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Political Science > midterm > Flashcards

midterm Flashcards

1
Q

What is politics?

A

The process by which WE decide how resources will be distributed and which policies and laws the government will pursue.

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2
Q

Five Principles of Politics?

A
  1. Rationality - people and groups make choices based on what they think will benefit them the most, given the information they have (helps us understand why people vote for certain candidates).
  2. Institution - rules, organizations, and systems that help run society. Like gov’s, laws, political parties, etc that influence how people behave and make decisions within a community or country.
  3. Collective action - people come together as a group to achieve a common goal or address a shared concern
  4. Policy - a plan or a set of rules that the gov or group follows to solve a problem or reach a goal. Shows what actions will be taken, how resources will be used, and what changes will happen in society as a result.
  5. History - record of past events, decisions, and actions that have shaped the development of societies and political systems over time
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3
Q

What is government?

A

Society organizes itself and distributes authority to accomplish collective goals.

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4
Q

What is civil engagement?

A

A way for us to participate in politics as well as the gov.

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5
Q

Direct democracy?

A

a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

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6
Q

elite theory

A

claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people

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7
Q

pluralist theory

A

claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people

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8
Q

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

A

protects the rights of individuals to have and use guns for legal purposes

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9
Q

GREGORY LEE JOHNSON

A

flag burning does constitute “symbolic speech” protected by the First Amendment

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10
Q

WHAT IS THE CONSTITUTION?

A

nation’s basic law; “a living document that has served as the foundation for the United States government”

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11
Q

The Separatists ?

A

movements often seek to establish their own independent state or territory, separate from the government or authority they perceive as oppressive or unsympathetic to their interests.

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12
Q

The Mayflower Compact
*popular sovereignty AND prototype

A

Mayflower compact - a historical document that established a form of self-government for the Plymouth Colony. Agreement among the settlers to create and abide by laws for the general good of the colony.
Popular sovereignty -the people are the ultimate source of political power, and they have the right to determine how they are governed, leaders are elected by the people, and government policies are based on the will of the majority.
Prototype - early example of democratic governance in the New World.

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13
Q

Pilgrim Beliefs
*religion vs government

A

Pilgrims: English Separatists who belonged to a religious movement called Puritanism. The Pilgrims’ government was heavily influenced by their religious beliefs. They believed in living according to the Bible’s teachings and created rules based on those beliefs to govern their community.

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14
Q

More Colonies, More Government
*The First & Second Continental Congress

A

expansion of British colonies in North America, the British government had to develop systems of administration to oversee these territories and address various issues that arose.
First continental congress - 1774 in response to the increasing tensions between the American colonies and the British government, Delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss grievances and coordinate a response to British policies, particularly regarding taxation and the restriction of colonial rights .
Second continental congress - 1775 after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, managed military affairs, foreign relations, and other matters related to the war effort

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15
Q

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

A

July 4, 1776 - Adopted the Declaration of Independence
August 2 - Signed by the Second Continental Congress

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16
Q

ARTICLES OF THE CONFEDERATION

A

first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. Very weak central gov

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17
Q

Virginia Plan

A

1787 : called for a strong national government consisting of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch would have two houses, with representation based on population, giving larger states more influence

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18
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

advocated for equal representation for all states, regardless of size or population. Under this plan, each state would have an equal vote in a unicameral (single-chamber) legislature.

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19
Q

The great compromise

A

aimed to address the disagreement between larger and smaller states regarding representation in the national legislature.
House of Representatives: Members of the House would be allocated based on each state’s population, satisfying the desires of larger states for representation proportionate to their size.
The Senate: Each state would have an equal number of senators, regardless of its population, meeting the concerns of smaller states about being overshadowed by larger ones. Initially, each state would have two senators.

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20
Q

Three-Fifths Compromise

A

enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both taxation and representation purposes

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21
Q

Sept 17, 1787 Constitution was approved

A

Three delegates refused to sign: Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia

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22
Q

Federalists vs anti-federalists

A

Federalists: supporters of the proposed Constitution in support of a strong central gov,
Anti-Federalists: opposed the ratification of the Constitution, concerned that Constitution would create a centralized government that could potentially abuse its power and take away state gov’s power.

