State & Local Gov Final

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

common law

"old/ancient law"; law before written law; implied laws; traditions, cultures, morals

examples of active constructive participation (voice)

- contacting officials - discussing political issues - campaign work -campaign contributions - participating in neighborhood groups - participation in demonstrations

examples of active destructive participation (exit)

- leaving or contemplations leaving the jurisdiction - opting for privatized alternatives to gov. services

examples of passive destructive participation (neglect)

- nonvoting - feeling that fighting city hall has no impact - distrust of city officials

examples of passive constructive participation (loyalty)

- voting - speaking well of the community - showing support for the community by attending public functions

formal powers of the governor

-oversees operation of executive branch -chief law enforcement officer -commander-in-chief of state's military -proposes annual budget -recommends new laws -gives "state of the state" address - fills government vacancies (appoint) -can call special sessions of the General Assembly

advantages to federalism

1. helps manage social and political conflict 2. promotes administrative efficiency 3. encourages innovation 4. maximizes political participation in gov.

what are the three principal functions of legislature?

1. policymaking 2. representation 3. oversight

a 2011 estimate by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed the number of illegal immigrants at approximately

11.5 million with 59% coming from Mexico

what percent of laws proposed get passed?

20-25%

Currently, federal funding accounts for approximately ___ of state and local revenues

38%

how long/when does the Georgia legislature meet?

40 days/About January-End of March/April

what percent of state expenditures goes to local governments?

40 percent; roads, hospitals, infrastructure, public health, public safety

how many state Supreme Courts are there?

50 total

the Constitution is __ Articles, ____ Amendments

7, 27

what percentage of civil and criminal cases are resolved outside the courtroom?

90 percent

tort

A civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract.

Interstate Compact Clause

A clause in Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution that requires the approval of Congress when states enter into official agreements with one another

Privileges and Immunities Clause

A clause in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution according citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress - favored smaller states.

16th Amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution (1913) gave Congress the power to tax income.

which Article is the U.S. Congress mentioned in?

Article 1 (it goes: 1. Legislature 2. Executive 3. Judicial)

national supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes national laws superior to state laws

district elections

elections in which the voters in one district or ward of a jurisdiction (city, county, school district) vote for a candidate to represent that district

14th Amendment

enacted in 1868, contains citizenship rights, due process, and equal provisions that states must apply to every citizen

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

concurrent powers are

exercised by both the state and national governments

true or false: in an open primary, only those registers with the political party are allowed to vote

false

true or false: in contemporary America, there is persistent evidence that citizens are very interested in political participation

false

true or false: wealthier, more educated individuals tend to participate in politics less than individuals with lower level of income and education

false

true or false: there seldom is tension between the national and non national governments in a federal system

false

true or false: the concept of jurisdiction refers to government's ability to respond effectively to change, make decisions efficiently and responsively, and manage conflict

false (would be capacity)

partial preemption

federal government's assumption of some regulatory powers in a particular field, with the stipulation that a state law on the same subject as a federal law is valid if it does not conflict with the federal law in the same area.

the trend in school districts follows the theory that

fewer is better

municipal courts

fines/traffic/probation violations, less than $500 fines; alleviates pressure on supreme courts

according to the text, non national governments face three tough challenges today. what are those challenges?

fiscal stress, inter jurisdictional conflict, and political corruption

what three things to local governments want from the state when given mandates?

flexibility when implementing mandates, money to complete and mandates, the reasoning for the mandate

councils of governments (COGs)

formal organizations of general-purpose governments in an area, intended to improve regional coordination

rainy day funds

Money set aside when a state's finances are healthy, for use when state revenues decline. Formally called "budget stabilization funds."

what is the only unicameral state?

Nebraska

closed primary

Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out. (Confederation ends)

what does SPLOST stand for?

