpretation of democracy in which government by the people is taken to mean government by people operating through competing interest groups

elite theory

the view that a small group of people actually makes most of the important government decisions

democratization

a process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one

Declaration of Independence

drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document that proclaimed the right of the colonies to separate from Great Britain

social contract theory

the belief that the people agree to set up rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove rulers who act against those purposes

confederation

a loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters

artifices of confederation

the compact amount the thirteen original states that established the first government of the U.S

virginia plan

a set of proposals for a new government, submitted to the constitutional convention of 1787; it included separation of the government into three branches, division of the legislature into two houses, and proportional representation in the legislature.

legislative branch

branch of government that makes laws

executive branch

the branch of government that implements and enforces laws

judicial branch

the branch of government that interprets laws and applies them to specific cases

New Jersey plan

submitted by the head of the new jersey delegation to the constitutional convention, a set of nine resolutions that would have, in effect, preserved Articles of Confederation by amending rather than replacing them

great compromise

submitted by the Connecticut delegation to the constitutional convention, and thus also known as the Connecticut compromise, a plan calling for a bicameral legislature in which the House of Representatives would be apportioned according to population and the states would be represented equally in the Senate

electoral college

a body of electors chosen by voters to case ballots for president and vice president

extraordinary majority

a majority greater than the minimum of 50 percent plus one

republicanism

a form of government in which power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives

federalism

the division of power between a central government and regional governments

separation of powers

the assignment of lawmaking, law-enforcing, and law-interpreting functions to separate branches of government

checks and balances

a government structure that gives each branch some scrutiny of and control over the other branches

enumerated powers

the powers explicitly granted to congress by the constitution

necessary and proper clause

the last enumerated power in section 8 of Article I of the constitution, which gives congress the means to execute its other enumerated powers. This clause is the basis for congress’s implied powers. Also called the elastic clause.

implied powers

those powers that congress needs to execute its enumerated powers

judicial review

the power of the courts to declare congressional (and presidential) acts invalid because they violate the constitution.

supremacy clause

the clause in Article 6 of the constitution that asserts that the constitution, national laws, and treaties take precedence over state and local laws when they conflict

bill of rights

the first ten amendments to the constitution. they prevent the national gov. from tampering with the fundamental rights and civil liberties and emphasize the limited character of national power.

sovereignty

the quality of being supreme in power or authority

dual federalism

a view holding that the constitution is a compact among sovereign states, such that the powers of the national government and the states are clearly differentiated. (LAYERED CAKE)

states’ rights

the idea that all rights not specifically conferred on the national government by the U.S. Constitution are reserved to the states

cooperative federalism

a view holding that the constitution is an agreement among people who are citizens of both state and nation, so there is much overlap between state powers and national powers

pragmatic federalism

A view of federalism that emphasizes practical, contextual problem solving rather than rigid theory when deciding when the balance of power should favor the national government or the states

coercive federalism

A view holding that the national government may impose its policy preferences on the states through regulations in the form of mandates and restraints

preemption

the power of congress to enact laws by which the national government assumes total or partial responsibility for a state government function.

mandate

A requirement that a state or local government undertake an activity or provide a service, in keeping with minimum national standards.

restraint

a requirement prohibiting a state or local government from excessing a certain power

commerce clause

the third clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states

grant-in-aid

Money provided by one level of government to another level of government, or sometimes to a nongovernmental organization, to be spent of a given purpose

categorical grants

grant- in- aid targeted for a specific purpose by either formula or project

block grants

Grants-in-aid awarded for general purposes, allowing the recipient great discretion in spending the grant money

formula grants

grants- in-aid distributed according to a particular set of rules, called a formula, that specifies who is eligible for the grants and how much each eligible applicant will receive

competitive grants

grants-in-aid awarded on the basis of applications submitted by prospective recipients who are eligible to compete for the grant

redistricting

the process of redrawing boundaries for electoral or other administrative jurdisdictions to reflect changes in population

intergovernmental system

the collection of governments made up of national, state, and local units of government.

municipal governments

governments units that administer a city or town

country governments

governments units that administer a countrys

special districts

government units created to perform particular functions, especially when those functions are best performed across jurisdictional boundaries.

school districts

government units that administer elementary and secondary schools and programs

home rule

the right to enact and enforce legislation locally