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23
Q

bill of rights

A

the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution

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24
Q

Informal methods

A

behind-the-scenes ways things get done in government and law

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25
Q

13th Amendment

A

Abolished slavery (1865)

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26
Q

14th Amendment

A

granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to anyone born in the United States or who became a citizen of the country, including former slaves.

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27
Q

15th Amendment

A

Prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (1870), gave African Americans right to vote.

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28
Q

18th Amendment

A

which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States (1919). It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

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29
Q

16th Amendment

A

Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes

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30
Q

20th Amendment

A

changed the dates for the start of presidential and congressional terms (1933).

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31
Q

22nd Amendment

A

set term limits for the presidency

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32
Q

19th Amendment

A

granted women right to vote

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33
Q

26th Amendment

A

lowered the voting age to 18 (1971).

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34
Q

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937

A

first legislation that made the drug illegal

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35
Q

Federal law

A

refers to laws enacted by the national government of a country. In the United States, federal laws are made by Congress and apply to the entire country

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36
Q

State Law

A

State law refers to laws enacted by individual states within a country. Each state has its own legislative body responsible for creating state laws.

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37
Q

Supremacy clause

A

supremacy of federal law over state law.

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38
Q

10th amendement

A

any powers that are not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, are reserved to those respective states, or to the people at large

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39
Q

Federal powers
Enumerated powers AND Elastic clause

A

Enumerated powers - specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution
Elastic(implied) clause -grants Congress the authority to pass laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its enumerated powers.

40
Q

State powers
Prohibited powers AND Concurrent powers

A

Prohibited powers - powers that are explicitly denied to the federal government, state governments, or both by the Constitution
Concurrent powers - powers that are shared by both the federal government and the state governments

41
Q

writ of habeas corpus

A

legal principle that safeguards against unlawful detention or imprisonment. It allows individuals who are imprisoned or detained to challenge the legality of their confinement and seek release before a court of law.

42
Q

bill of attainder

A

legislative act that declares a person or group of people guilty of a crime without a trial

43
Q

ex post facto law

A

rule or law that punishes someone for doing something that wasn’t against the law when they did it

44
Q

Commerce clause

A

gives the federal government the power to control trade and business activities between different states, with foreign countries, and with Native American tribes.

45
Q

Division between the North & South

A

North and South was a significant factor leading to the Civil War.
North : supported a strong federal government and opposed slavery into new territories.
South : relied heavily on agriculture and slave labor, defended states’ rights and argued for the preservation and expansion of slavery

46
Q

When did national Government Increase in Political Power

A

The Civil War and its aftermath resulted in a significant increase in the political power of the national (federal) government.

47
Q

First National Budget & Income Tax
*revenue act 1861

A

During the Civil War, the federal government faced the need to finance the war effort. To do so, it implemented the first national budget and introduced the first income tax in American history.
The Revenue Act of 1861 - established the first income tax, which levied a 3% tax on incomes over $800. This income tax was later repealed after the war

48
Q

dual federalism

A

two layers of government — one at the national level and one at the state level — and each layer handles its own set of tasks

49
Q

Cooperative federalism

A

way of governing where both the national government and state governments work together to solve problems and achieve goals

50
Q

Categorical Grant

A

money from the federal government given to states or local governments for a specific job or project, tells the states or local governments exactly how to spend the money and what rules to follow.

51
Q

Block Grant

A

from the federal government given to states or local governments for a general purpose, more freedom to decide how to use the money because there are fewer rules from the federal government.

52
Q

Fiscal Policy

A

how the government handles its money — what it collects (like taxes) and what it spends (like on programs).

53
Q

Competitive federalism

A

States try to attract people and businesses by offering better rules or services than other states (lower taxes for ex).

54
Q

devolution

A

transfer of powers from a central (federal) government to a state or local government

55
Q

civil liberties

A

protect individuals from government interference and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live their lives freely and equally (limitations on power of gov).

