unit 1-3 ap us govt vocab

efficacy

a person's belief that he or she has the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government genuinely listens to individuals

political engagement

citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through political means

divine right of kings

The assertion that monarchies, as a manifestation of God's will, could rule absolutely without regard to the will or well-being of their subjects.

political culture

The people's collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political processes

political culture

The idea that, in a democracy, the government's power derives from the consent of the people

legitamacy

quality conferred on government by citizens who believe that its exercise of power is right and proper

naturalization

the process of becoming a citizen by means other than birth, as in the case of immigrants

social contract theory

The idea that individuals possess free will and that every individual
is equally endowed with the God-given right of self-determination
and the ability to consent to be governed

authoritarianism

A system of government in which the government holds strong
powers but is checked by some forces.

democracy

Government in which supreme power of governance lies in the
hands of its citizens

oligarchy

government in which an elite few hold power

socialism

An ideology that advocates economic equality, theoretically
achieved by having the workers own the means of production
(businesses and industry).

popular sovereignty

The theory that government is created by the people and depends
on the people for the authority to rule.

monarchy

A government in which a member of a royal family, usually a king
or queen, has absolute authority over a territory and its
government.

limited government

A system of government in which the government holds strong
powers but is checked by some forces.

liberalism

ideology that advocates change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well-being of individuals and to produce equality in society

majority rule

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected

public goods

Public goods and services, such as college or medical care that can be provided to some without being provided to all

conservatism

ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community and family as mechanisms of continuity in society

indirect democracy

system in which citizens elect representatives who decide policies on behalf of their constituents

property

property refers to all property owned or leased by the government

citizens

People who had the right to participate in government

federalists

Supporters of the U.S constitution, at the time states were contemplating its adoption. (national over state gov)

natural rights

Rights that every citizen has the right to. (life, liberty, property)

constitution

A nation's basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns /divides powers in a government and provides guarantees to citizens. (Written or unwritten)

anti-federalists

Opponents of the U.S constitution when states were contemplating its adoption. (State over National gov)

checks and balances

Feature of the constitution that allows each branch the ability to stop other branches from gaining too much power.

Connecticut Compromise/ Great Compromise

Was a compromise of both the Virginia and New Jersey plan. States have equal representation in the senate. Representation in the house in proportional to the state population.

republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern and make laws.

separation of powers

A feature of the constitution that requires each of the three branches of government to have independent powers so that one can't control the others

Marbury v. Madison

1803 case which supreme court asserted its right to determine the meaning of the constitution. The decision established the court's power of judicial review over acts of congress. (Determine if something is unconstitutional)

bicameral legislature

A legislature with two separate chambers or houses, typically called the upper house and the lower house. Each house has its own set of powers and responsibilities, and both houses work together to pass laws and make decisions. Examples include the United States Congress and the British Parliament.

electoral college

System used to elect the President of the United States; consists of 538 electors who cast votes on behalf of citizens. Each state is allocated a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress. The candidate who wins the majority of electoral votes becomes the President.

confederation

loose alliance of independent states; each state retains sovereignty

Three-Fifths Compromise

representation and taxation based on the "number of free persons" plus 3/5 of the number of other persons (slaves)

unicameral legislature

Under the Articles of Confederation, it was the only branch of the national government. one branch of govt

veto

to reject a bill (proposed law); a form of check on the legislative branch

supremacy clause

section of Article VI that states the Constitution and the treaties and laws of the national govt are the supreme law of the land

New Jersey Plan

This plan for government at the convention created a legislature with equal representation for each state

Federalist Papers

Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote these essays under the name "Publius" to urge ratification of the Constitution in New York

judicial review

To determine by power of the courts if acts of congress and the executive branch are in accord with the U.S Constitution. established in Marbury v Madison

advice and consent

Senate's authority to approve or reject president's treaties and appointments

dual sovereignty

governing authority is divided between two levels of government (central govt and several regional governments); AKA federalism

concurrent powers

Basic governing functions that are exercised by the national and state governments independently., and at the same time, including the power to make policy, raise revenue, implement policies, and establish courts

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.

fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local government.

cooperative federalism

intergovernmental relations in which the national government supports the state governments' efforts to address the domestic matters reserved them

intergovernmental relations

collaborative efforts of two or more levels of government working to serve the public

categorical project grant

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or categories of state and local spending.