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax

commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Tenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment stating, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." Ratified in 1791

smart growth

government efforts to limit urban sprawl by managing growth

in terms of voter turnout, states with moralistic political culture typically experience

higher voter turnout than states with traditionalistic political culture

the amount and type of authority that states give their local governments is

highly variable

the Framers of the Constitution held to the belief of English political philosopher Thomas Hobbs that

human beings are contentious and selfish

federalism is best described as a system of government

in which powers are divided between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments

enumerated (delegated) powers

Those powers expressly given to the national government, primarily in Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution.

revenue sharing

a "no-strings" form of financial aid from one level of government to another

of the following, which type of individual would generally be the most likely to vote?

a 65 year old man living in a small town

civil case

a case that concerns a dispute involving individuals or organizations. for example: divorce, property disputes, suits from damage from accidents

metropolitan area

a central city of at least 50,000 people, the adjacent suburbs, and the surrounding county or counties; often called an urban area

transparency

a characteristic of a government that is open and understandable, one in which officials are accountable to the public

impact fee

a charge levied by a government on new developers to offset some of the societal costs of providing services

civil court

a court dealing with noncriminal cases.

social capital

a dense network of reciprocal social relations that promotes greater civic engagement

charter

a document that sets out a city's structure, authority, and functions

the difference between a federal system and a confederacy is that

a federal system divides power between the central government and geographically jurisdictions, whereas in a confederacy the central government is weak and regional governments are strong

block grant

a form of financial aid from one level of government to another for use in a broad, functional area

categorical grant

a form of financial aid from one level of government to another to be used for a narrowly defined purpose

federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

volunteerism

a form of participation in which individuals or groups donate time or money to a public purpose

formula grant

a funding mechanism that automatically allocates monies based on conditions in the recipient government

project grant

a funding mechanism that awards monies based on the strength of an applicant government's proposal

bench trial

a judge alone hears the case and makes the decision

The territorial range of government authority is referred to as

a jurisdiction

alderman

a label used in some communities for members of a local legislative body, such as a city council

sunshine laws

a law requiring certain proceedings of government agencies to be open or available to the public.

confederacy

a league of sovereign states in which a limited central government exercises few independent powers

multimember district (MMD)

a legislative district that contains more than one seat

delegate

a legislator who functions as a conduit for constituency opinion

politico

a legislator who functions as either a delegate or a trustee, as circumstances dictate

trustee

a legislator who votes according to his or her conscience and best judgment

single-purpose local government

a local government that performs a specific function

general-purpose local government

a local government that performs a wide range of functions

ordinance

a local law

school choice

a market-based approach to education improvement that permits parents and students to choose which school the child will attend; examples include charter schools and voucher programs.

equalization formula

a means of distributing funds (primarily to school districts) to reduce financial disparities among districts

federal system

a means of dividing the power and functions of government between a central government and a specified number of geographically defined regional jurisdictions

dual federalism

a model

creative federalism

a model of cooperative federalism in which many new grants-in-aid, including direct national-local financial arrangements, were made

cooperative federalism

a model of federalism that stresses the linkages and joint arrangements among three levels of government

new federalism

a model that represents a return of powers and responsibilities to the states

progressive era

a period in the early twentieth century that focused on reforming or cleaning up government

policy entrepreneur

a person who brings new ideas to a policymaking body

open primary

a primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation.

federal preemption

a principle asserting the supremacy of federal legislation over state legislation when both pertain to the same matter

recall

a procedure that allows citizens to remove and replace a public official before the end of a term of office

referendum

a procedure whereby a governing body submits proposed laws, constitutional amendments, or bond issues to the voters for ratification

popular referendum

a question placed on a ballot by a citizen petition to decide if a law should be repealed

federal mandate

a requirement that a state or local gov. undertake a specific activity or produce a particular service as a condition of funding

dillon's rule

a rule that limits the powers of local gov't to those expressly granted by the state or those powers closely linked to the express powers

runoff election

a second election pitting the top two vote-getters from a first election in which no candidate received a majority of the votes cast

second-order devolution

a shift in power from state government to local government

focus group

a small group of individuals assembled to provide opinion and feedback about specific issues in government. Participants are often paid for their time.

war chest

a stash of funds accumulated in advance of a campaign

fusion

a state election provision that allows candidates to run on more than one party ticket

nation-centered federalism

a theory holding that the national government is dominant over the states

state-centered federalism

a theory holding that the national government represents a voluntary compact or agreement between the states, which retain a dominant position

