American Politics

the ability to influence government and politics

informed and active membership in a political community

institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

form of government in which a single individual - king/queen/dictator - rules

a form of government in which a small group - landowners/ military officers/ wealthy merchants - cntrols most of the governing decisions

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant role in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

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

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decisions

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation.

broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function

freedom from governmental control

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

the right to participate in politics equally: "one person, one vote"

a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

America's 1st written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789

a system of government in which states retain sovereign autority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, which called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, which called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention on 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population

having a legislative assembly composed of 2 chambers/ houses

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches

the presidential electors from each state who meet after the population election to cast ballots for president and vice prestident

the 1st 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress and to the president

AKA the Necessary and Proper Clause: enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out

the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislatie and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional

Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed in 1787

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and were opposed to the Constitution of 1787

a series of essays supporting the ratification of the Constitution

oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution

a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government

a system of government in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government, such as states

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause: such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

powers derived from the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states

power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens

authority possessed by both state and national governments ( i.e. power to levy taxes)

requires that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state

a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs

1789 -1937 American Gvt: most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments

delegates to Congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes." Clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy

the principle that the states should oppose the increasing auhority of the national government

a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government

congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law

grant programs in which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies and for which funding is provided on a competitive basis

a type of federalism in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage sates and localities (w/o commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals

form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards

the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas

regulations/conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governents for which they are not reimbursed by the national government

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent

attempts by Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants

the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

representation in which representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents

representation in which a representative is held accountable to a constituency if they fail to represent that constituency properly

holding a political office for which one is running

legally prescribed limits on the number of terms an elected official can serve

the process occuring after every decennial census, that allocates congressional seats among the fifty sates

the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative repesentatives

apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party

the resources available to higher officials

appropriations made by legislative bodies for (often unecessary) local projects created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts

the practice through which members of Congress insert into bills language that provides special benefits for their own constituents

a proposal in Congress to provide a specific person with some kind of relief

a gathering of House Republicans every 2 years to elect their House leaders

normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives

can influence the legislative agenda, fate of individual pieces of legislature, and members' positions w/in the House and committee assignments

the elected leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. In the House, they are subordinate in the party hierarchy to the Speaker of the House

the elected leader of the minority party in the House of Senate

a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the pary's legislative strategy, building support for key issues, and counting votes

a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject

(usually) temporary legislative committee set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not w/in the jurisdiction of existing committees

a legislative committee formed of members of both the House and Senate

a joint committee created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

ranking given to an individual based on length of continuous service on a committee in Congress

a legislative support agency responsible for policy analysis

an association of members of Congress based on party, interest, or social group, such as gneder or race

a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of Congress and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate

session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorperate hearings on the bill

a provision by the House Rules Committee limiting/prohibiting the introduction of amendments during debate

a provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the ddition of new amendments to a bill

a tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down.

a rule allowing a majority of 2/3 or 3/5 of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill

the president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress

a presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final ten days of a legislative session

a roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50% of the members of one party take a paricular position and ae opposed by at least 50% of the members of the other party

a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk calls the names of the members alphabetically

a legislative practice whereby agreements are made between legislators in voting for or against a bill; vote trading

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

the amount of money approved by Congress in statutes (bills) that each unit/agency of government can spend

an agreement between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate's "advice and consent"

the formal charge by the House of Representatives that a government official has committed "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors"

a representative who votes according to the preferences of their constituency

a representative who votes based on what they think is best for their constituency