Learn: State and Local Politics Exam One

Variance

The difference between units of analysis on a particular measure

Comparative Method

A learning approach based on studying the differences and similarities among similar units of analysis

Sociodemographics

The characteristics of a population, including size, age, and ethnicity

Political Culture

The attitudes and beliefs broadly shared in polity about the role and responsibility of government

Moralistic Culture

A political culture that views politics and government as the means to achieve the collective good

Individual Culture

A political culture that views politics and government as just another way to achieve individual goals

Traditionalistic Culture

A political culture that views politics and government as the means of maintaining the existing social order

Laboratories of Democracy

A metaphor that emphasizes the states' ability to engage in different policy experiments without interference from the federal government

Devolution

The process of taking power and responsibility away from the federal government and giving it to state and local governments

Federalism

A political system in which national and regional governments share powers and are considered independent equals

Unitary Systems

Nations in which legal authority is held exclusively by a central government

Confederacy

A voluntary association of independent, sovereign states or governments

Representative Government

A form of government in which citizens exercise power indirectly by choosing representatives to legislate on their behalf

Enumerated Powers

Grants of authority explicitly given by the Constitution

National Supremacy Clause

Constitutional clause that states that federal law takes precedence over all other

Preemption

The process of the federal government's overriding areas regulated by state law

Exclusive Powers

Powers given by the Constitution solely to the federal government

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both federal and state governments can exercise

Implied Powers

Broad, but undefined, powers given to the federal government by the Constitution

General Welfare Clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress an implied power through the authority to provide for the "general welfare"

Necessary and Proper Clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress an implied power through the right to pass all laws considered "Necessary and Proper" to carry out the federal government's responsibilities as defined by the Constitution

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitutional clause that requires states to recognize each other's public records and acts as valid

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Constitutional clause that prohibits states from discriminating against citizens of other states

Bill of Rights

The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, which set limits on the power of the federal government and set out the rights of individuals and the states

Tenth Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Fourteenth Amendment

Constitutional Amendment that prohibits states from depriving individuals of the rights and privileges of citizenship and requires states to provide due process and equal protection guarantees

Dual Federalism

The idea that state and federal governments have separate and distinct jurisdictions and responsibilities

States' Rights

The belief that states should be free to make their own decisions with little interference from the federal government

Nation-Centered Federalism

The belief that the nation is the basis of the federal system and that the federal government should take precedence over state governments

State-Centered Federalism

The belief that states are the basis of the federal system and that state governments should take precedence over the federal government

Nullificiation

The process of a state's rejecting a federal law and making it invalid within state boarders

Secession

The process of a government's or political jurisdiction's withdrawal from a political system or alliance

Cooperative Federalism

The notion that it is impossible for state and national governments to have separate and distinct jurisdictions and that both levels of government must work together

Grants-In-Aid

Cash appropriations given by the federal government to the states

Centralized Federalism

The notion that the federal government should take the leading role in setting national policy, with state and local governments helping implement the policies

Categorical Grants

Federal grants-in-aid given for specific programs that leaves states and localities with little discretion over how to spend the money

General Revenue Sharing Grants

Federal grants-in-aid given with few constraints, leaving states and localities almost complete discretion over how to spend the money

Crosscutting Requirements

Constraints that apply to all federal grants

Unfunded Mandataes

Federal laws that direct state action but provide no financial support for that action

New Federalism

The belief that states should receive more power and authority and less money from the federal government

Block Grants

Federal grants-in-aid given for general policy areas that leave states and localities with wide discretion over how to spend the money within the designated policy area

Devolution

An extension of New Federalism that sought a systematic transition of power from the federal to the state level in certain policy areas

Ad Hoc Federalism

The process of choosing a state-centered or nation-centered view of federalism on the basis of political or partisan convenience

Interstate Commerce Clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce

Electorate

The population of individuals who can vote

Judicial Federalism

The idea that the courts determine the boundaries of state-federal relations

Dual Constitutionalism

The idea that state and federal governments have separate and distinct jurisdictions and responsibilities

Natural Law

A set of moral and political rules based on divine law and binding on all people

Constitutional Amendments

Proposals to change a constitution, typically enacted by a supermajority of the legislature or through a statewide referendum