Compact Theory

a theory of federalism that became the foundation for states' rights arguments

elite theory

a theory of government asserting that a small group possess power and rules society

pluralist theory

a theory of government asserting that multiple open, competing groups possess power and rules society

jury trial

a trial in which a group of people selected to hear the evidence presented decides on guilt or liability

public authority

a type of special district funded by nontax revenue and governed by an appointed board

of the following, which type of individual would be generally least likely to vote? a. a 21-year-old male living in a large city b. a 65-year-old male living in a small town c. a 65-year-old male living in a large city d. a 21-year-old living in a small town

a. a 21-year-old male living in a large city (rural > young; old > young)

which of the following is NOT an example of federalism? a. it ensures that national government programs and priorities are achieved b. it encourages innovation c. it helps manage political and social conflict d. it promotes administrative efficiency

a. it ensures that national government programs and priorities are achieved

informal powers of a governor

ability to lead, persuade, and bargain with the willingness of others, leader of their political party

what factor can not be taken into account when drawing legislative districts?

access to polling places

which factor is not taken into account when drawing legislative districts?

access to polling places

participation

actions through which ordinary members of a political system attempt to influence decisions

the term judicial activism implies that judges are

actively trying to influence or change public policy.

administrative procedure acts

acts that standardize administrative agency operations as a means of safeguarding clients and the general public

The Great Compromise adopted by the Framers of the Constitution involved

adoption of a bicameral legislature in which one house selected members based on population and one in which states were equally represented

voting-age population

adults eighteen years of age and older; excludes those who are noncitizens, convicted felons, or mentally incompetents (depending on state law)

legislative veto

an action whereby the legislature overturns a state agency's rules or regulations

town meeting

an annual event at which a town's residents enact ordinances, elect officials, levy taxes, and adopt a budget

proactive

an anticipatory condition, as opposed to a reactive one

regime analysis

an approach asserting that certain individuals and groups possess systemic power and enjoy a strategic advantage in influencing government decisions.

regional government

an area-wide structure for local governance, designed to replace multiple jurisdictions

lame duck

an elected official who cannot serve beyond the current term of office

nonpartisan election

an election without party labels

new normal

an environment characterized by stagnant revenues and budget cuts, leading to changes in the provision of public services

grant-in-aid

an intergovernmental transfer of funds or other assets, subject to conditions

advisory committee

an organization created by government to involve members of the public in studying and recommending solutions to public problems

factions

any group of citizens or interests united in a cause or action that can threaten the rights or interests of the larger community

appellate courts have the responsibility for hearing

appeals of cases tried in lower state courts

the enumerated or delegated powers in the Constitution are those that

are expressively given to the national government

what part of the US Constitution created the US legislative branch?

article i

what part of the US Constitution created the US executive branch?

article ii

what part of the US Constitution created the US judicial branch?

article iii

community policing

assigning police to neighborhoods where they walk the beat and work with churches and other community groups to reduce crime and improve relations with minorities.

in what kind of election can a city voter voter for as many candidates as there are seats to be filled?

at-large

magnet schools

attract better students from multiple school districts

what is the difference between reactive policing and proactive policing?

being reactive id reacting to crime after its committed (with more force). being proactive is to build trust with the community so that trust prevents crime and force.

at the heart of the Progressive effort regarding initiatives, popular referenda, and recall mechanisms was a

belief in the capacity of individual citizens and in restricting the powers of institutions, such as legislatures

Lisa is the superintendent of a school district and her district has just been awarded a federal grant that can be used freely to address the most important need within the district. This is an example of which type of grant?

block grant

the governing body for counties is typically called the

board of commissioners

nonpartisan elections, often used at the local level, remove the political party identification of the candidates and are intended to

bring about greater cooperation where politicized city council elections had previously been in use

