Term
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Definition
| shows the relationship between micro structures (opinions of individuals) and macro structures (states, institutions) |
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Term
| three types of political culture |
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Definition
1. Pre-modern parochial political culture in which people are focused on their immediate surroundings and do not have positive attitudes towards the greater political system (e.g. Afghanistan).
2. Subordinate political culture where there is a connection to the political system, but it is limited and merely output oriented (e.g. Libya: no legitimate government, support is bought through the allocation of resources, for example).
3. participatory political culture. Here the input structures count as well and there is active political participation. |
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Definition
The Liberal Tradition in America (1955) Hartz
absence of strong ideologies in the American political system and the fact that there are no partisan interests but only American interests with a look at the country’s past. According to him the US is governed by an underlying liberal consensus. Due to the fact that it does not have a feudal past, rendering the development of a strong socialist party unnecessary as there was no conservative power structure to overthrow. |
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Definition
means the form and organization of government in that it looks at constitutions, laws, institutions and the rules and regulations set forth by them.
- Handlungsrahmen der Politik, innerhalb dessen sich Policy und Politics bewegen.
- Neben der kodifizierten Verfassung gehören zur Poltiy die politische Kultur einer Gesellschaft sowie typische Orientierungs- und Verhaltensmuster.
- Die Verfassung, die geltende Rechtsordnung und Traditionen bestimmen die in einem politischen System vorhandenen Institutionen wie zum Beispiel Parlamente und Schulen.
- Dadurch wird die Art und Weise der politischen Willensbildung geprägt und der Handlungsspielraum der anderen Dimensionen beeinflusst.
- Politik im Sinne von policy und politics vollzieht sich stets innerhalb dieses Handlungsrahmens. Dieser ist nicht unveränderbar, aber doch so stabil, dass er nicht beliebig und jederzeit zur Disposition steht. |
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Term
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Definition
simply means the agenda or plan of action that is adopted by a political party or organization
- inhaltliche Dimension von Politik.
- Bezüglich der Politik einer Partei oder Regierung umfasst der Begriff, was diese zu tun beabsichtigt bzw. auch tut
- Inhaltlichen Handlungsprogramme, die von politischen Akteuren und Instanzen verfolgt werden, sowie Resultate von politischen Willensbildungs- und Entscheidungsprozesse
- Wenn im Alltag von „guter“ und „schlechter Politik“ gesprochen wird, dann ist damit in der Regel die policy der Regierung gemeint. |
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Term
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Definition
we mean the process and procedures of implementing policies in the given political system.
- konflikthaften Prozess, die Auseinandersetzung um Machtanteile zwischen verschiedenen Gruppen und Personen. (Interessenkoalition)
- Politics liegt immer dann vor, wenn gesellschaftliches Handeln unter dem Zwang der Rücksichtnahem auf andere Akteure steht und noch fehlende Zustimmungsbereitschaft besteht.
- Damit inhaltliche Handlungsprogramme umgesetzt werden können, bedarf es neben der Erringung, dem Erhalt und dem Ausbau von Machtpositionen, auch der geschickten Auswahl des politischen Führungspersonals, der Formulierung der Wünsche und Interessen der gesellschaftlichen Gruppen, der Abstimmung mit anderen Forderungen und Interessen um so ein umfassendes Handlungsprogramm anbieten zu können und wählbar zu sein.
- Dies erfordert die ständige Berücksichtigung anderer Menschen (Wähler, Parteikollegen etc.) deren mögliche Reaktionen bei der Erstellung und Durchführung der policy von vornherein mit einkalkuliert, antizipiert, werden muss.