Plenary Power

Power that is not limited or constrained

Appropriation Bills

Laws passed by legislatures authorizing the transfer of money to the executive branch

Colonial Charters

Legal documents drawn up by the British Crown that spelled out how the colonies were to be goverened

Unicameral Legislatures

Legislatures that have only one chamber

Separation of Powers

The principle that government should be divided into separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities

Bicameral Legislatures

Legislatures made up of two, chambers, typically a house of representatives, or assembly and a senate

Franchise

The right to vote

Jim Crow Laws

Legislative measures passed in the last decade of the 19th century that sought to systematically separate Black people and white people

Constitutional Convention

An assembly convened for the express purpose of amending or replacing a constitution

Ratification

A vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change, referendum, or ballot initiative

Ballot Initiatives

Processes through which voters directly convey instructions to the legislature, approve a law, or amend the constitution

Referendums

Procedures that allow the electorate to accept or reject a law passed by the legislatures

Constitutional Revision Commissions

Expert committees formed to assess constitutions and suggest changes

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War when the souther states were governed under the direction of the Union army

Model Constitution

An expert-approved generic or "ideal" constitution that states sometimes use as a yardstick against which to measure their existing constitutions

Line-Item Veto

The power to reject a portion of a bill while leaving the rest intact

Municipal Charter

A document that establishes operating procedures for a local government

Budget Deficits

Cash shortages that result when the amount of money coming into the government falls below the amount being spent

Excise Taxes

Taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and other similar products that are designed to raise revenues and reduce use

Sales Taxes

Taxes levied by state and local governments on purchases

Forced Consumption Taxes

Taxes that do not alter spending habits or behavior patterns and therefore do not distort the distribution of resources

Regressive Taxes

Taxes levied on all tax-payers regardless of income or ability to pay, placing proportionately more of a burden on those with lower incomes

Tax Burden

A measurement of taxes paid as a proportion of income

Quill Corp v. North Dakota

A state could not impose sales taxes on businesses that did not have a physical location in the state

South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc

Overturned the Quill decision and allows states to collect sales taxes from online retailers whether they have a physical presence in the state or not

Income Taxes

Taxes on wages and interest earned

Progressive Tax System

A system of taxation in which the rate paid reflects ability to pay

Intergovernmental Transfers

Funds provided by the federal government to state governments and by state governments to local governments

Severance Taxes

Taxes on natural resources that are removed from a state

Tax Capacity

A measure of the ability to pay taxes

Tax Effort

A measure of taxes paid relative to the ability to pay taxes

Dividend

A payment made to stockholders from the interest generated by an investment

Bonds

Certificates that are evidence of debts on which the issuer promises to pay the holders a specified amount of interest for a specified length of time and repay the loans on their maturity

Municipal Bonds

Bonds issues by states, counties, cities, and towns to fund large projects as well as operating budgets; and income generated from these bonds are tax exempt

General obligation Bonds

Investments secured by the taxing power of the jurisdiction that issues them

Revenue Bonds

Investments secured by the revenue generated by a state or municipal project

Fiscal Year

The annual accounting period used by a government

Balanced Budget

A budget in which current expenditures are equal to or less than income

Expenditures

Money spent by government

Discretionary Spending

Spending controlled in annual appropriate acts

Fiscal Federalism

The system by which federal grants are used to fund programs and services provided by state and local governments

Entitlement program

A government-run program that guarantees unlimited assistance to those who meet its eligibility requirements, no matter how high the cost

Plurality

The highest number of votes garnered by any of the candidates for particular office but short of an outright majority

Office Group Ballot

A ballot in which candidates are listed by name under the title of the office they are seeking

Party Column Ballot

A ballot in which the names of candidates are divided into columns arranged according to political party

Straight Ticket

A type of ballot that allowed voters to pick all of one party's candidates at once

Secret Ballot

A ballot printed by a state that allows voters to pick and chose among different candidates and party preferences in private

Popular Initiative

Citizens or groups other than elected officials put a measure on the ballot to become a law

Popular Referendum

Citizens put a measure on the ballot to affirm or reject an action of the legislature or another political actor

Legislative Referendum

The legislature places a measure on the ballot to win voter approval