88 Terms

Question 1

Majority rule

Answer 1

A fundamental democratic principle requiring a majority’s view be respected. Nonetheless, the Constitution
originally contained a number of provisions designed to limit majority rule, including the electoral college, life tenure for Supreme Court justices, and the selection of senators by state legislators

Question 2

Checks and balances

Answer 2

System in which each branch of govemment can limit the
power of the other twobranches. For example, the Senate has the power toapprove or reject presidential appointments to the Supreme Court.

Question 3

Unitary system

Answer 3

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government

Question 4

Federalism

Answer 4

Asystem of government in which power is divided by a
written constitution between a central government and
regional governments. As a result, two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same geographic area and people.

Question 5

Expressed powers

Answer 5

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. For example, the Constitution gives Congress the power to coin money, impose taxes, and regulate
interstate commerce. Expressed powers are also called enumerated powers.

Question 6

Implied powers

Answer 6

Powers of the federal govemment thatgo beyond those enumerated in the Constitution. Implied powers are derived
from the elastic or necessary and proper clause.

Question 7

Reserved powers

Answer 7

Powers not specifically granted to the national goverment or denied to the states. Reserved powers are held by the states through the Tenth Amendment.

Question 8

Cooperative federalism

Answer 8

Situations in which the National and state governments work together to complete projects also called fiscal federalism

Question 9

Categorical grant

Answer 9

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

Question 10

Block grants

Answer 10

Funds granted to the states for a broadlydefined purpose. Because block grants shift resources from the federal goverment to thestates, they contribute to the growing number of state and local government employees.

Question 11

Mandates

Answer 11

Rules telling states what they mustd o to comply with federal guidelines. Unfunded mandates require state and local governments to provide services or comply with regulations without the provision of funds.

Question 12

Devolution

Answer 12

Amovement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from
the federal government to state and local governments.

Question 13

Political culture

Answer 13

A set of widely shared political beliefs and values. America’s political culture is characterized by strong support for individual liberty, political equality, legal equality, therule of law, and limited government

Question 14

Political socialization

Answer 14

The process by which political values are formed and passed
from one generation to the next. The family is the most important agent of political socialization.

Question 15

Public opinion

Answer 15

Attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues and events

Question 16

Political ideology

Answer 16

A cohesive set of beliefs abt politics, public policy, and gov roles

Question 17

Political efficacy

Answer 17

Belief that’s one’s political participation makes a difference

Question 18

Split ticket voting

Answer 18

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices
in the same election. Recent elections have witnessed a significant increase in split-ticket voting as the number of voters who identify themselves as independents increases.

Question 19

Political party

Answer 19

Agroup of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate goverments and determine public policy.

Question 20

Plurality election

Answer 20

The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes
than anyone else, but less thanhalf the total.

Question 21

Single member district

Answer 21

An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office. This type of electoral system
typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties.

Question 22

Party era

Answer 22

A historical period dominated by one political party

Question 23

Critical election

Answer 23

An election when a specific group of voters change their voting patterns of party loyalty

Question 24

Party realignment

Answer 24

The majority party is displaced by theminority party, thus
ushering in a new party era. For example, in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) led the New Deal coalition of blue-collar workers, racial minorities, Southerners, and farm
laborers toa sweeping electoral victory.

Question 25

Divided government

Answer 25

Agovernment in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress. The pattern of divided government has dominated U.S. politics since the early 1970s.

Question 26

Interest group

Answer 26

An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not elect people to office.

Question 27

PAC

Answer 27

committee formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the
campaigns of political candidates whom they support

Question 28

Free riders

Answer 28

People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions. Labor unions and public interest groups often have a free-rider problem because people can benefit
from the group’s activities without joining.

Question 29

Power of elite theory

Answer 29

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

Question 30

Pluralist theory

Answer 30

The theory that many interest groupscompete for power in a large number of policy areas.

Question 31

Hyperpluralist theory

Answer 31

The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there areso many competing interest groups.

Question 32

Mass media

Answer 32

Means of communication such as newspapers, radio,
television, and the Internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences.

Question 33

Linkage Institutions

Answer 33

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass
media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions.

Question 34

Horse race journalism

Answer 34

The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on issues