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Flashcards by spartan 007, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by spartan 007
almost 7 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Majoritarian Politics | -One of several theories of public policy -Theory says that gov will work w/ the public majority to pass a certain legislation or specific desired action. -e.g. when candidates adopt a popular opinion & grassroots movements succeed. |
| Elite Theory | -Another political theory that influences public policy. -theory takes a class approach, arguing that there is inherent inequality in the distribution of power among citizens. -So the elite (rich & powerful) have more influence over the gov. -true: wealthy donors, educated politicians |
| Interest Group Politics | -another theory of public policy -interest groups are influential in all 3 branches of gov. -These interest groups raise & spend money to help elect public officials that will further their goals. -these groups also monitor the gov and send witnesses, etc. to testify @ Congress to ensure a bill is passed or rejected. -e.g. organized labor or gun lobbyists. |
| Pluralist Theory | -another theory of public policy -due to the size and diversity of ideas and viewpoints of U.S. citizens, no single view will suffice to make public policy. -So an effective public policy law, etc., for our situation would be one that is agreed with by a consensus. |
| Social Contract |
-a voluntary agreement b/w a gov and the people
-the people give up some individual freedom in return for protection.
-all ppl born in state of nature w/ natural rights
-concept created by John Locke
-influenced Declaration of Independence
-"locked" via a contract
Image:
John Locke (image/png)
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| John Locke/ Natural Law | -English philosopher of Enlightenment -everyone is born w/ a set of inalienable (natural) rights -no gov can suppress them b/c ppl were in this natural state before gov was even formed. -no one can subjugate another person w/out their consent -it's the ppl's duty to rebel if go turns tyrannical. |
| Declaration of Independence | -written by Thomas Jefferson -a call to revolution -listed reasons why the colonies were fighting (list of grievances, representation, etc.) -heavily influenced by John Locke's ideas of inalienable rights & social contract. |
| Articles of Confederation | -adopted during Revolutionary War. -weak central gov & gave colonies too much freedom -little sense of national unity -Congress - limited powers -Congress couldn't tax, legislation required 13 votes of agreement. -rivalries b/w colonies -good: Treaty of paris, purchased land -not enough though |
| Virginia Plan | -plan proposed @ Constitutional Convention of 1787 to replace Articles -aka "the large state plan" -blueprint for Constitution -proposed by James Madison -Separate judicial & executive branches & bicameral legislature -multi-tiered court system -Separation of Powers introduced -Congress would be supreme authority in all areas e.g. defense, interstate trade. -members of lower chapter elected by voters. -members of lower house elect upper house members. -# of representatives based on population of state -more populous states would have more power than less populous states -Delaware & smaller states didn't like it. |
| Three-Fifth's Compromise | -1787 -Compromise b/w Southern & Northern states regarding slavery & trade -each slave was counted as 3/5ths of a person for federal tax & determining representation. -South depended on slavery b/c of agricultural economy & feared tax or ban of slave importation from Congress. -Population: North was more populous & so had more power & potential to enact harmful taxes -also, Congress wouldn't talk about banning slave trade until 1808. -issue of slavery still a major issue. |
| Preamble | -The Constitution opens with the Preamble. -it is a mission statement that begins w/ "We the People" & outlines the purpose of the government. -Also conveys unity among the colonies. |
| Checks and Balances | -a system of dividing authority & specific powers among the 3 branches of gov. -e.g. the President can veto legislation by Congress. -e.g. Congress can impeach & remove the Prez if he acts unconstitutionally & can override Prez.'s veto & make budgets -Supreme Court has power to interpret legal disputes cased by legislation & declare them unconstitutional -The balance of powers ensures that, should one branch get too tyrannical, the other 2 powers can keep it in check. |
| Enumerated Powers | -The 17 expressed powers of Congress in Article I of the Constitution (sec.8) -goal: have a strong gov w/ enough power to keep us safe & our economy stable. -Congress's enumerated powers: power to tax, borrow $$$, raise an army, create postal system, address piracy, define immigration & naturalization process, etc. |
