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American Government Midterm
bleh
144
History
Undergraduate 3
07/18/2011

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Term
government
Definition
the institution that has the authority to make decisions that are binding on everyone
Term
sovereignty
Definition
the authority to legally wield this coercive power to allocate values
Term
autocracy
Definition
the power to authoritatively allocate values can be vested in a single person.
Term
oligarchy
Definition
power can be vested in a small group of people, like a military jnta
Term
democracy
Definition
broadly share power among all citizens
Term
popular sovereignty
Definition
soverignty belongs to all citizens
Term
majority rule
Definition
government follows the course of action preferred by post people
Term
absolute majority
Definition
50% plus 1 of all eligible citizens
Term
simple majority
Definition
50% plus 1 of those who vote
Term
plurality
Definition
the choice with the greatest support
Term
minority rights
Definition
any group numerically inferior to the majority, and it retains the full rights of democratic citizenship
Term
political equality
Definition
individual preferences are given equal weight
Term
social equality
Definition
people should be free of class or social barriers and discrimination
Term
economic equality
Definition
everyone should receive the same amount of material goods regardless of his or her contribution to society.
Term
direct democracy
Definition
citzens are the principal political deciaion makers
Term
representative democracy
Definition
a system of government where ordianry citizens do not make governmental decisions themselves but choose public officials to make decisions for them
Term
liberal democracies
Definition
the rule of law and a constitution constrain elected representatives and the will of the majority from using their power to take away rights of minorities
Term
ideology
Definition
a consisten set of values, attitudes, and beliefs about the appropriate role of government in society
Term
partisanship
Definition
a psychological attachment to a political party
Term
false consensus
Definition
tendency of ppl to believe their views are normal or common sense and shared by most people
Term
pluralistic
Definition
power is fragmented and districuted widely among diverse groups and interests
Term
declaration of independence
Definition
lays the foundation of American constitutional theory
Term
articles of confederation
Definition
served as the first constituion of the us
Term
unicameral
Definition
one house legislature
Term
federalists
Definition
potent group of people who wanted change
Term
anti federalists
Definition
rissted ratification of constitution. mainly subsistence farmers and small businessmen.
Term
shay's rebellion
Definition
outbreak of armed revolt by farmers and Mass who were resisting state efforts to seize their propoerty. some regarded this as threat to the country.
Term
virginia plan
Definition
first major proposal presented, formed basis of constitution.
Term
bicameral
Definition
two house legislature
Term
new jersey plan
Definition
proposed one house legislature with eqaul state rep, similar to Articles of Confed
Term
connecticut compromise
Definition
proposed tow house legislature, witho house of rep apportioned on popularon and a senate with equal representation.
Term
federalist papers
Definition
published as a series of political essays under the pseudnym Publis with purpose of persuading New Torkers to ratify the Constitution
Term
faction
Definition
a number of citizens whoare untied and actuated by some common implse of passion, or of interests, adverse to the right of other citzens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
Term
Madisonian dilemma
Definition
how can self interested individs adminstering strong gov powers be prevented form using those powers to destroy the freedoms that gov is supposed to protext
Term
republican form of gov
Definition
representative government
Term
separation of powers
Definition
dispersal of power, aimed at pitting leaders against at one another.
Term
check and balance
Definition
one branch can assert and protect ts own rights by withholding its support for the essential activiteis of another. they are dependednt on one another.
Term
constituencey
Definition
different groups with different interests choose the personnel of the three branches
Term
federalism
Definition
constitutional division of powers between the national government and the states so that each level of government has some powers that are independtn of the other level.
