american govt. 2011
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bobbyshores on May 24, 2011
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59 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 straight ticket voting | the practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election |
| things that effect voter turnout | income and occupation, education, gender, age, religion, ballot fatigue, geography, family |
| political efficacy | one's own influence of effectiveness on politics |
| gerrymandering | the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group |
| declaration of independence | july 4, 1776 -social theory contract-justified revolution arguing king george the third and his ministers had violated the contract-natural rights-greivances-resolution of independence |
| election day turnout | determined by voters/ one candidate for presidency can win |
| 26th amendment | 1971-minimum voting age 18 |
| 19th amendment | 1920-women the right to vote |
| 15th amendment | 1870-gave all male citizens the right to vote |
| single issue party | concentrate on only one public policy matter and usually die out |
| thomas jefferson's views on govt. | stressed republicanism, federalist, cautious, small state govt, all men should vote, supported agriculture |
| alexander hamiltons views on govt. | federalist, stressed weakness of articles, new govt. based on constitution, liberal, wealthy and well educated people vote, president rules as long as they want, industrial support |
| two party system | democrats and republicans have best chance of winning an election |
| social contract | intellectual device intended to explain the appropriate relationship between govt. and individuals |
| political party jobs | set policy, nominate candidates for public office, monitor work of elected officials, and direct resources toward a common goal |
| democrats | social liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center left |
| republicans | american conservatism and is center right-hold most seats in the house and the least in the senate |
| political parties | groups of persons who seek to control govt. through the winning of elections and the holding of public office |
| extradition | the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state |
| interstate compact | formal agreement entered into with the consent of congress, between or among states, or between a state and a foreign state |
| block grants | one type of federal grants-in-aid for some particular but broadly defined area of public policy |
| grants in aid | grants of federal money or other resources to states, cities, counties, and other local units |
| loans | a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest |
| concurrent powers | those powers that both the national govt and the states possess and excercise |
| reserved powers | those powers that the constitution does not grant to the national govt but does grant to the states |
| expressed powers | powers of the national govt. that are spelled out in the constitution also known as enumerated powers |
| supremacy clause | a provision of the constitution that states that the constitution, federal law, and treaties of the u.s. are the "supreme law of the land" |
| necessary and proper clause | article one section 8 clause 18 congress has the power to make laws |
| informal amendments | basic laws- changes to the interpretation of the constitution |
| amendments to the u.s constitution | changes to the constitution--or its interpretation |
| ways to amend the constitution | bill to pass both the houses of legislature, by two thirds majority in each/ constitutional convention to be called by two thirds of the legislature of the states, and for that convention to prove one or more amendments |
| checks and balances | three branches of govt maintain balance in power |
| separation of powers | the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government |
| article I of the u.s. constitution | Provides that Congress consist of a House of Representatives and the Senate, establishes the manner of election and qualifications of members of each house, outlines legislative procedure and enumerates the powers vested in the legislative branch, and establishes limits on the powers of both Congress and the states. |
| article II of the u.s. constitution | Creates the executive branch of the government, comprising the President and other executive officers. |
| article III of the u.s. constitution | Establishes the judicial branch of the federal government. |
| marbury vs. madison | Case in which the supreme court first asserted th power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional |
| limited government | basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away |
| popular sovereignty | The concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government |
| first continental congress | The First Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system. |
| second continental congress | met in 1776 organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the comittee to draft the Declaration of Independence |
| articles of confederation | This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage. |
| bicameral | composed of two legislative bodies |
| unicameral | composed of one legislative body |
| magna carta | This document, signed by King John of Endland in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that are included in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights |
| english bill of rights | King William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689. It guaranteed certain rights to English citizens and declared that elections for Parliament would happen frequently. By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy, a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people. |
| petition of rights | Limited the power of Charles I of England. a) could not declare martial law; b) could not collect taxes; c) could not imprison people without cause; d) soldiers could not be housed without consent. |
| u.s. bill of rights | -established the structure of the U.S. government -guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected -affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people -protected the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition |
| concepts of democracy | *worth of individual *Equality *Majority Rule&Minority Rights *Compromise *Individual Freedom |
| federal govt | A system of govt in which the states form a union and the sovereign power is divided btwn the central govt and the memeber states. |
| presidential govt | POWER IS SEPERATED BTWN THE EXEC. AND LEG. BRANCHES EACH HAS DIFFERENT POWERS BUT SEEN AS CO EQUAL |
| pre-amble of the u.s. constitution | brief intro statement of the constitutions fundamental purposes and guiding principles/perfect union/secure blessings of liberty |
| divine right theory | The idea that the gods chose the person or family to rule. Rulers were considered a god or descendants of the gods or chosen by the god. To oppose the monarch was to oppose god. |
| characteristics of state | population, territory, sovereignty, government |
| public policies | things government decides to do, example: taxation, crime control, national defense, education, etc. |
| representative democracy | A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people. |
| direct democracy | a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives |
| demos | the people, the citizens |
| kratos | strength, power |
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