- Gerade in demokratischen Systemen geht es also auch immer um das Sammeln von Zustimmung und Einwilligung zu den Handlungsprogrammen. |
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Term
| Separation of Powers/checks &balances |
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Definition
| The lessons of European history still fresh in their minds, the framers of the constitution were determined not to let either branch of the government become too powerful. So they decided to enshrine a Montesquieuan separation of powers in the constitution. A careful system of checks and balances was put into place to ensure that the different branches of government would limit each other in their power. Examples: legislature and executive are elected separately; federalism; Congress has the power to make laws, tax and spend, declare war and impeach the president; while the president is the commander in chief, can veto legislation, sign executive orders or make federal appointments (with the approval of Congress). In order to function properly, this system relies on cooperation. |
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Term
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Definition
| Federalism is the division of competences between the central government on the federal level and smaller local governments on the state level. This form of government made it easier to fashion one nation out of the thirteen original colonies and has helped preserve states’ pluralism. |
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Definition
| political power is divided into two spheres – that of the federal government and that of the individual states. Although some powers such as taxation overlap, states are relatively independent. One notable exception is interstate commerce, which is regulated by Congress. |
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Term
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Definition
| States’ independence is limited when they accepts grants of federal money, because the federal government imposes certain criteria and conditions on the states when giving out these grants. |
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Term
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Definition
| transferring more powers back to the states after they had lost made losses under FDR’s New Deal. |
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Term
| unified government vs divided government |
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Definition
| One speaks of the government as being ‘unified’ when both the executive and the legislative branches of government are controlled by the same party. Due to the fact that congressional elections are held every two years a shift in the balance of power is possible every two years. When this happens and Congress and the presidency are no longer controlled by the same party one speaks of ‘divided’ government. As a result the president’s agenda can easily be blocked by the opposition and s/he is then often referred to as a ‘lame duck’. |
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Term
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Definition
| archaic system that was designed to overcome the geographical difficulties of electing the president of a country as vast as the United States. Still in operation today, the Electoral College consists of 538 electors who officially elect the President and Vice President. Each state is allocated a number of electors according to its population. All in all there are the same number of electors as there are representatives in the House (435) and members of the Senate (100) plus 3 electors for the District of Columbia. The specific electors are then appointed by the states. |
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Term
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Definition
| process by which the President (and other civil officers) can be removed from office. It functions much like a courtroom trial and the US constitutions states that the House "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment" (Article I, section 2) and that "the Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments .... [but] no person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members present" (Article I, section 3). But above all it may not be used for political purposes: Impeachable offenses are limited to “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”. |
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Term
| New Deal/Social Security Act |
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Definition
| The Social Security Act, enacted on August 14 1935, is part of FDR’s New Deal and is universally considered the building block of the American welfare state. Designed to combat problems of old age, poverty and unemployment, the act implemented broad social reforms and was later expanded by President Lyndon Johnson. |
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Term
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Definition
| Medicare and Medicaid are both important pillars of the American welfare state that were created when President Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965 into law on July 30, 1965. |
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Term
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Definition
| is a federal health insurance program that provides health care to Americans over the age of 65. In 2008 Medicare insured over 44 million Americans. |
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Term
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Definition
| provides health care to the poorest Americans who cannot afford insurance on their own. However, each state sets its own eligibility guidelines and it is estimated that 60% of America’s poor are not covered by the program. |
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Term
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Definition
| a model that does not grant individuals welfare benefits by simply meeting certain conditions like being out of work or earning low incomes. Instead, benefits are tied to someone’s willingness to work and participate in retraining programs or contribute to society in some other way. Richard Nixon first brought this take on the welfare state to national attention in 1969. |
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Term
| The War Powers Act of 1941 |
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Definition
| was a response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was designed to increase the powers of the President before America’s entry into WW II. |
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Term
| The War Powers Resolution of 1973 |
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Definition
| was meant to limit the President’s power of committing troops to armed conflicts around the world without the approval of Congress, as it is technically Congress’ prerogative to declare war. In reality, the resolution allows the President to send armed forces into military action without a formal declaration of war if s/he notifies Congress within 48 hours and the troops stay no longer than 60 days. Furthermore, since 1973 presidents have simply ignored the resolutions on the grounds that they believe it to be unconstitutional. |
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Term
| "Rally Around the Flag"-Effect |
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Definition
| Polls show that the American public responds to grave crises with strong shows of support for the President. For a short time following events like 9/11 presidential approval numbers go up and the President is seldom criticized so that he may stand strong and act as a unifying figure. This is known as the ‘rally around the flag’ effect and often presents an opportunity for presidents to get more radical legislation through Congress (e.g. PATRIOT Act, New Deal). |
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Term
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Definition
| the theory that the United States is different from other countries in that it has a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy |
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Term
| Verlauf des "American Exeptionalism" |
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Definition
-America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation,"[1] and developing a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire.
