PoliSci 40 FINAL EXAM - ID Terms - UCLA

Affective Polarization – The growing emotional divide between political parties, where partisans dislike and distrust the opposing side. Important because it fuels partisan gridlock and weakens democratic discourse.

Agency Loss – When representatives (agents) fail to act in the best interests of their constituents (principals). Important because it highlights issues in democratic accountability.

Articles of Confederation – The first U.S. governing document (1781–1789), which created a weak federal government. Important because its failures led to the Constitution.

Australian Ballot – A secret ballot system that reduces voter intimidation. Important because it helps ensure fair elections.

Bicameralism – A legislature with two chambers (e.g., U.S. Congress: House and Senate). Important because it balances representation between states and the population.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) – Supreme Court case ruling school segregation unconstitutional. Important because it overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and advanced civil rights.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) – Supreme Court case ruling that personal campaign spending is protected free speech. Important because it shaped modern campaign finance laws.

Checks and Balances – A system where branches of government limit each other’s power. Important because it prevents tyranny.

Cloture – A Senate rule to end a filibuster with 60 votes. Important because it affects legislative efficiency.

Correlation is Not Causation – Just because two things happen together doesn’t mean one caused the other. Important because it helps prevent misleading policy conclusions.

Condorcet’s Jury Theorem – The idea that larger groups are more likely to make correct decisions if members vote independently. Important in discussions of democracy and collective decision-making.

Conference Committee – A committee that resolves House-Senate differences in bills. Important for finalizing legislation.

De Facto Segregation – Segregation that happens by social or economic factors, not law. Important because it shows ongoing racial disparities.

Divided Government – When different parties control the presidency and Congress. Important because it often leads to legislative gridlock.

Dominant Strategy – In game theory, the best action regardless of others' choices. Important in political strategy and elections.

Duverger’s Law – The principle that single-member, plurality elections favor a two-party system. Important for understanding why third parties struggle in the U.S.

Electoral College – The system that elects the U.S. president, where states have electors based on representation in Congress. Important because it can result in presidents winning without the popular vote.

Enumerated Powers – Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution (e.g., tax, regulate commerce). Important for defining federal authority.

Executive Order – A directive from the president with the force of law. Important because it allows presidents to bypass Congress in policymaking.

Filibuster – A Senate tactic to delay a vote by extended debate. Important because it can block legislation without majority support.

Federalist – Supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong national government. Important for shaping the foundation of U.S. governance.

Free-Rider Problem – When individuals benefit from a public good without contributing. Important in collective action issues, like taxation and voting.

Gerrymandering – Manipulating district boundaries to favor one party. Important because it influences election outcomes and representation.

Great Compromise – The agreement creating a bicameral Congress (House = population-based, Senate = equal state representation). Important for balancing large and small states’ interests.

Ideological Polarization – The increasing ideological divide between political parties. Important because it affects compromise and governance.

Incumbency Advantage – The electoral benefits of holding office (e.g., name recognition, funding). Important because it influences electoral competition.

Jim Crow Laws – Laws enforcing racial segregation in the South. Important because they institutionalized racial discrimination.

Judicial Review – The Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional. Important because it checks legislative and executive actions.

Latent Opinion – An opinion that isn’t fully formed until a person is prompted. Important for understanding public opinion shifts.

Motivated Reasoning – Interpreting information in a way that supports preexisting beliefs. Important because it affects political bias and polarization.

Lobbying – Efforts by interest groups to influence policymakers. Important because it shapes legislation and policy.

Nationalization of Politics – The increasing focus on national issues over local concerns. Important because it shifts political engagement and party competition.

Necessary and Proper Clause – Gives Congress implied powers beyond those listed in the Constitution. Important for expanding federal authority.

Normative Claim – A statement about what should be. Important for distinguishing facts from values in politics.

Originalism – The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was originally intended. Important because it influences judicial decisions.

Party Identification – A person’s attachment to a political party. Important because it influences voting behavior.

Party Sorting – The process where people align more strictly with their party’s ideology. Important for explaining modern political polarization.

Peer Review – Evaluation of scholarly work by experts. Important for ensuring research credibility in policy debates.

Performance Voting – Voting based on a politician’s performance rather than party. Important for holding officials accountable.

Primary Election – An election to choose a party’s nominee. Important for determining general election candidates.

Prisoner's Dilemma – A scenario where individuals act in self-interest rather than cooperatively, leading to worse outcomes. Important for understanding political negotiation and cooperation.

Proportional Representation – An electoral system where seats are distributed based on vote share. Important because it contrasts with the U.S. winner-take-all system.

Positive Claim – A statement about what is (fact-based). Important for distinguishing descriptive analysis from opinion.

Random Digit Dial Poll – A polling method using randomly generated phone numbers. Important for reducing bias in public opinion surveys.

Replication Crisis – The inability to reproduce research results. Important for evaluating the reliability of political science findings.

Separation of Powers – Dividing government powers among branches. Important for preventing tyranny.

Separate but Equal – The doctrine upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that justified segregation. Important because it institutionalized racial discrimination until Brown v. Board overturned it.

Speaker of the House – The leader of the House of Representatives. Important because they control legislative priorities.

Stare Decisis – The principle that courts follow precedent. Important for legal consistency.

Status Quo Bias – The tendency to prefer existing conditions over change. Important for understanding resistance to policy reform.

Supermajority – A requirement that exceeds a simple majority (e.g., 2/3 Senate vote to override a veto). Important for passing significant legislation.

Ticket Splitting – Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election. Important because it reflects voter independence.

Unanimous Consent – A procedural agreement in the Senate that speeds up legislative action. Important for efficiency in lawmaking.

Veto – The president’s power to reject a bill. Important for executive-legislative checks.

Wealth Inequality – The unequal distribution of economic resources. Important for debates on taxation, policy, and social justice.

Writ of Certiorari – A Supreme Court order to review a lower court case. Important because it determines which cases the Court hears.