PS Final

Bureaucracies: Large, complex organizations with specific responsibilities within a hierarchy of authority.Civil Liberties: Individual rights constitutionally protected from infringement by the government.Civil Rights: Rights ensuring equal protection under the law and equal access to public facilities for all individuals.Dealignment: The trend of voters moving away from partisan loyalties.Election Campaign: Organized efforts to persuade voters to choose a specific candidate.Ex Post Facto Law: Laws made after an act that make it illegal retroactively or increase penalties for past crimes.Federalism: The division of power among two or more governments.Free-Rider Problem: The tendency to benefit from a good without contributing to its cost.Government: The legitimate use of force to control behavior within territorial boundaries.Grants in Aid: Money given by one government level to another for specific purposes.Ideology: A systematic body of concepts about human life or culture.Incumbent: An official currently holding an office.Interest Group: Individuals organized to promote a shared political interest.Mass Communication: Transmitting information to large audiences.Party Identification: Loyalty to a political party.Political Participation: Engaging in activities to influence public policy.Political Socialization: Development of political beliefs and values through social influences.Political Party: An organized group aiming to gain power through elections.Precedent: A legal norm where justices follow previous decisions.Primary Election: Elections to select candidates for the general election.Prospective Voting: Voting based on anticipated actions of candidates.Public Opinion: Views held by citizens that are expressed openly.Realignment: An enduring shift in party coalitions that necessitates new policy directions.Retrospective Voting: Voting based on the evaluation of an incumbent's performance.Voter Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election.Writ of Habeas Corpus: Court order to determine the legality of a person's detention.

Candidate-Centered Campaigns:

  • Advantages: Flexibility for candidates, attracts new voters, and responsiveness to local interests.

  • Disadvantages: Emphasizes personality, allows officeholders to evade responsibility, and weakens citizen-government relations.

Incumbent Advantages (House of Reps):

  • Gerrymandering

  • Name recognition

  • “Pork” and casework

  • Franking privilege

  • Advertising support

  • Position taking

  • Office allowances and staff

  • Campaign fundraising

Presidential Success Determinants:

  • Circumstances (influence during crises)

  • National state during presidency (honeymoon period)

  • Congressional support for the president

  • Public support

American Political Culture Elements:

  • Liberty: Freedom to act, as long as it doesn't harm others.

  • Equality: Equal say in government.

  • Democracy: Government accountability to citizens.

  • Civic Duty: Importance of community involvement.

  • Individual Responsibility: Accountability for one's own actions.

Standards of Review under the 14th Amendment:

  • Rational Basis: Minimal scrutiny; questions if a law has a legitimate purpose and is related to it.

  • Strict Scrutiny: Highest scrutiny; questions if a law has a compelling purpose and is necessary to achieve it.

  • Intermediate Scrutiny: Between the others; checks for an important purpose and substantial relationship.

Essay Topics:

  • "Distributive" vs "Informational" theories of legislative organization.

  • The "attitudinal" model of judicial decision-making, focusing on justices' policy preferences.