Which of the following statements about tribal governments is NOT true? a. Tribes are semi-sovereign nations, exercising self-government on their own reservation b. States are prohibited from taxing, regulating, or extending judicial powers over them c. Local zoning laws govern tribal land use d. Tribal residents can vote in federal and state elections

c. Local zoning laws govern tribal land use

legislative assistance on behalf of a constituent, usually within the bureaucracy is called

casework

how has the transformation of American metropolitan areas impacted central cities

central cities have lost some of their prominence as the social, economic, and political focal points of their areas

how do cities differ from counties?

cities have greater decision-making authority and discretion than counties.

who are the professional, neutral experts whose job it is to run the day-to-day affairs of the city

city managers

in the United States, the closest thing to a regional government is

city-county consolidation

what are the two types of trial courts?

civil and criminal courts

three types of courts

civil, criminal, administrative

_______ were created by states to function as their administrative appendages

counties

what three types of governments are general purpose governments?

counties, municipalities, and towns/townships

criminal court

court in which criminal trials are heard

E-government is seen as beneficial in all of the following ways EXCEPT a. it is an efficient way for government to gauge public opinion and preferences b. citizens can easily download reports and forms c. people can "click" on a gov's homepage and find information and resources d. it leaves the "technology have-nots" behind

d. it leaves the technology have-nots behind

Which of the following factors impact the amount of federal grant allocations received by a state? a. its geographic location b. its level of cooperation with Congress c. its relationship with cooperate interests d. its level of poverty

d. its level of poverty

the practical devices placed in the U.S. Constitution to control factions included all of the following EXCEPT a a. system of representative government b. division of government into three branches, which served as a system of checks and balances c. federal system where power was dispersed within and among the federal governments and the states. d. national bank that would control the nations money and therefore keep factions from ever gaining complete control over the economy

d. national bank that would control the nations money and therefore keep factions from ever gaining complete control over the economy

according to the text, which of the following institutional factors may suppress voter participation? a. the use of partisan elections by local governments b. local governments tendency to schedule city council meetings on evenings and weekends c. online contact forms for citizens to contact public officials d. the use of nonpartisan elections by local governments

d. the use of nonpartisan elections by local governments

urban sprawl

development characterized by low population density, rapid land consumption, and dependence on the automobile

in what three ways have state and local gov. changed over the last three decades?

diversity, competitiveness, resiliency

how does government corruption impact the economy?

it causes economic growth to slow down.

which of the following statements about judicial decision making is true? a. it is not subject to any review or oversight b. it is based solely on precedents and scientific techniques c. it is often as subjective as the decision making of other government officials d. it is so similar from one judge to another that it is unimportant who sits on a case

it is often as subjective as the decision making of other government officials

the most frequently heard complaint about special districts is that they

lack accountability

administrative court

less formal proceeding such as probating wills, child custody, revoking drivers licenses

With the aim of processing drug-related offenses more efficiently and reducing recidivism rates of drug offenders, drug courts are an example of which type of court?

limited jurisdiction court

per diem

literally, "per day." the payment a legislator receives to cover expenses during the session.

Over the years, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been modified to

make illegal any government action that discourages minority voting

mandate reimbursement requirements

measures that take the financial sting out of state mandates

alternative courts

mental health courts, drug courts

edge cities

new boom towns featuring retail shops and malls, restaurants, office buildings, and housing developments, far from the central city

appellate courts are different from trial courts because

no plaintiffs, defendants, or witnesses are present

slating groups

nonpartisan political organizations that endorse and promote a slate of candidates

Underlying the result of Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (1964) was the fundamental concept

of "one person, one vote" that led to reapportionment of legislative seats based on population

state departments of community affairs (DCAs) are specialized community agencies that

offer a range of programs and services to local governments

is older or younger more likely to vote?

older (age 65 and older)

unitary system

one in which all authority is derived from a central authority

states may regulate pollution emissions so long as state standards are at least stringent as those of the federal government. This is an example of

partial preemption

what causes the decline of a city?

people move due to traffic and taxes, causing the city to lose money, then they are forced to try to raise taxes on residing citizens and cut public services, making more people want to move away, increasing the crime in the city and worsening education.