Term
mixed government
Definition
it should represent both poperty and the number of people
Term
civil liberties
Definition
protecting individuals against arbitrary government action
Term
custom and usage
Definition
occurs when practices and institutions not mentioned in the constitution evolve in respons to political needs and alter the structure, functions, or precoedures of the political system
Term
enumerated powers
Definition
powers explicitly granted to gov or toa particular institution
Term
implied powers
Definition
those not formally specified by the constitution bu are infereed from the powers that are formally specified
Term
inherent powers
Definition
those that are essential to the function of government
Term
executive priveledge
Definition
the right of the pres to withhold info on matters of national sensititvity or personal privacy
Term
judicial review
Definition
powers of the courtys to declare acts and actions of legislatures and exucutives unconsitutional
Term
confederation
Definition
the central gov is not soverign, it receives no direct grant of power from citizens
Term
unitary system
Definition
only the central government is sovereign
Term
McCulloch v. Maryland
Definition
incolced a dispute over whether the central gov had power to create a national bank
Term
police power
Definition
the authority to pass laws for the health, safety, and morals of their citizens
Term
concurrent powers
Definition
powers that the national and state governments can exercise
Term
interstate rendition
Definition
if a person accused of a crime flees across state lines, governor of the state must deliver criminal back to the state with jrisdiction over crime
Term
representation
Definition
involves responding to constituents needs and demands, and informing and educating the public
Term
legislative oversight of administration
Definition
tools that congress uses to control thea dminstative arm of government. including create or abolish exeutie branch agnecies, assign agencies particular program responsibilites, provide or withold fudning for gov programs, confirm presidential appointments to admistrative positions in the exec brnach
Term
policy responsiveness
Definition
the extent to which the policymaking behavior of the representative is congruent with the preferences of the constituents
Term
service responsiveness
Definition
variety of tasks that legislators perform for constituents who request assistance in dealing with the federal governent
Term
allocation responsiveness
Definition
using their position to see that their state or district gets a share of the benefits
Term
pork barrel projects
Definition
a waste of tax dollars that serve no purpose other than to aid the reelection of a single incubent
Term
largest to smallest constituencies
Definition
geographical constituency, reelection constituency, primary constituency, personal constutency
Term
trustees
Definition
make decisions appropriate for the nation first than of their constituents
Term
delegate
Definition
simply do what their constituents want
Term
politico
Definition
mix of both delegate and trustee
Term
impeach
Definition
charge or accuse
Term
expulsion
Definition
requires a two thirds vote and is rarely used
Term
censures and reprimands
Definition
verbal condemnations expressing pubic disapproval of the member's actions by his or her colleagues
Term
president of the senate
Definition
vice present entitled to preside over the chamber, can only cast a ballot to break a tie.
Term
president pro tempore
Definition
preside over the senate in absence of the vp
Term
majority leader
Definition
most powerful person in the senate, elected by members of majority party.
Term
minority leader
Definition
parallels that of majority leader, elected by party colleagues.
Term
speaker of the house of representatives
Definition
wields considerable power, selected by majority party
Term
standing committees
Definition
permanent panels with jurisdiction over particular issues and categories of legislation
Term
party ratio
Definition
the ratio of majority to minority party members in the chamber
Term
exclusive committees
Definition
appropriations, energy and commerce, rules, and ways and means. most desirable committees in the house
Term
prestige committees
Definition
highly prized and allow their members to wield tremendous power in congress
Term
nongermane amendments
Definition
not related to the bill under consideration
Term
riders
Definition
attached to popular bills ina n effort to get a free ride thorugh the legislation process
Term
riders
Definition
attached to popular bills ina n effort to get a free ride thorugh the legislation process
Term
special rule
Definition
establishes the conditions under which the bill will be considered
Term
open rule
Definition
permits any germane amendment
Term
structured rule
Definition
only permits certain amendments
Term
committee of the whole
Definition
committee consisting of everyone in the house
Term
conference committee
Definition
temp committee composed of house and senate members that meets to reconcile differences in a bill that has passed both chambers
Term
weak executive model
Definition
chief executive is simply to implement the decisions of the legislature
Term
strong executive model
Definition
president as a astrong political actor independent of congress, with veto powers, the authority to appoint judges, and primary responsibility of foreign affairs
Term
stewardship doctrine
Definition
roosevelt argued that the pres is the steward of the ppl and should do anything required by needs of the nation unless specifically prohibited by the constitution
Term
positive government
Definition
gov that plays a major role in meeting or preventing most major crises or problems faced by society
Term
executive office of the president
Definition
EOP, pres's closest and most influential advisors
Term
office of management and budget, national security council, council of economic advisers
Definition
EOP agencies
Term
hierarchical model
Definition
presidents set up hierarchical lines of authority and delegates control through a chief of staff
Term
spokes of the wheel model
Definition
president is in the middle acting as the hub while various advisors report directly to him
Term
executive order
Definition
