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Definition
| who gets what when and how in the political process |
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| those issues that are receiving the serious attention of policymakers |
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Term
| Policymaking Institutions |
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Definition
those institutions (Congress, the President, the courts, and the
bureaucracy) that are responsible for making public policy in the American political system. |
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Term
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Definition
hose institutions (political parties, elections, special interest groups and the
news media) that link (connect) people and government; assist the people in getting their concerns
(issues/problems) on the policy agenda; the channels through which people’s concerns become
political issues on the government’s policy agenda |
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Definition
a choice that government makes in response to a political issue (a course of action
or inaction); includes: congressional statutes, bureaucratic rules and regulations, executive orders,
court decisions, presidential decisions |
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Definition
| 50 percent + 1 (one more than half) |
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| the most votes but not necessarily a majority |
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belief that many groups competing for power express the public will; a theory of
group competition that emphasizes multiple access points and a positive view of group competition. |
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Definition
a theory of government and politics that contends that society is divided along
class lines and a wealthy or upper class elite will rule regardless of the government structure; belief
that big business, the wealthy, or even technical experts have the greatest influence in American
government. |
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Definition
a group theory of politics that contends that groups are so strong that government
is weakened; an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism; pluralism gone bad --- too
many groups create gridlock and contradictory policies. |
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Term
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Definition
term used by Founding Fathers to refer to self-interested groups arising from the unequal
distribution of property; they feared factions would create instability in government; today’s interest
groups and political parties are examples of what Madison and others had in mind; in The
Federalist #10, Madison explained that majority factions would control minority factions, but a large
republic was needed to control majority factions. |
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Definition
a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Daniel
Shays in 1786; was a catalyst for the Constitutional Convention; the Founding Fathers viewed it as
evidence of the need for a much stronger national government |
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Term
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Definition
the major compromise made at the Constitutional Convention that
combined the Virginia (representation based on population) and the New Jersey (equal
representation of the states) plans to create a bicameral Congress consisting of a Senate with two
Senators per state and a House of Representatives based on population. |
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Term
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Definition
plan for government designed by Madison to keep as much power as
possible out of the hands of the people (to prevent majority factions from taking over government)
by a system of separation of powers (legislative, executive and judicial branches) and checks and
balances; the only part of the government directly elected by the people in the original plan was the
House of Representatives. |
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Term
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Definition
a collection of 85 articles written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay in support of
ratification of the U.S. Constitution; the articles explain the intent of the Founding Fathers in writing
the Constitution. |
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Term
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Definition
principle of the Constitution that calls for three separate branches
(legislative, executive, and judicial) of government, each with separate but overlapping or shared
powers. |
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Term
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Definition
a principle of the Constitution that seeks a balance of power between the
various branches of government by giving each branch the ability to check the powers of the other
branches. |
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Term
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Definition
the power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of government actions
(declare laws or presidential actions unconstitutional in cases before them); resulted from the
Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
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Term
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Definition
Article VI of the Constitution establishes the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws and
treaties the supreme law of the land; establishes national supremacy in areas where the national
government has legitimate power; the linchpin of our federal system of government. |
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Term
| necessary and proper clause |
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Definition
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution gives Congress
the power to do what is necessary and proper to carry out its stated powers; stretches the power of
the national government beyond what is specifically stated in the Constitution; also called the
ELASTIC CLAUSE. |
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Term
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Definition
state powers; those powers not delegated to the national government nor
denied to the states; authorized by the 10th Amendment. |
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Term
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Definition
powers of the national government specifically stated in the Constitution;
also called expressed powers. |
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Term
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Definition
powers of the national government not specifically stated in the Constitution but
reasonably derived from those that are; based on the necessary and proper clause; can expand the
powers of the national government at the expense of the states |
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Term
| full faith and credit clause |
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Definition
a clause in Article IV of the Constitution that requires states to give full
faith and credit to the civil acts, records and judicial proceedings of other states; allows the use of a
Texas drivers license while temporarily driving in other states (also usually applies to marriage
certificates; adoption records, wills and deeds). |
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Term
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Definition
the division of powers between the national and state governments is distinct and
clear – like a layer cake; each level of government is relatively supreme within its own sphere of
power; requires a narrow interpretation of the national government’s powers. |
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Term
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Definition
a type of federalism in which powers and policy assignments are shared
between the levels of government; like a “marble cake” in that national and state powers are
mingled and the distinction between the two is blurred; typically entails a broad interpretation of
national government power; examples include the interstate highway system; typical characteristics
include: shared costs, shared administration and federal guidelines. |
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Term
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Definition
the pattern of spending, taxing and providing grants in the federal system; it is
the main way in which the national government exerts its authority over traditional areas of state
authority by providing the money or a portion of the money for projects and programs; the issue of
“who pays?”. |
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Term
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Definition
federal grant to the state or local communities to support broad programs or areas at
state discretion; fewer strings attached than categorical grants and more options for spending by
state and local governments. |
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Term
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Definition
federal grant that can be used only for specific purposes, or “categories,” of
state and local spending; come with strings attached – federal guidelines for the use of the money
and typically shared costs and administration. |
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Term
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Definition
a trend toward returning power to the state and local communities by reducing
national authority and reinstating state and local authority in certain programs and policy areas;
typically involves greater fiscal responsibility for the states and local communities. |
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Term
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Definition
the process of the Supreme Court applying selected rights/freedoms in
the Bill of Rights to the states through the due process clause of the 14th Amendment on a case by
case basis. Via incorporation, states, as well as the national government, are limited by selected
provisions of the Bill of Rights. |
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Term
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Definition
the process of the Supreme Court applying selected rights/freedoms in
the Bill of Rights to the states through the due process clause of the 14th Amendment on a case by
case basis. Via incorporation, states, as well as the national government, are limited by selected
provisions of the Bill of Rights. |
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Term
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Definition
clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress can “make no law
respecting an establishment of religion” – strictly interpreted it was intended to restrict Congress
from establishing a national religion. Has been interpreted to mean there should be a separation
between church and state. |
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Term
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Definition
the process of the Supreme Court applying selected rights/freedoms in
the Bill of Rights to the states through the due process clause of the 14th Amendment on a case by
case basis. Via incorporation, states, as well as the national government, are limited by selected
provisions of the Bill of Rights. |
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Term
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Definition
clause in the First Amendment that prevents Congress from passing laws
that restrict the “free exercise of religion;” it was intended to guarantee freedom of religion. |
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Term
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Definition
illegally obtained (police not following established rules) evidence cannot be
used in court against a criminal defendant; interpretation of the 4th Amendment’s right against
unreasonable searches and seizures that protects against illegal searches. |
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Term
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Definition
practice within the criminal justice system to offer criminal defendants a reduced
sentence if they plead guilty to a lesser crime and avoid a lengthy trial; most criminal cases are
decided through plea bargains. |
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