poli
dual federalism:
the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789
to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared
between the federal and state governments
commerce clause:
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the
power “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the
several States, and with the Indian Tribes”; this clause was interpreted
by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy
grants-in-aid:
programs through which Congress provides money to state and local
governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes
defined by the federal government
categorical grants:
congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that
expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law
cooperative federalism:
a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in
aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities
(without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals; also
known as intergovernmental cooperation
regulated federalism:
a form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states
and localities, requiring them to meet national standards
preemption:
the principle that allows the national government to override state or
local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to
strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack
federalism:
a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution,
between a central government and regional governments
unitary system:
a centralized government system in which lower levels of government
have little power independent of the national government
intergovernmental relations:
the processes by which the three levels of American government
(national, state, local) negotiate and compromise over policy
responsibility
expressed powers:
specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I,
Section 8) and to the president (Article II)
implied powers:
powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I,
Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically
expressed but are implied through the expansive interpretation of
delegated powers
necessary and proper clause:
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides Congress with
the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its
expressed powers
reserved powers:
powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are
not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the
states
police power:
power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety,
and morals of its citizens
concurrent powers:
authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the
power to levy taxes
full faith and credit clause:
provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that
states’ rights:
the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the
national government; this principle was most popular in the period
before the Civil War
devolution:
a policy to remove a program from one level of government by
delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as
from the national government to the state and local governments
block grants:
federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the
funds are spent
New Federalism:
attempts by Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states
through block grants
general revenue sharing:
the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax
income to another unit of government, according to an established
formula; revenue sharing typically involves the national government
providing money to state governments
unfunded mandate:
a law or regulation requiring a state or local government to perform
certain actions without providing funding for fulfilling the requirement
Government: Generally used to describe the formal institutions through which a territory and its people are ruled.
Politics: Conflicts and struggle over the leadership, structure, and policies of government.
Public Goods: Defense from foreign aggression, maintaining public order, stable currency, enforcing contracts, property rights and security.
Autocracy: Ruled by a single individual, king or dictator.
Oligarchy: Small group usually wealthy, landowners, or military officers control governing decisions
Democracy: Citizens or general adult population have the power to rule themselves
Constitutional governments/ liberal: Governments limited by written laws, constitutions.
Authoritarian: No formal limits but kept in check by self-governing territories, religions, business organizations, labor unions.
Totalitarian: Attemts to control all Nation’s political, economic, social life, and lacks legal limits and tries to eliminate institutions that challenge their authority.
Political Power/Influence: Having a say or share of the issues.
Representative/ indirect Democracy/ Republic: System that gives citizens a regular opportunity to elect top government officials.
Direct Democracy: System that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies
Pluralism/Group politics: Pattern of struggles among interests
Political Knowledge:
Citizenship: Enlightened political engagement
Political Effiicacy: The belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does.
Political culture: Values upheld by citizens
The Declaration of Independence three unalienable rights: Life, Liberty, pursuit of happiness
Limited Government: a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powersare defined and limited by a constitution
Bill of Rights goals: Delineate individual personal liberties and rights.
Constitution first 10 amendments: Bill of Rights.
Laissez-faire capitalism: allows the national government little power to regulate commerce or restricts the use of priate property. French for allow to do.
Equality of opportunity: Everyone deserves a fair chance to go as far as his or her talents will allow
Political equality: The right of a community’s members to participate in politics or equal terms
Popular Sovereignty: The idea of placing power in the hands of the people.
Majority rule:The wishes of the majority determines what the government does.
Minority rights: the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority
Political culture: Liberty, Equality, justice
Political ideologie: left versus right and republican versus democrat. Democrat emphasize equality and republican liberty.
“clear and present danger”
test used to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a “clear and present danger” to society fighting words speech that directly incites damaging conduct
“speech plus”
speech accompanied by conduct such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations; protection of this form of speech under the First Amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order
prior restraint
an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship; in the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances
libel
a written statement made in “reckless disregard of the truth” that is considered damaging to a victim because it is “malicious, scandalous, and defamatory”
slander
an oral statement made in “reckless disregard of the truth” that is considered damaging to the victim because it is “malicious, scandalous, and defamatory”
civil liberties
areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from government interference
habeas corpus
a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people
selective incorporation
the process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments
establishment clause
the First Amendment clause that says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”; this constitutional provision means that a “wall of separation” exists between church and state
free exercise clause
the First Amendment clause that protects a citizen’s right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses
due process of law
the right of every individual against arbitrary action by national or state governments
exclusionary rule
the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment
grand jury
jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused’s guilt or innocence
double jeopardy
the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime
Miranda rule
the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v Arizona, that persons under arrest must be informed prior to policebinterrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel
right to privacy
the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail individual access to birth control and abortions
eminent domain
the right of government to take private property for public use
Articles of Confederation: America’s first written constitution; served as the basis for America’s national government until 1789
confederation: a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government
Virginia Plan: a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state
New Jersey Plan: a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
Great Compromise: the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population
Three-Fifths Compromise: the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats only three-fifths of slaves would be counted
bicameral: having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses;
distinguished from unicameral
checks and balances: mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments
Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people
separation of powers: the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision-making
federalism: a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution,
between a central government and regional governments
expressed powers: specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I,Section 8) and to the president (Article II)
elastic clause: the concluding paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the “necessary and proper clause”), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerated powers
judicial review: the power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and, if necessary, declare them invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
supremacy clause: Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision
Federalists: those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
Antifederalists: those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
Federalist Papers: a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution
tyranny: oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and
authority
limited government: a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution
amendment: a change added to a bill, law, or constitution