| Commerce Clause | -in Article I -allows Congress to regulate commerce with other nations & among states. |
| Necessary and Proper Clause aka "Elastic Clause" | -grants IMPLICIT powers b/c goes beyond the enumerated powers. -the clause says that Congress will have the power to make all laws necessary and proper in order to carry out the enumerated powers. -gives Congress some flexibility |
| National Supremacy -aka "Supremacy Clause" | -states that the Constitution is the ultimate law of the United States. This was necessary b/c otherwise, some states would try to go against these rules & go by their own. -would allow U.S. to be unified and strong. |
| Bicameral | -a legislative body is bicameral if it has 2 chambers or houses. -Congress is bicameral: Senate and House of Representatives. -introduced by the Virginia Plan |
| Separation of Powers | -the intentional structure of a government so that each branch or government knows clearly its distinct responsibilities and limits. -will prevent any branch of gov from becoming too powerful. -introduced by Virginia Plan. |
| New Jersey Plan | -aka "Small State Plan" -a rebuttal to the Virginia Plan -retained states' sovereignty -national legislature would have limited, defined powers. -no provision for national courts. -unicameral Congress with each state getting 1 vote. |
| The Great Compromise -House of Representatives -Senate | =the middle ground b/w VA Plan and New Jersey Plan. -Bicameral Congress: 1)House of Reps populated based on state's population. 2)Senate would be populated by 2 senators per state, so == representation. -and so all states felt secure w/ the new gov. |
| The Federalist Papers | -collection of political essays written by James Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay. -published in newspaper (pen name) -Argued that the new gov. under the Constitution will improve the shortcomings of the Articles. -a lot of distrust among common ppl, thought that this new gov was going to be as tyrannical as GB. -Papers touched upon separation of powers, president's power to veto, & importance to avoid 'tyranny of the majority' that would trample over minorities. |
| Anti-Federalists | -ppl opposed the Constitution & the Federalists' idea of a strong federal gov. -notable anti-feds: Patrick Henry & George Mason. -feared transformation to a monarchical king (executive). -thought it threatened self-gov in states & the freedom of citizens in general. -NY and VA had a lot of anti-Feds. |
| Bill of Rights | -were the 1st 10 amendments to the Constitution. -served to protect individuals' basic rights of freedom of expression, a fair trial, & property, among other things. -fully ratified in 1891. -Anti-feds & pro-Constitution ppl felt it was necessary -BUT, in retrospect, this wouldn't have affected ordinary Americans b/c it only applied to national gov, not to state gov's. |
| Popular Sovereignty | -The people are the ultimate ruling authority -ppl decide in the ratification & amendment process -BUT runs risk of letting hasty, rash , yet popular idea go through our gov. -Our gov is not based on popular sovereignty. -only House of Reps elected via popular sovereignty |
| Representative Republic | The U.. was a collection of sovereign states, representatives of ppl, who voted on issues such as defense, national interests, etc. |
| Veto | -an example of the checks and balances b/w the executive & legislative branch. -Once Congress presents the President w/ a bill, he can sign it into law or veto it. -again, Congress's power to reverse a veto w/ 2/3 override of both houses, separately, further shows the strength of checks and balances |
| Pocket Veto | -if the President doesn't sign a bill he is given @ end of a legislative session, his refusal to sign is a pocket veto. -This kills the bill. |
| Impeachment | -An accusation of wrongdoing. -Article I says that only House of Reps can impeach a president, fed. judge, or other official, of wrongdoing. -a simple majority is enough for representatives to write up an impeachment bill. -if passed, the guilty person goes thru trial presided over by the Chief Justice & the Senate acts as jury. - 2/3 of votes required for removal. |
| Advice and Consent | -another check and balance. -the Senate has a right to provide advice and consent on president appointments. |
| Marbury v. Madison | -This case established the precedent for judicial review. -*details in Important Cases flashcard section* -Chief Justice John Marshall interpreted a part of the law as a violation of the Constitution and declared it null & void. -judicial review allows courts to check Congress, President, & states in order to protect civil liberties, among other things. |
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