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Constitutional Underpinnings Flashcards

(70 cards)

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1
Q

What is needed for a Democracy?

A
  • The presence of government.
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2
Q

Participatory/Direct Deomocracy

A

A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
- ex. Aristotelian View/ Town Hall meeting atmosphere

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3
Q

Representative Democracy

A

A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.

  • Supported by Joesph Schumpeter
  • Present in U.S. today
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4
Q

Class View

A

View that the government is dominated by capitalists.

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5
Q

Power elite view

A

View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most whom are outside of the government.

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6
Q

Bureaucratic View

A

View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.

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7
Q

Pluralist View

A

The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

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8
Q

Political Elites may be described as:

A
  1. Reflecting a dominant social class
  2. A group of business, military, labor union, and elected officials control all decisions.
  3. Appointed bureaucrats run everything
  4. Representatives of a large number of interest groups are in charge
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9
Q

Majoritarian Politics

A

Occurs when elected officials are the delegates of the people- as the people (majority of them_ would act were the matter put to a popular vote.

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10
Q

Authority

A

The right to use power

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11
Q

Power

A

The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions.

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12
Q

Legitimacy

A

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.

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13
Q

Political Culture

A

A patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.

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14
Q

5 Important Elements of the Political System:

A
  • Liberty
  • Equality
  • Democracy
  • Civic Duty
  • Individual Responsibility
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15
Q

Liberty

A

Americans are preoccupied with their rights. They believe they should be free to do pretty much as they please, with some exceptions, as long as they don’t hurt other people.

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16
Q

Equality

A

Americans believe everyone should have ave an equal vote and an equal chance to participate/succeed.

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17
Q

Democracy

A

Americans think government officials should be accountable to the people.

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18
Q

Civic Duty

A

Americans generally feel people ought to take community affairs seriously and help out when they can.

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19
Q

Individual Responsibility

A
  • Barring some disability

- Individuals are responsible for their own actions/well-being

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20
Q

Sources of Political Culture

A
  • Influence of American Revolution
  • Influence of religion/original sin on Constitution
  • Presence of Class Consciousness
  • Many Americans believe themselves to be “middle class.”
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21
Q

Class Consciousness

A

A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups.

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22
Q

Political Socialization

A

Process by which background traits influence one’s political views.

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23
Q

Sources of political socialization:

A
  • Genes/Family
  • Religion
  • Gender
  • Social Class
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Region
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24
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government.

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25
Checks & Balances
Authority shared by three branches of government.
26
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state- selected senate, with 2 members representing each state.
27
Enumerated Powers
Powers given to the national government alone. - Include ability to print money, declare war, make treaties, conduct foreign affairs, and regulate commerce among the states/foreign nations.
28
Reserved Powers
Powers given exclusively to the states. | - Include the power to issue licenses and to regulate commerce wholly within a state.
29
Concurrent Powers
Powers shared by the national and state governments. | - Include collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and having courts.
30
Impeachment Process
- Charges are brought by the House of Representatives | - Senate must be convicted by a 2/3 vote
31
Formal Powers of the President
- Line-Item Veto
32
Line-Item Veto
- An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature.
33
Federalism
Government authority shared by national & state & local governments.
34
Dual Federalism
Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate.
35
Grants-in-aid
Money given by the national government to the states.
36
Categorical Grants
Federal grants for specific purposes | - Such as building an airport
37
Conditions of aid
Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds.
38
Mandates
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.
39
Waiver
A decision by an administrative agency grating some other part permission to violate a low or rule that would otherwise apply to it.
40
Elastic Clause
- Also referred to as "Necessary & Proper Clause" - Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it by the Constitution.
41
Marble Cake Federalism
Powers are all intertwined
42
Common Characteristics of Found Father:
- White | - Middle Aged
43
7 Founding Fathers
- John Adams - Benjamin Franklin - Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - Thomas Jefferson - James Madison - George Washington
44
Types of participation
- Voting - Joining a political party - Donating to a candidate/campaign - Signing a petition - Protesting - Writing Letters
45
Who Votes?
- Citizens who register are highly likely to vote | - Those 65+ vote in higher proportions than those 18-20
46
Voting Age Population
- All U.S residents 18 or over - Including non citizens - Disenfranchised
47
Voting Eligible Population
- Citizens who have reached the minimum age to vote | - Excludes those who are not legally permitted to cast a ballot
48
Why do individuals not vote?
- Too busy/scheduling conflicts - Family Chores/Obligations - Believe their vote does not matter
49
Straight Ticket
Voting for candidates of the same party.
50
Split Ticket Voting
Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election.
51
Constitution Expansion of the Electorate
- 18th Amendment - 19th Amendment - 15th Amendment
52
Liberals typically
- Support Government control of economy | - Oppose Government control of soical issues
53
Conservatives typically
- Support Government control of social issues | - Oppose Government control of economy
54
Ideology
A body of ideas that reflects the social goals of an individual, group or culture
55
Party
A group which reflects a party's platform with specific economic and social goals
56
Democrats
- Run on party platform - Appear similar in ideals to Liberals - Major political party
57
Republicans
- Run on party platform - Appear similar in ideals to Conservatives - Major political party
58
Third Parties
- Run on individual platforms | - Often "splinter parties" from the main 2 U.S. political parties
59
Plurality
When a candidate receives more votes than any other.
60
Majority
When a candidate receives more than 50% + of votes
61
PAC'S
A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.
62
PAC'S may donate up to
$5,000
63
FECA
- Federal law designed to increase disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns. - Placed limits campaign contributions
64
When a presidential nominee is choosing a vice president often times the running mate is
more extreme in ideology
65
Federalist Paper #51
- Madison states the purpose of a government. | - Believes government should run itself
66
In the 1960's ____ became prominent in influencing elections.
media (television)
67
Issue Ads
Discuss broad political ideas as opposed to candidates
68
Horse Race campaigns focus on
polling data/public perception
69
Federalist Paper #10
- Role of factions - Destroyed by: - Destroy liberty essential to their existence - Give all same opinions/passions/interests - Check & Balance Idea posed
70
Census
An official count/survey of entire population

AP Government (2 decks)

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