full faith and credit clause

A clause in Article IV of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

matching funds requirement

a grant requirement that obligates the government receiving the grant to spend some of its own money to match a specified percentage of the grant money provided

dual federalism

the intial model of national and state relations in which the national government takes care of its enumerated powers while the state governments independently take care of their reserved powers

necessary and proper clause

The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers.

mandate

an official order or commission to do something

federal system

A governmental structure with two levels of government in which each level has sovereignty over different policy matters and geographic ideas; a system of government with dual sovereignty

police powers

the power of government to effect laws that promote citizen's health, safety, and morals

centralized federalism

intergovernmental relations in which the national government imposes its policy preferences on state and local governments

conflicted federalism

intergovernmental relations in which elements of dual federalism, cooperative federalism, and centralized federalism are evident in the domestic policies implemented by state and local government

implied powers

powers beyond Congress's enumerated powers which ensure that it can carry out its duties

devolution

transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments

confederal system

type of government in which the lower units of government retain decision making authority

reserved powers

10th amendment specifies that powers not delegated to the national government are reserved for the state government or the people

horizontal federalism

The state-to-state relationships created by the U.S. Constitution.

judicial federalism

State courts' use of their state constitutions to determine citizens' rights, particularly when state constitutions guarantee greater protections than does the U.S. Constitution.

enumerated powers

powers of Congress found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution

The powers of the national government that are listed in the Constitution.

majority-minority district

legislative district composed of a majority-say, African Americans-the intent of which is to make it likely that a member of that minority will be elected to Congress

filibuster

a procedural move by a member of the senate to attempt to halt passage of or change a bill, during which the senator can speak for an unlimited time on the senate floor

Speaker of the House

leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by a majority party

casework

personal work by a member of Congress on behalf of a constituent or a group of constituents, typically aimed at getting the government to do something the constituent wants done

oversight

process where the legislative branch “checks” the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered with legislator’s intent

conference committee

bicameral, bipartisan committee composed of legislatures whose job is to reconcile two versions of a bill

report

legislative committee’s explanation to the full chamber of a bill and its intent

hearings

sessions held by committees or subcommittees to gather info and views from experts

standing committee

permanent committee in Congress, with a defined legislative jurisdiction

ombudsperson

role in which an elected or appointed leader acts as an advocate for citizens by listening to and investigating complaints against a government agency

redistricting

redrawing of congress local district boundaries within each state, based on the reapportionment from the census

majority whip

a go-between with the majority leadership and party / keeps the majority party in check

lead committee

the primary committee considering a bill

joint committee

committee composed of members from both House and Senate

joint referral

a bill could be referred to two different committees for consideration

House Majority Leader

has control of the dominant party in the lower house; responsible for enactment of the party’s program

House Minority Leader

Leader of the minority party in the lower house

trustee model

idea that members of Congress should use their expertise when making policy

logrolling

process of trading votes between members

seniority system

longest serving member of committee the dominant party is appointed chair

reapportionment

redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on the results of the census

minority whip

assists the minority leader; job mirrors that of the majority whip, but without the power that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives

pork barrel

federal project grant, and other contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in the congressional district

agency review

part of committee or subcommittee process of considering a bill, where committee members ask executive agencies that would administer the law or written comments on the measure

pocket veto

within 10 days of Congress adjourning, if bill isn’t signed or vetoed, it dies

agenda setting

determination by Congress of which the public issues the government should consider for legislation

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

the office, counsels, and boards that help the president to carry out his day-to-day responsibilities

cabinet

group of experts chosen by the president to serve as advisors on running the country

emergency powers

broad powers exercised by the president during times of national crisis

articles of impeachment

changes against the president during an impeachment

statutory powers

powers explicitly granted to president by congressional action of ideology, geographic region, age, gender, race, or ethnicity to the state

executive order

power of the president to issue orders that carry the force of law

take care clause

constitutional basis for inherent powers which states that the president “shall take car that the laws be faithfully executed”

lime item veto

power of the president to strike out specific line items on an appropriations bill while allowing the rest of the billed to become law; said unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in ‘97

(WHO) White House Office

office that develops policies and protects the president’s legal and political interests