if you were arrested for a major traffic violation, and then negotiated with the prosecutor to plead guilty to a minor offense of traffic, you engaged in

plea bargaining

culture wars

political conflicts that emerge from deeply held moral values

traditionalistic political culture

politics functions to maintain the existing order, and political participation is confined to social elites

individualistic political culture

politics in an open market place in which people participate for essentially private motivations

moralistic political culture

politics is an effort to establish a good and just society. citizens are expected to be active in public affairs.

suburbs

populates areas, often residential in character, on the outskirts of a central city.

necessary and proper clause

portion of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that authorizes Congress to enact all laws deemed "necessary and proper" to carry out its responsibilities

voter turnout tends to be the highest in which elections?

presidential election years

the circumvent the right to vote given to African Americans under the 15th Amendment (1870), southern states employed

primaries based on race were illegal

referendums

proposed laws submitted directly to the public, on spending or other economic issues

Interstate compacts authorized by the U.S. Constitution are useful in

providing a vehicle that is useful in settling disputes between two or more states

downsize

reducing the size and cost of something, especially government

in Vieth v. Jubilirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

reliance on partisan considerations remains an appropriate redistricting option

appellate court

reviews decisions of lower courts to determine if a significant error of law was made during trial

Opponents of term limits argue that term limits

rob voters of their fundamental right to choose their representatives.

is rural or city/urban more likely to vote?

rural

who does not have to answer to city councilmen?

sheriff, tax assessor, prosecuting attorneys, and clerk of court

malapportionment

skewed allocation of legislative districts that violate the "one person, one vote" ideal.

a dense network of reciprocal social relations that promotes greater civic engagement is known as

social capital

in 2013, the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required counties covered under the act to submit change in election laws to the U.S. Department of Justice was eliminated. These counties are located mainly in

southern states

when judges use previous judicial rulings to guide their decisions, they are employing the doctrine of

stare decisis

judicial federalism

state constitutional and statutory laws are consulted and applied before federal law

state courts resolve disputes and administer justice by interpreting

state statutes, the state and federal constitutions, and common law

full preemption

states have no say

interjurisdictional cooperation

states working together legally

open meeting laws

statutes that open the meetings of government bodies to the public

sunset laws

statutes that set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies and other organizations

examples of common law

stealing, murder, adultery, self defense

what is the broken window principle?

take care of little crime to prevent big crimes

redistricting of state legislative and the state's congressional districts happen every

ten years and must be based on the U.S. census

general welfare clause

that part of Article I, Section 8 that gives Congress the power to "...provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States..."

the suffragists scored the ultimate victory in their quest for the enfranchisement of women when

the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, forbidding the states to deny women the right to vote on the basis of gender

McCulloch v. Maryland (18190 enhanced the power of the national government by stating that

the Constitution contained implied, as well as enumerated, powers

Real financial power moved from the states to the national government by virtue of

the Sixteenth Amendment, which gave Congress power to tax the incomes of individuals and corporations

Capacity

the ability of government to respond effectively to change, make decisions efficiently and responsively, and manage conflict (gov's effectiveness)

annexation

the addition of unincorporated adjacent territory to a municipality

political culture

the attitudes, values, and beliefs that people hold toward government

the workhorse of the legislature is ________, which provides a structure for organizing the process of making laws.

the committee

incorporation

the creation of a municipality through the granting of a charter from the state

the social conflict over political and legal actions related to morality issue such as same-sex marriage is an example of

the culture wars

devolution

the delegating of power and programs from the federal government to state and local governments

primary system

the electoral mechanism for selecting party nominees to compete in the general election

Voting Rights Act of 1965

the law that effectively enfranchised racial minorities by giving the national government the power to decide whether individuals are qualified to vote and to intercede in state and local electoral operations when necessary

home rule

the legal ability of a local government to run its own affairs, subject to state oversight

strong-mayor-council structure

the mayor is empowered to perform the executive functions of government and has a veto over city council actions

weak-mayor-council structure

the mayor lacks formal executive power; the city council (of which the mayor may be a member) is the source of executive and legislative power

tort reform refers to the policy goal of reducing

the number of personal injury cases and the subsequent awards

residual votes

the number of uncounted, unmarked, or spoiled ballots in an election

plurality

the number of votes cast (though not necessarily the majority) cast for a winning candidate in an election with more than two candidates

gerrymander

the process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power

what statement about citizen advisory committees is true?