legally binding presidential order directing federal agencies and officials on how to implement laws or policies enacted by congress
Term
signing statements
Definition
provide the presidents interpretation of the language of the law, annouce constitutional imtis on the implementation of some of its provisions, indicate directions to executive branch officials on hos to administer the new law in an excceptable manner
Term
national security directive
Definition
type of executive order with the force of law authorizing federal agencies or officials to take some action to protect national security
Term
bureaucracy
Definition
public agnecies that translate the intent of democratic institutions into action
Term
spoils system
Definition
government jobs at all levels are rewards for ppls loyalty to a politician or a party
Term
merit system
Definition
bases gov emplyment on competence rather than parisan fealty
Term
neutral competence
Definition
public agencies make decisions based on expertise rather than on political or personal considerations
Term
cabinet departments
Definition
just below eop in bureaucratic hierarchy, 15, headed by secretary appointed by pres
Term
independent agencies
Definition
not under adminstrative control of a cabinet secretary
Term
regulatory agencies and commissions
Definition
part of executive branch of gov but independent ofcabinet departments
Term
deregulation
Definition
simplify, loosen or elimanate gov rules
Term
government corporations
Definition
shift responsibility for a gov task to a nonpartisan arena in hopes of keeping it insulated from politics
Term
rule
Definition
statement by a federal agency that interprets a law and prescribes the specific action an agnecy will take to implement that law
Term
rulemaking
Definition
the process of deciding axactly what the laws passed by congress mean
Term
adjudication
Definition
process designed to estalish whether a rule has been violated
Term
iron triangles
Definition
stable relationships among a clientele group, the bureaucracy managing the programs that ffect that groups interests, and the congressional committees with jurisdiction over those programs
Term
policy subsystems
Definition
networks of all the groups that share a particular policy interest. not as stable as iron tirangles
Term
satisficing
Definition
humans consider possible alternatives until they find one that is good enough
Term
bounded rationality
Definition
herbert simon
Term
overhead democracy
Definition
idea that citizens can exercise indrect contorl over bureaucracy
Term
fire alarm oversight
Definition
monitoring that kicks into action once an alarm is raised
Term
police patorl oversight
Definition
constant monitoring to ensure that bureaucracy is acting in accordance
Term
agency capture
Definition
bureau run for the benefit of those it is suppposed to regulate
Term
sunshine laws
Definition
requre that bureau dcisions be made in public meetings
Term
legislative veto
Definition
provision in a law that allows congress to reject a proposed action by a public agency
Term
appointment power
Definition
allows the pres to choose a wide range of subordinates
Term
impoundment
Definition
ability to delay approved expenditures
Term
contracting out
Definition
hiring a private organization rather than creating a government bueau to deliver a public service. creates accountablity problem
Term
principal agent model
Definition
relationship between congress, the pres, and the bureau.
Term
adverse selection
Definition
not knowing the abilities of an agent
Term
moral hazard
Definition
notknowing the effort of an agent
Term
judicial power
Definition
authority of courts to interpret and apply the law in particular cases
Term
jurisdiction
Definition
the limits and conditions under which courts exercise this power
Term
courts of original jurisdiction
Definition
trial courts that hear cases the first time and make determinations of fact, law, and whether the plaintiff of defendant wins
Term
courts of appellate jurisdiction
Definition
the decisions of lower courts that are appealed
Term
judicial review
Definition
the authority to review lower court decisions and to declare laws and actions ofpublic officials unconstitutional
Term
judicial conferance
Definition
committee of district and appellate court judges chaired by the chief justice of the supreme court
Term
collegial courts
Definition
a group of judges decides the case based on a review of the record of the lower court trial. courts of appeals
Term
en banc
Definition
case heard by all the judges in the circuit
Term
writ of certiorari
Definition
court formally exercises its discretionary powers over what cases to hear
Term
rule of four
Definition
four of the nine justices must vote to reiew a case
Term
majority opinions
Definition
five or more justices agree on both which side wins and the reason for the decision
Term
concurring opinions
Definition
written by justices who agree with the result but not the reasoning behind it
Term
plurality opinion
Definition
a majority support the outcome, but lack of majority agreement on the reason may leave the meaning of the ruling unclear
Term
dissenting opinions
Definition
issued by justices in the minority. disagree with the reasoning and the result.
Term
sentorial coutesy
Definition
gives senators from the state where the vacancy occurs the power to influence who is appointed in US distrit courts
Term
confirmation process
Definition
the period between when a pres nominations is received in the senate and when the nominee is confirmed or defeated
Term
originalism
Definition
the idea that justices hsould interpret the constitution in terms of the original intentions of the founders
Term
living constitution
Definition
constitution was meant to be a dyanmaic doc whose meaning has to account for contemp social and political context
Term
judicial restraint
Definition
deferred policymaking authority to other branches and levels of gov
Term
judicial activism
Definition
a more foreceful role in determining public policy thorugh broad constitutional interpreation
Term
legislative interpretation
Definition
the court interprets a statute passed by congress and rules on the meaning or intent of the disputed section
Term
constitutional interpretation
Definition
cannot be overturned by a simple statute
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