Chapter One-Three

ideology

the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy

supremacy clause

the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures

Anti-Federalists

those who did not support ratification of the Constitution

Federalists

those who supported the ratification of the Constitution

social capital

connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them

unfunded mandates

federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation

political power

influence over a government's institutions, leadership, or policies

When a person is asked a question about a political issue that he or she has little interest in and has not thought much about, that person's answer will likely reflect _____.

latent preferences

monarchy

a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power

toll good

a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price to do so

unitary system

a centralized system of government in which the subnational government is dependent on the central government, where substantial authority is concentrated

What political activities can people engage in other than running for office?

- pay attention to news (important issues of today - contribute $ to a campaign, attend a rally - write letters to Congress - vote

What does government do for people?

- provides stability to society - crucial services = public education, police/fire, mail delivery - regulates access to common goods such as public land for the benefit of all - creates a structure where people can make their needs and opinions known to public officials

The Federalist Papers

a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution

What kinds of people are most likely to become active in politics or community service?

Based on age, wealth and education. Voters are most likely to become involved in politics or community service.

What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy?

In a representative democracy, people elect representatives to make political decisions and pass laws for them. In a direct democracy, people make all political decisions and pass laws themselves.

A good example of a trade-off:

The government pleases environmental activists by preserving public lands but also pleases ranchers by allowing them to rent public lands for grazing purposes.

Great Compromise

a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a two-house Congress; representation based on population in the House of Reps and equal representation of the states in the Senate

Three-Fifths Compromise

a compromise between the northern and southern states that called for counting of all state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress

nullification

a doctrine promoted by John Calhoun of SOuth Carolina in the 1830's, asserting that if a states deems a federal law unconstitutional, it can nullify it within its borders

Declaration of Independence

a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British king

race-to-the-bottom

a dynamic in which states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations, often to workers' detriment

categorical grant

a federal transfer formulated to limit recipients' discretion in the use of funds and subject them to strict administrative criteria

republic

a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by the elected representatives

federal system

a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government

oligarchy

a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power

totalitarianism

a form of government where government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights

direct democracy

a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

democracy

a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people

representative democracy

a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws

majority rule

a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole

confederation

a highly decentralized form of government, sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense

ex post facto law

a law that criminalizes an act retroactively; prohibited under the Constitution

bill of attainder

a legislative action declaring someone guilty without a trial; prohibited under the Constitution

unicameral legislature

a legislature with only one house, like the Confederation Congress or the legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan

bicameral legislature

a legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress

writ of habeas corpus

a petition that enables someone in custody to petition a judge to determine whether that person's detention is legal

Virginia Plan

a plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lower house

New Jersey Plan

a plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote

creeping categorization

a process in which the national government in a unitary system are delegated to subnational units

venue shopping

a strategy in which interest groups select the level and branch of government they calculate will be the most receptive to their policy goals

cooperative federalism

a style of federalism in which both levels of government coordinate their actions to solve national problems, leading to the blending of layers as in a marble cake

dual federalism

a style of federalism in which the states and national government exercise exclusive authority in distinctly delineated spheres of jurisdiction, creating a layer-cake view of federalism

new federalism

a style of federalism premised on the idea that the decentralization of policies enhances administrative efficiency, reduces overall public spending, and improves outcomes

checks and balances

a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together

general revenue sharing

a type of federal grant that places minimal restrictions on how state and local governments spend the money

block grant

a type of grant that comes with less stringent federal administrative conditions and provide recipients more latitude over how to spend grant funds

social contract

an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights

federalism

an institutional arrangement that creates two relatively autonomous levels of government, each possessing the capacity to act directly on the people with authority granted by the national constitution

reserved powers

any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government

intense preferences

beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time

elite theory

claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people

pluralist theory

claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people

full faith and credit clause

found in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, this clause requires states to accept court decisions, public acts, and contracts of other states; also referred to as the comity provision

privileges and immunities clause

found in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, this clause prohibits states from discriminating against out-of-staters by denying such guarantees as access to courts, legal protection, and property and travel rights

public goods

goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge

private goods

goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them

common goods

goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply

According to the pluralist theory of government, _____.

government policy is formed as a result of the competition between groups with different goals and interests

In which form of government does a small group of elite people hold political power?

oligarchy

Supporting the actions of the Democratic Party simply because one identifies oneself as a member of that party is an example of _____.

partisanship

minority rights

protections for those who are not part of the majority

What goods are available to all without direct payment?

public goods

concurrent powers

shared state and federal powers that range from taxing, borrowing, and making and enforcing laws to establishing court systems

partisanship

strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party

Articles of Confederation

the first basis for the new nation's government; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the U.S. constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties

immigration federalism

the gradual movement of states into the immigration policy domain traditionally handled by the federal government

elastic clause

the last clause of Article I, Section 8, which enables the national government "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying" out all its constitutional responsibilities

government

the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals

veto

the power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress

enumerated powers

the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs

politics

the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no Government may take away

separation of powers

the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government

The elite theory of government maintains that ______.

wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people.