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Minority rights
protections for those who are not part of the majority.
Ideology
the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy.
Partisanship
strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party.
Oligarchy
a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power.
Direct democracy
a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them.
common goods
goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply
elite theory
claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people
majority rule
a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
pluralist theory
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
political power
influence over a government’s institutions, leadership, or policies
politics
the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue
public goods
goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge
representative democracy
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws
social capital
connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them
bicameral legislature
a legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress
enumerated powers
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
federal system
a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
republic
a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by elected representatives
reserved powers
any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government
social contract
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
supremacy clause
the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures
block grant
a type of grant that comes with less stringent federal administrative conditions and provide recipients more latitude over how to spend grant funds
categorical grant
a federal transfer formulated to limit recipients’ discretion in the use of funds and subject them to strict administrative criteria
concurrent powers
shared state and federal powers that range from taxing, borrowing, and making and enforcing laws to establishing court systems
cooperative federalism
a style of federalism in which both levels of government coordinate their actions to solve national problems, leading to the blending of layers as in a marble cake
dual federalism
a style of federalism in which the states and national government exercise exclusive authority in distinctly delineated spheres of jurisdiction, creating a layer-cake view of federalism
elastic clause
the last clause of Article I, Section 8, which enables the national government “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying” out all its constitutional responsibilities
full faith and credit clause
found in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, this clause requires states to accept court decisions, public acts, and contracts of other states; also referred to as the comity provision
general revenue sharing
a type of federal grant that places minimal restrictions on how state and local governments spend the money
immigration federalism
the gradual movement of states into the immigration policy domain traditionally handled by the federal government
new federalism
a style of federalism premised on the idea that the decentralization of policies enhances administrative efficiency, reduces overall public spending, and improves outcomes
nullification
a doctrine promoted by John Calhoun of South Carolina in the 1830s, asserting that if a state deems a federal law unconstitutional, it can nullify it within its borders
privileges and immunities clause
found in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, this clause prohibits states from discriminating against out-of-staters by denying such guarantees as access to courts, legal protection, and property and travel rights
race-to-the-bottom
a dynamic in which states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations, often to workers’ detriment
venue shopping
a strategy in which interest groups select the level and branch of government they calculate will be most receptive to their policy goals