-This observation can be traced to Alexis de Tocqueville, the first writer to describe the United States as "exceptional" in 1831 and 1840.
-Historian Gordon Wood has argued, "Our beliefs in liberty, equality, constitutionalism, and the well-being of ordinary people came out of the Revolutionary era. So too did our idea that we Americans are a special people with a special destiny to lead the world toward liberty and democracy.“
-The effort to create a form of rule derived from the people. And stressing individualism made America „exceptional“
-City up tp hill, Rags to riches, manifest destiny-frontier |
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Term
National Security Act
26. Juli 1947 |
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Definition
-wichtiges Gesetz der US-amerikanischen Nachkriegsgeschichte.
-Mit ihm wurde die Neuausrichtung der amerikanischen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges auf institutioneller Ebene vollzogen.
-Nach Ansicht Sapolskys u. a. stellt der National Security Act bis heute die Grundlage weltweiter amerikanischer Militärmacht dar.
-The act created many of the institutions that Presidents found useful when formulating and implementing foreign policy, including the National Security Council (NSC).
-Während des Zweiten Weltkrieges waren Schnittstellen und Interaktionen zwischen den Teilstreitkräften im Wesentlichen auf das Joint Army/Navy Board begrenzt. -Darüber hinaus waren die United States Army und die United States Navy, welcher bis heute die Marineinfanterie organisatorisch nachgeordnet ist, jeweils eigenständigen Ministerien mit Kabinettsrang unterstellt.
-Bereits während des Krieges offenbarte sich die organisatorische und operative Ineffizienz dieses arbeitsteiligen militärischen Führungsstils |
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Term
| Die wichtigsten Punkte des National Security Acts waren: |
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Definition
1. die Schaffung eines Verteidigungsministeriums, des Department of Defense (DoD), durch die Zusammenlegung des vorherigen Kriegsministeriums und des Marineministeriums;
2. die Schaffung einer unabhängigen Luftwaffe, der US Air Force (USAF);
3. die Beibehaltung und Institutionalisierung des während des Krieges eingerichteten Vereinigten Generalstabs, der Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS);
4. die Schaffung des Nationalen Sicherheitsrats (NSC); sowie
5. die Gründung der Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). |
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Term
| Wichtigsten Punkte des Parteisystems: |
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Definition
-Zweiparteiensystem in USA
-Seit mehr als 100 Jahren spielen republikanische partei und demokratische Partei domante Rolle
-„Third parties“zeitweilig Erfolge auf regionaler und lokaler Ebene, aber in diesem Jahrhundert nicht geschafft -Vorherrschaft der 2 Parteien in Frage zu stellen
-D u R dominieren auch Wahlen auf einzelstaatlicher Ebene
-Seit Mitte 1970 konnten parteipolitisch ungebundene (independents) oder von dritten Parteien nominierte Wahlbewerber nur in wenigen Fällen Gouverneurswahl gewinnen oder Mandat für einzelstaatliches Parlament
(außer Nebraska Wahlen für Einkammerlegislative)
-Mehrzahl der amerikanischen Wahlen sind aso partisan elections, die jeweils von einer der beiden großen Parteien majorisiert werden.
-Allerings haben weder R noch D heute noch viel Einfluss darauf, welche Wahlbewerber unter ihrer Parteietikette antreten.
