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Political Science 101-Exam 1 Latest
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government ✔✔a word to describe the formal institutions through which a land and its people are ruled
politics ✔✔refers to conflicts and struggles over the leadership, structure and policies of government
political efficacy ✔✔the belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does, that they can make a government listen to them
citizenship ✔✔informed and active membership in a political community
autocracy ✔✔a form of government in which a single individual- a king, queen or dictator- rules
oligarchy ✔✔a form of government in which a small group- landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants- controls most of the governing decisions
democracy ✔✔a system of rule that permit citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, unusually through the election of the key public officials
constituational government ✔✔a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of government
authoritatiran 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
totalitatarian government ✔✔a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate tother social institutions that might challenge it
representative democracy ✔✔a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
direct democracy ✔✔a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and politics
majority rule, minority rights ✔✔the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority
Americans' trust in their government (has risen or decreased) when? ✔✔increased immediately following Sept. 11, but declined shortly after
How much do Americans typically know about the government? ✔✔they know little about current political issues but are able to identify some high-profile political leaders
What is digital citizenship? ✔✔the ability to participate in society online
What is the basic difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy? ✔✔the number of people who control governing decisions
When the government is formally limited in what it can control and how it controls it, this is known as? ✔✔constitutional government
Although not present at the national level, a number of states and cities permit citizens to vote directly on laws and policies. What is this form of rule called? ✔✔direct democracy
Pluralism is the theory that says ✔✔all interests in a society should be free to compete for influence over governmental decisions.
The percentage of foreign born individuals living in the US ✔✔has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970
As a percentage of the total population in the US which age group has increased the most dramatically from 1900-2010? ✔✔the elderly
Liberty for Americans includes? ✔✔freedom of speech, economic freedom, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly
The principle of political equality can be best summed up as ✔✔"equality of opportunity"
What are the top principles of American democracy? ✔✔popular sovereignty, majority rule, limited government, and minority rights
3/5th Compromise ✔✔the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave counted as 3/5ths of a person
checks and balances ✔✔mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments
electoral college ✔✔the electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president
Bill of Rights ✔✔the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people
separations of powers ✔✔the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making
federalism ✔✔a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments
expressed powers ✔✔specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress and to the president
elastic clause ✔✔Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution (aka necessary and proper clause) which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out
bicameral ✔✔having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral
judicial review ✔✔the power of the courts to review and if necessary declare actions of legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury vs. Madison.
supremacy clause ✔✔Article IV of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the pan d and superior to all laws adopted by and state or any subdivision
In their fight against British taxes such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act of 1764, New England merchants allied with which of the following groups? ✔✔artisans, southern planters, and laborers
The first governing document in the United States was? ✔✔the Articles of Confederation
Where was the execution of laws conducted under the Articles of Confederation? ✔✔the states
Why did the Articles of Confederation not work? ✔✔lack of a single voice in international affairs, weakness of the national government, persistent economic turmoil among the states, and power of radical forces in several states
Which event led directly to the Constitutional Convention by providing evidence that the government created under the Articles of Confederation was unable to act decisively in times of national crisis? ✔✔Shay's rebellion
The draft constitution that was introduced at the start of the Constitutional Convention was authored by Edmund Randolph but showed the strong influence of ✔✔James Madison
Which state's proposal embodied a principle of representing states in the Congress according to their size? ✔✔Virginia
What are some mechanisms that are instituted in the Congress to guard against "excessive democracy"? ✔✔bicameralism, staggered terms in office, checks and balances, selection of senators by state legislatures
Describe the Supreme Court as understood by the Founding Fathers? ✔✔a supreme court of the nation and its states
Which of the following were the antifederalists most concerned with? ✔✔the potential for tyranny in the central government
How do you amend the Constitution? ✔✔it is difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems
Federalism ✔✔a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional government
concurrent powers ✔✔authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes
full faith and credit clause ✔✔provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public act and judicial decisions that take place in another state
privileges and immunities clause ✔✔provision, from Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges
home rule ✔✔power delegates by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs
dual federalism ✔✔the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state government
commerce clause ✔✔Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution which delegates to Congress the power to "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States and with the
Indian tribes" this clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy
states' rights ✔✔the principle that the states should opposed the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War
grants-in-aid ✔✔programs though which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds bu employed for purposes defined but the federal government
categorical grants ✔✔congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law
project grants ✔✔grant programs in which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies and for which funding is provided on a competitive basis
formula grants ✔✔grants-in-aid in which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state or local government will receive
New Federalism ✔✔attempts by presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants
general revenue sharing ✔✔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 revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments
redistributive programs ✔✔economic policies designed to control the economy through taxing and spending with the goal of benefiting the poor