the provide a formal structure for citizen input

reapportionment

the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly

redistrict

the redrawing of legislative district lines to conform to the one person, one vote ideal.

coattail effect

the tendency of a winning (or losing) presidential candidate to carry state candidates of the same party into (or out of) office

Jurisdiction

the territorial range of government authority; "jurisdiction" is sometimes used as a synonym for "city" or "town"

public choice theory

the theory that individuals shop around to find a local government whose taxes and services are in line with their own preferences

which of the following statements about limited jurisdiction trial courts is true? a. they are courts with original jurisdiction over specialized cases, such as juvenile offenses and traffic violations b. they are courts with original jurisdiction to hear appeals from lower courts c. they are courts with jurisdiction over major criminal and civil cases d. they are courts beyond which there is no appeal except to the US Supreme Court

they are courts with original jurisdiction over specialized cases, such as juvenile offenses and traffic violations

from a state government perspective, what is not considered a benefit of state mandates?

they ensure that all municipalities and counties have the same resources to fund mandates policies

which of the following statements about original jurisdiction courts is true? a. they have ultimate authority to hear all final appeals b. they have the power to hear criminal cases, but never civil cases c. they have the power to hear civil cases, but never criminal cases d. they have the power to hear certain types of cases first

they have the power to hear certain types of cases first

a judge's personal characteristics, such as party identification, political ideology, prior careers, religion, age, and sex are important aspects of judicial decision making because

they predispose a judge to decide cases in certain ways

concurrent powers

those powers granted by the Constitution to both the national and the state govs

reserved powers

those powers residing with the states by virtue of the 10th amendment

implied powers

those powers that are not expressively granted by the Constitution but are inferred from the enumerated powers

Federal government powers grow in .....

times of crisis (9/11, Great Depression, Great Recession, WW1, WW2)

what is a recall?

to call back an elected official to revote.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires states and localities to make physical and occupational accommodations for disabled persons is an example of

total preemption

many New England towns continue their tradition of direct democracy through a ____ _______ form of government

town meeting

As a precaution to reduce corruption, the states have moved to make government more open, understandable and accountable to the public. This is known as

transparency

what are some benefits of an area being annexed into a city?

trash pick up, city water, sewer not septic, retail shops, nicer roads, nicer housing

most state courts are part of a two-tier system. the two tiers are

trial and appellate courts

true or false: exit ramp communities and edge cities are a manifestation of urban sprawl

true

true or false: one of the disadvantages of federalism is that it can encourage obstruction and delay and result in ineffective national government programs and priorities

true

true or false: states may regulate local governments' finances by establishing debt limits and requiring balanced budgets

true

true or false: the Supreme Court interpretations of the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution have allowed Congress to enact a great many laws that stretch the phrase necessary and proper beyond its original limits

true

true or false: to ensure public access to the rulemaking process, states have adopted administrative procedure acts, which require public notice of the proposed rule and an opportunity for citizen comment

true

true or false: today, city councils are less white, less male, and less passive than they were in the past

true

true or false: the most intractable problem for states and localities involves money

true

true or false: urban sprawl is often called leapfrog development because it jumps over established settlements

true

a system of government in which most, if nor all, legal powers rest with the central government is referred to as a

unitary system

the great majority of countries (more than 90%) have a

unitary system of government

sunbelt

unofficial region in the U.S - South & West

frostbelt

unofficial region in the U.S. - North East & Midwest

a closed primary is a primary in which

voters must be registered with their party affiliation indicated in order to vote in their party primary.

instant runoff

voters use preference rankings to select candidates at a single election

the increased popularity of initiatives can be explained by the fact that

wavering public confidence in government has led citizens to take matters into their own hands

are men or women more likely to vote?

women

should officers in a precinct reflect the community racial-profile make-up? why?

yes, it can help citizens relate to officers better if they can understand their community, to build trust.

is older or younger least likely to vote?

younger (ages 18-24)