-(u.a. durch primaries) |
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Term
Politisch relevante Soziale Bewegungen:
1869 → 14th Amendment: |
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Definition
-allows citizenship to any person born into the United States (that included slaves and former slaves)
-forbids any state to deny a person his or her natural rights "life, liberty, and property without due process of law or deny any person within a jurisdiction the equal protection of it's laws
-It ensured that blacks would be considered citizens. |
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Term
Politisch relevante Soziale Bewegungen:
1920 → 19. Amendment: |
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Definition
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Term
Politisch relevante Soziale Bewegungen:
1964 → Civil Rights Act: |
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Definition
| Wahlbarrieren werden abgeschafft |
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Term
Politisch relevante Soziale Bewegungen:
1965 → Voting Rights act |
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Definition
-The Voting Rights Act protects every American against racial discrimination in voting.
-It also ensures the right to vote to people for whom English is a second language. |
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Term
Politisch relevante Soziale Bewegungen:
1971 → 24th Amendment |
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Definition
| The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. |
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Term
| Lobbying/Interessengruppen: |
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Definition
-The word lobbying in its current usage means to curry favour with politicians, and in some cases the general public, in order to gain support for areas of special interest.
-The idea of lobbying – promoting special interests to elected representatives – is based on sound democratic principles.
-People should make sure the people they elect to make laws and decisions on their behalf are adequately representing their views. In fact, lobbying is protected in the US Constitution as “the right to petition”.
-A lobbyist is paid by a special interest group, such as cotton farmers or weapons companies, to influence, get money from, or bring issues to the attention of, those in power.
-While there are any number of lobby groups intent on gaining support for issues like the environment, immigration and women’s and gay rights – the real heavy hitters are the extremely wealthy industrial and business lobbies, keen to protect their industries and maintain their profitability.
-The lobbying industry was worth $3.3 billion dollars last year
-There are currently 12,552 registered lobbyists (since 1995 all lobbyists have been required to be registered). In the middle of this decade, during the height of the Bush era, there were 34,750. Compare that to the 100 senators and 435 congressmen and you can see there is a problem of influence.
-A lot of lobbyists are ex-politicians with friends still in power. In fact, the salary of the lobbying occupation lures nearly half of all lawmakers once they leave congress.
-The issue of lobbyists and campaign funding : The idea goes that businesses provide candidates with money they need to campaign for election to congress. In return, candidates promise to vote for laws they want.
-However, it is not the principle of lobbying, but the huge sums of money being paid by big business that is at the heart of the problem.
-Lobbying is part of democratic process |
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Term
| Easy zusammenfassung von Politics, Policy and Polity: |
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Definition
Man könnte sagen, dass Politik die Verwirklichung von Politik- Policy – mit Hilfe von Politik- Politics – auf derGrundlage von Politik – Polity –ist.“ (Rohe 1994: 67)
Policy: Inhalte
Politics: Prozesse
Polity: Strukturen
POLITY Form Verfassung, Gesetze, Institutionen - Regelungen
POLICY Inhalt Aufgaben, Ziele, Probleme, Werte – Lösungen, Gestaltung
POLITICS Prozess Interessen, Konflikte, Kampf – Macht, Konsens |
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Term
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Definition
House of Representatives, Senat-
Makes the laws |
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Term
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Definition
President:
Enforcesand carries out the laws. |
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Term
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Definition
District Courts, Surpreme Courts Courts of Appeal:
Interprets the laws |
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Term
| Examples of Checks and Balances: |
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Definition
-Congress may pass laws, but the President can veto them.
-The President can veto laws, but Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote.
-The President and Congreess may agree on a law, but the Supreme Court can declare a law unconsitutional.
-The President can appoint Judges and other government officials, but Senate must approve them.
