American Government Chapter 1,2,3

Trustee representation

representatives do what they regard as the best interest of the voters- regardless of what the voters might wish for

Indentured servant

A colonial American settler contracted to work for a fixed period (usually three to seven years) in exchange for food, shelter, and transportation to the new world

Covenant

A compact invoking religious or moral authority

Second continental congress

A convention of delegates from thirteen colonies, which became the acting government for the duration of the revolutionary war

First continental congress

A convention of delegates, from twelve of the thirteen colonies, that met in 1774

Gridlock

A critical term applied to gov's inability to advance policy solutions because of clashes among different branches or between national and state officials

Classical republicanism

A democratic ideal, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome, that requires citizens to participate directly in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gains, and defer to natural leaders

Social democracy

A gov whose citizens are responsible for one anothers well-being and use gov policy to assure that all are comfortably cared for

Democracy

A government in which citizens rule directly and make decisions for themselves

Republic

A government in which citizens rule indirectly and make government decisions through their elected representatives

Confederation

A group of independent states of nations that yield some of their power to the national gov, although each state retains a degree of sovereign authority

Compact

A mutual agreement that provides for joint action to achieve defined goals

Unitary government

A national polity governed as a single unit, with the central government exercising all or most political authority

Tea party

A national social movement, primarily attracting fiscal and social conservatives, that seeks to limit gov spending and cut taxes.

Pragmatism

A principle of legal interpretation based on the idead that the constitution evolves and that it must be put in the context of contemporary realities

Originalism

A principle of legal interpretation that relies on the original meaning of those who wrote the constitution

Initiative

A process in which citizens propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution

Economic equality

A situation where there are only small differences in wealth between citizens

Occupy wall street

A social movement, in New York city, that protests the inequality of wealth and power, targeting the top 1 percent

Median

A statistical term for the value in the middle of a series when the items are arranged in numerical order

Republic

A system of government that rests ultimate governing power it its people, who may rule directly via representatives.

New federalism

A version of cooperative federalism, but with stronger emphasis on state and local government activity, vs national government

Equality

All citizens enjoy the same privileges, status, and rights before the law

Social equality

All individuals enjoy the same status in society

Article 5

Amendments, authorizes to the constitution with two thirds vote of both House and Senate and three fourth of the states must ratify

Conservatives

Americans who believe in reduced government spending, personal responsibility, traditional moral values, and a strong national defense

Liberals

Americans who value cultural diversity, gov programs for the needy, public interventions in the economy, and individuals right to a lifestyle based on their own social and moral positions

Supermajority

An amount higher than a simple (50% plus one) majority-thee fifths or two thirds are typical requirements in order for a proposal to be adopted

Rational choice theory

An approach to political behavior that views individuals as rational, decisive actors who know their political interests and seek to act on them

Mercantilism

An economy theory in which gov controls foreign trade in order to maintain prosperity and security

Referendum

An election in which citizens vote directly on an issue

Unfunded mandate

An obligation imposed on state or local government officials by federal legislation, without sufficient federal funding to cover the costs.

Legislative

Article 1

Executive

Article 2

Judicial

Article 3

Protection for the states

Article 4

Amendments

Article 5

Supremacy and continuity

Article 6

Ratification

Article 7

Civic voluntarism

Citizen participation in public life without government incentives or coercion (speaking at town meeting, vs paying taxes, for example).

Dual federalism

Clear division of governing authority between national and state govs. Also referred to as layer cake

Sept 17, 1787

Constitution Approved

March 4, 1789

Constitution put into effect

Necessary and proper clause

Defines Congress's constitutional authority (in article 1, section 8) to exercise the "necessary and proper" powers to carry out its designated functions.

Libertarians

People who believe in minimal government: public officials only role should be defending boarders, prosecuting crime, and protecting private property

Federalism

Power divided between national and state gov. Each as its own independent authority and duties.

Article 4

Protections for the states, Full faith and credit clause

The New Jersey plan

Put forward at the convention by the small states, it left the most authority with the state govs

Article 7

Ratification, announced that the constitution would go into effect after nine states had ratified

Strong nation

Robust spirit of national identity shared by a people

Article 6

Supremacy and continuity, makes the constitution the law of the land

Credit claiming

The ability of political figures to generate a belief among their constituents or supporters that they are personally responsible for some government action or achievement

Freedom

The ability to pursue ones own desires without interference from others

Supremacy clause

The constitutional declaration (in article 6, section 2) that the national gov authority prevails over any conflicting state or local gov's claims

Reserved powers

The constitutional guarantee (in the tenth amendment) that the states retain gov authority not explicitly granted to the national gov

Full faith and credit clause

The constitutional requirement (in article 4, section 1) that each state recognize and uphold laws passed by other states

July 4, 1776

The declaration of independence signed

The bill of rights

The first ten amendments to the constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen

Positive liberty

The freedom and ability to pursue ones goals

Equal outcome

The idea that citizens should have roughly equal economic circumstances

Equal opportunity

The idea that every American has an equal chance to win economic success

Institutions

The organizations, norms, and rules that structure government and public actions.

Political culture

The orientation of citizens of a society toward politics

Checks and balances

The principal that each branch of gov has the authority to block the other branches, making it more difficult for anyone to exercise too much power. It makes passing legislation far more difficult in the United States than in other democracies

Incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court declares that a right in the bill of rights also applies to state govs

Diffusion

The spreading of policy ideas from one city or state to others; a process typical of US federalism

Electoral College

The system established by the constitution to elect the president; each state has a number of electors (equal to the size of its congressional delegations in House an Senate); the public in each state votes for electors who then vote for the president

Devolution

The transfer of authority from national to state or local government level

American exceptionalism

The view that the United States is unique, marked by distinct set of ideas such as equality, self-rule, and limited government

Private life, civil service, government

Three sectors of society

Delegate representation

When representatives follow expressed wishes of the voters

Political equality

Every person has the same political rights and opportunities

Article 2

Executive, deals with the presidents powers

Negative liberty

Freedom from constraints or the interference of others

Jan 2, 1788

Georgia ratifies

Concurrent powers

Gov authority shared by national and state govs, such as the power to tax residents

Unicameral

Having a single legislative house or chamber

Bicameral

Having two legislative houses or chambers-like the House and the Senate

Article 3

Judicial, deals power granted to the courts

Article 1

Legislative, deals with powers of congress, the House and Senate

The Virginia Plan

Madisons plan, embraced by Constitutional Convention delegates from larger state; strengthened the national gov relative to state govs

Cooperative federalism

Mingled governing authority, with functions overlapping across national and state govs. Also referred to as marble cake

Block grants

National gov funding provided to state and local governments, with relatively few restrictions or requirements on spending

Inherent powers

National gov powers implied by, but not specifically named in, the constitution.

Granted powers

National gov powers set out explicitly in the constitution. Enumerated powers

Grant in aid

National government funding provided to state and local governments, along with specific instructions about how the funds may be used

Sunshine laws

laws that permit the public to watch policy makers in action or to access the records of government proceedings

Self rule

the idea that legitimate government flows from the people