Crider AP Govt. midterm review

- Individualism - Equality of Opportunity - Free Enterprise - Rule of law - Limited govt.

5 Core American Values

Party Dealigmnet

A shift away from the major political parties to a more neutral or independent ideology or party identification

Random sampling stratified sample sampling error good wording of questions and type/format of question

All good scientific polls include

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches. Suggested by James Madison in Federalist Papers # 51

Checks & Balances

Powers both Federal and State govts. share Examples: Taxing and borrowing money

Concurrent Powers

When state legislatures redraw congressional districts Can lead to Gerrymandering (think Baker v. Carr & Shaw v. Reno)

Congressional Redistricting

The reallocation of the number of representatives each states has in the house of representatives based on new census

Congressional reapportionment

Developed during New Deal characterized by the federal govt. becoming more intrusive in what were traditionally state powers

Cooperative federalism or Marble-Cake

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

Critical election

1776 - "Certain unalienable rights" = natural rights

Declaration of Independence

Powers given only to the Federal govt. Examples: declare war raise an army

Delegated Powers

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

Devolution

A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls House and/or Senate.

Divided government

Electoral College

Electors based on # of HOR members + 2 (senators) Used to select President of USA If no majority prevails, the HOR breaks the tie Meant to be a buffer popular opinion Example of Elite democracy

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals (skeptical of citizens to make good choices) powerful corporate interest groups & large financial institutions dominate key policy areas. Examples: Electoral College Iron Triangles Super PACs and congressional representation

Elite Democracy

Commerce Clause

Expands Congressional power. Only Congress can regulate anything affecting interstate commerce. Established through Gibbons v. Ogden decision.

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution Ex: Congress coining money and declare war

Expressed/Enumerated powers

Supremacy Clause

Federal law trumps state law. Found in article VI of the Constitution.

Block Grants

Federal money to states for the use within a broad purpose (no strings attached) - more freedom to states as to how to use the money

A system of government in which power is divided by a written constitution between a central/federal government and state/local governments.

Federalism

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

Free riders

The media choosing which issues to report and for how long impacts what viewers deem important

Gatekeeper

Different voting patterns and political beliefs for people in different generations vs. people focus on different issues at different points in life (free college vs. free healthcare)

Generational effects vs. Lifecycle effects

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Guarantees that rights of a citizen in one state will be respected by other states. Found in article IV and in the 14th amendment

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

Horse-race journalism

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution and are derived from the elastic or necessary & proper clause Ex.) running the national bank or legislation dealing with environment or social issues

Implied Powers

An organization of people (public or private) whose members share views on specific interests & attempt to influence public policy to their benefit. use PAC's to fund themselves

Interest groups

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media interest groups elections and political parties are the four main ones

Linkage institutions

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

Mandates

Means of communication such as newspapers radio TV and the internet that can reach large widely dispersed audiences. Linkage institution

Mass media

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Mutual respect and legality of laws, public records, and judicial decision made by states. Found in article IV of Constitution Ex.) Your Driver's license works in other states

Connecticut or Great Compromise

Offered at Constitutional Convention, created bicameral legislature with one house based on population and the other (US Senate) based on set representation (2 per state) All revenue bills start in House

Emphasizes broad participation and an active role for individual citizens in politics and civil society Examples: #MeToo March for Our Lives .

Participatory Democracy

An historical period dominated by one political party. There have been four major party eras in American history—the era of good feeling the Republican era following the Civil War the Democratic era following the election of Franklin Roosevelt and the Republican era following the election of Richard Nixon.

Party era

The majority party is displaced by the minority party thus ushering in a new party era ex: FDR led the New Deal and displaced the Republicans of the late 1800s and early 1900s

Party realignment

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot

Party-line voting

The theory that many interest groups (group based activism) compete for power in a large number of policy areas - forces compromise Examples: Political parties & interest groups

Pluralist democracy

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

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A set of widely shared political beliefs & values like liberty political equality & limited government

Political culture

The belief that one's political participation makes a difference so if you have low efficacy you don't feel your vote matters.

Political efficacy

A cohesive set of beliefs about politics public policy & the role of government Ex. Conservative Liberal or Libertarian

Political ideology

A group of citizens who organize to gain power/win elections hold public offices operate governments & determine public policy. Linkage institution

Political party

The process by which political values/ideologies are formed & passed from one generation to the next. The family is the most important agent

Political socialization

⅔ of both houses of Congress propose the amendment and then 3/4s of the states ratify the amendment

Process to Amend the US Constitution

Attitudes about institutions leaders political issues & events

Public opinion

Powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states & are held by the states through the 10th amendment Ex.) education and running elections

Reserved Powers

Each branch is assigned specific powers so each branch has limited power.

Separation of Powers

An electoral district from one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office & typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties

Single-member district

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

Split-ticket voting

Going Public

The practice often used by presidents of taking their policy agendas directly to the public rather than to Congress Ex.) Bully Pulpit

Opinion Polls Benchmark polls Tracking Polls Entrance/exit polls

Types of Polls

Categorical grants

federal money to states for a specific defined purpose 2 types: formula and project grants

Natural Rights:

fundamental rights of all humans and NOT received from a govt.

The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts (mis-shappened) to favor one political party over another

gerrymandering

Popular Sovereignty:

people are the source of govt. power and authority

Social Contract

people create a govt. to protect rights of people