The Constitution and Federalism

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary terms.

Majority Rule

A fundamental democratic principle requiring that the majority's view be respected.

Checks and Balances

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches.

Unitary System

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided by a written constitution between a central government and regional governments.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution; derived from the elastic or necessary and proper clause.

Reserved Powers

Powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states; held by the states through the Tenth Amendment.

Cooperative Federalism

Situations in which the national and state governments work together to complete projects; also called fiscal federalism.

Categorical Grant

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

Block Grant

Funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose.

Mandates

Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines.

Devolution

A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal government to state and local governments.

Political Culture

A set of widely shared political beliefs and values.

Political Socialization

The process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.

Public Opinion

Attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues, and events.

Political Ideology

A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's political participation makes a difference.

Split-Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election.

Political Party

A group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate governments, and determine public policy.

Plurality Election

The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes than anyone else, but less than half the total.

Single-Member District

An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

Party Era

An historical period dominated by one political party.

Critical Election

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

Party Realignment

The majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era.

Divided Government

A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress.

Interest Group

An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not elect people to office.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support.

Free Riders

People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions.

Power Elite Theory

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

Pluralist Theory

The theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

Hyperpluralist Theory

The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups.

Mass Media

Means of communication such as newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences.

Linkage Institutions

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions.

Horse-Race Journalism

The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.

Congressional Redistricting

The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.

Gerrymandering

The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts to ensure the maximum number of seats for its candidates.

Incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Franking Privilege

The right of members of Congress to mail newsletters to their constituents at the government's expense.

Standing Committees

Permanent subject-matter congressional committees that handle legislation and oversee the bureaucracy.

Conference Committees

Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

House Rules Committee

The House Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate.

House Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills.

Seniority

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving committee chairs to members of the committee with the longest records of continuous service.

Filibuster

A way of delaying or preventing action on a bill by using long speeches and unlimited debate to 'talk a bill to death.'

Cloture

A Senate motion to end a filibuster. Cloture requires a three-fifths vote.

Logrolling

Tactic of mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Oversight

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office.

Delegate Role of Representation

When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

Closed Primary

A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket.

Frontloading

The recent pattern of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence.

Soft Money

Contributions to political parties for party-building activities. Soft money contributions are used to circumvent limits on hard money.

527 Group

A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process; 527 groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party.

Veto

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Line-Item Veto

The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills.

Executive Agreement

A pact between the president and a head of a foreign state. Executive agreements do not have to be approved by the Senate.

Executive Privilege

The president's power to refuse to disclose confidential information.

Lame-Duck Period

The period of time in which the president's term is about to come to an end. Presidents typically have less influence during a lame-duck period.

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization of appointed officials.

Executive Order

A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president. Executive orders are based on constitutional or statutory authority and have the force of law.

Iron Triangle

An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member of the iron triangle provides key services, information, or policy for the others.

Issue Network

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue.

Policy Agenda

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court.

Senatorial Courtesy

An unwritten tradition whereby the Senate will not confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president's own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

Writ of Certiorari

An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review.

Rule of Four

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to do so.

Solicitor General

The solicitor general is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the United States government to the Supreme Court.

Amicus Curiae Brief

A friend of the court brief filed by an interest group or interested party to influence a Supreme Court decision.

Stare Decisis

Stare decisis is a Latin phrase meaning 'let the decision stand.' The vast majority of Supreme Court decisions are based on precedents established in earlier cases.

Judicial Restraint

Philosophy that the Supreme Court should use precedent and the Framers' original intent to decide cases.

Judicial Activism

Philosophy that the Supreme Court must correct injustices when other branches of government or the states refuse to do so.

Monetary Policy

Monetary policy involves regulating the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates. Monetary policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.

Fiscal Policy

Raising and lowering taxes and government spending programs. Fiscal policy is controlled by the executive and legislative branches.

Entitlement Program

A government-sponsored program that provides mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The OMB is responsible for preparing the budget that the president submits to Congress.

Civil Liberties

Legal and constitutional rights that protect individuals from arbitrary acts of government.

Civil Rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Selective Incorporation

The case-by-case process by which liberties listed in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Establishment Clause

A provision of the First Amendment that prohibits Congress from establishing an official government-sponsored religion.

Free Exercise Clause

A provision of the First Amendment that guarantees each person the right to believe what he or she wants.

Clear and Present Danger Test

Judicial interpretation of the First Amendment that government may not ban speech unless it poses an imminent threat to society.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A court order directing that a prisoner be brought before a court and that the court officers show cause why the prisoner should not be released.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law applied to an act committed before the law was enacted.

Exclusionary Rule

Supreme Court guideline that prohibits evidence obtained by illegal searches or seizures from being admitted in court.

Miranda Warnings

Warnings that police must read to suspects prior to questioning that advises them of their rights.

Strict Scrutiny

Supreme Court rule that classification by race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a 'compelling public interest.'

Affirmative Action

A policy requiring federal agencies, universities, and most employers to take positive steps to remedy the effects of past discrimination.