Vocab: Units 1 + 3

Marxist

People who believe that those who control the economic system also control the political system

power elite

a small group of wealthy and influential people at the top of society who hold the power and resources

bureaucratic

Insisting on strict rules and routine, often to the point of hindering effectiveness

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

Federalist \#10 (Madison)

• factions

• federalism will protect personal liberty

• no supreme authority

• all interests heard

Majoritarian

system of policy making in which those with a numerical majority hold authority

Elite

People of wealth and power

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution

Preamble

Introduction to the Constitution

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

Senate

A council of representatives

Revenue Bills

laws for raising money

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

egalitarian

A person who believes in the equality of all people

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

subsidize

to support by giving financial aid

partisan

a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person

efficacy

the power to produce a desired result

Demographics

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

Liberty

freedom

Opportunity

a chance to do something

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

civic engagement

individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern

Marginalized

forced outside the main group

liberal

open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.

conservative

A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom.

Moderate

Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

Socialization

the process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn to function as members of that society

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Polarization

Division into two opposite positions

Civil society

Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests

mandatory

required, obligatory

Individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

Political generation

An age cohort sharing distinctive experiences and values which shape its perspective through its life course. Generational turnover can gradually transform a political culture without individuals changing their views.

Aristocracy

A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility

Media

various methods for communicating information

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Capitalism

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

campaign

A series of actions intended to accomplish a goal

Absentee

pertaining to one who is not present

Mail-in ballot

a ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls

Felon

criminal

linkage institutions

The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Political Action Committees

committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

Hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

Democrat

member of the Democratic Party

Republican

a person advocating or supporting republican government.

GOP

Grand Old Party, Republican Party

watchdog

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

score keeper

The national media keep track of and help make political reputations.

Gatekeeper

The media can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone

delegated powers

Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

Powers Reserved to the States

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Necessary and Proper Clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

Commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

interest groups

Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals

Lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

Electioneering

Direct group involvement in the electoral process, for example, by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees.

Grassroots movement

a group of people organizing at the local or community level, away from political or cultural centers

Coalitions

Alliances of various parties

digital literacy

process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology

media bias

Bias or slant in the selection of which news to report and how the news is reported.

"fake news"

content, articles, videos that present made up or false information

Marxist

People who believe that those who control the economic system also control the political system

power elite

a small group of wealthy and influential people at the top of society who hold the power and resources

bureaucratic

Insisting on strict rules and routine, often to the point of hindering effectiveness

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

Federalist \#10 (Madison)

- factions

- federalism will protect personal liberty

- no supreme authority

- all interests heard

Majoritarian

system of policy making in which those with a numerical majority hold authority

Elite

People of wealth and power

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution

Preamble

Introduction to the Constitution

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

Senate

A council of representatives

Revenue Bills

laws for raising money

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

egalitarian

A person who believes in the equality of all people

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

subsidize

to support by giving financial aid

partisan

a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person

efficacy

the power to produce a desired result

Demographics

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

Liberty

freedom

Opportunity

a chance to do something