-Supreme Court judges have life terms, but they can be impeached . |
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Term
| Wie wird man Premierminister in Kanada? |
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Definition
Kandidaten von Parteien ausgewählt – Monopol der Parteien
keine ‚Primaries‘, Bestimmung auf Parteitagen
geschlossener Prozess: Parteimitgliedschaft nötig, um an Auswahl teilnehmen zu können
Reformdebatte: Demokratisierung der Auswahl |
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Term
| Wie wird man Präsident der USA? |
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Definition
-langer, komplizierter Prozess in der Verfassung festgelegt, schwer zu reformieren
-Grundgedanke: Präsident unabhängig von Kongress/Stimmungen in der Bevölkerung
Präsident soll von ‚Experten‘ gewählt werden
-Etablierung des electoral college:
indirekter Wahlmechanismus,
einzelstaatlich organisiert,
Einzelwahl im jedem Staat am Dienstag nach dem ersten Montag im November.
größtenteils ‚Winner takes all‘- Prinzip,
-Wahl von Wahlmännern
Wahlmännern sind Delegierte der Bundesstaaten, die im Electoral College den Präsidenten und Vizepräsidenten wählen. Jeder Bundesstaat hat so viele Wahlmänner, wie er Vertreter in beiden Häusern des Kongresses hat.
-Status der Wahlmänner: unabhängig oder parteilich?
formale Möglichkeit zu unabhängiger Stimmenabgabe, aber: ausgewählt von Parteien, Stimmen für den ‚richtigen‘ Kandidaten, ‚Stimmvieh‘
Probleme: zweifelhafter Sinn des Wahlgremiums, Reform schwierig wg. Verankerung in Verfassung. |
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Term
Präsidentschaftskandidaten
USA: |
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Definition
-Wahl des Präsidenten in Verfassung festgelegt, Auswahl der Kandidaten nicht festgelegt
-Parteienprogramme stehen im Hintergrund, wichtiger sind die Kandidaten selbst
-Primaries/Caucuses in den Einzelstaaten.
-In primaries werden Delegierte für die national convention (Parteitage) gewählt. Dort werden die Kandidaten nominiert.
unorganisiert/uneinheitlich – Parteien frei in Gestaltung
-Parteien kaum/weniger Einfluss (Bsp. Obama als nicht von Partei favorisierter Kandidat)
-Superdelegates sind erfahrene Politiker die von der Parteien nominiert sind.
-Ihr Einfluss ist besonders stark, sie unterstützen Präsidentschaftskandidaten. |
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Term
| Wahl des Premierministers in Kanada: |
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Definition
| Wahl des Premierministers durch das Parlament |
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Term
| Ist der kanadische Premierminister oder der amerikanische Präsident mächtiger? |
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Definition
PM – besitzt stabile politische Mehrheit
P – strukturell mächtiger, direkt legitimiert. Aber: mächtig und ohnmächtig |
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Term
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Definition
US Supreme Court
Federal trial and appeals judges
Nominated by President and confirmed by the Senate
Public has no vote (only through the president) decides on state laws |
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Term
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Definition
Congress
can be elected by citizens
constitutes of US Senate and House of Representatives
Makes laws and passes Bills |
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Term
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Definition
President and Vice President
Elected by Public
Play role in making laws- uses presidents veto of legislation
carries out laws that Congress enacts and courts clarify |
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Term
| How are the President and Vice President elected? |
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Definition
Every four years
elected together (avoid split)
are not elected directly by citizens |
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Term
| How are senators elected? |
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Definition
-each state (regardless of population)elects two senators
-serve 6 year terms |
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Term
| How are Representatives elected? |
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Definition
aka Members of Congress
Each state elects Members of College
serve in the House of Representatives
Limited to 435
-national census taken every 10 years to determine how many congressional seats each state may have.
-each state's legislature redraws congressional districts for its state |
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Term
| What does "State elected Officials" mean? |
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Definition
Each state is devided into 3 branches of state government, like federal government: judicial, legislative, and executive.
-functions are similar like on fed. level. |
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Term
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Definition
-Judges in state courts
-interpret state laws |
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Term
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Definition
| -enact laws that apply to their state |
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Term
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Definition
| -Voters of each state elect governor for their state |
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Term
| What are Local elected officials? |
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Definition
Cities, towns and counties have elections to choose officials for their legislative and executive branch.
Example: Mayors, city council members, county commisioners etc |
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