56
Q

civil rights

A

guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities

57
Q

1st amendment

A

Right to freedoms of religion and speech; right to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances; right to a free press

58
Q

establishment clause:

A

prohibits the government from endorsing (forcing upon) a state religion or favoring one

59
Q

Free exercise clause

A

It protects the right of individuals to practice their religion freely without interference from the government.

60
Q

Libel

A

type of defamation that involves making false and harmful statements about someone in writing, such as in a newspaper, magazine, book, or online article

61
Q

common-law right

A

right of the people rooted in legal tradition and past court rulings, rather than the Constitution

62
Q

THIRD AMENDMENT

A

Right to not house soldiers during time of war

63
Q

FOURTH AMENDMENT

A

Right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure

64
Q

Miranda warning

A

statement that police officers must give to people they arrest or take into custody. It informs individuals of their rights under the law, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney

65
Q

SIXTH AMENDMENT

A

protects the rights of those accused of crimes, including the right to a fair trial, to know the accusations, to confront witnesses, and to have a lawyer.

66
Q

SEVENTH AMENDMENT

A

ensures that disputes involving property or money exceeding a certain value can be decided by a jury if either party requests

67
Q

8th amendment

A

prohibits the government from imposing cruel and unusual punishments or excessive fines or bail

68
Q

exclusionary rule

A

police obtain evidence illegally, such as through an unlawful search or seizure, that evidence cannot be used against the defendant in a criminal trial

69
Q

NINTH AMENDMENT

A

protects the idea that individuals have other rights beyond those explicitly spelled out in the Constitution

70
Q

10th amendment

A

powers that are not specifically given to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the states or to the people themselves

71
Q

Jim Crow laws

A

state and local laws in the United States that enforced racial segregation and discrimination

72
Q

political socialization

A

how people learn about politics and form their opinions about political issues, parties, candidates, and government institutions

73
Q

public opinion

A

collection of opinions of an individual or a group of individuals on a topic, person, or event

74
Q

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

A

beliefs, values, and ideas about how society should be organized and how political power should be used

75
Q

Conservatism vs liberalism

A

conservatism - Likes tradition, old ways, and how things have been done, want limited government intervention
Liberalism - emphasizes individual freedoms, equality, and social justice. prioritize government intervention to address social and economic inequalities

76
Q

public relations

A

using communication to make people, companies, or organizations look good. It’s like telling stories or sharing information to make them seem better to the public.

77
Q

Slander

A

spoken information that is harmful and untrue

78
Q

Libel

A

PRINTED information that is harmful and untrue

79
Q

midterm elections

A

congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term

80
Q

Direct Initiative

A

suggested by regular people that needs a vote from everyone, not just lawmakers, to become official

81
Q

indirect initiative

A

law suggested by regular people, but it first goes to lawmakers to consider. if approved sent to ppl to vote

82
Q

“Legislatively Referred” Measures

A

laws suggested by lawmakers that need everyone’s vote to become official.

83
Q

INITIATIVE PROCESS

A

Preparation, Qualification, campaigning, after the election

84
Q

REFERENDUM

A

when citizens vote “yes” or “no” on a law or candidate that the government suggests. It’s like a direct decision made by the people to accept or reject something that the government wants to do.

85
Q

legislative referendum

A

when lawmakers suggest changing the constitution or borrowing money by selling bonds(loans that investors give to governments)

86
Q

Popular referendum

A

when regular people suggest getting rid of a change to the constitution.

87
Q

Recall

A

removal of a politician or government official by the voters (6 successful recalls)

88
Q

focus groups

A

moderated discussions where a group of people share their opinions, perceptions, and attitudes on a specific topic, product, service, or issue

89
Q

PACS vs super PACS

A

PACS - groups that can give limited amounts of money directly to candidates or parties
super PAC - groups that can spend a lot of money to support or oppose candidates or issues, but they can’t give money directly to candidates

90
Q

caucus

A

gathering where people from the same political party come together to talk about who they want to support for elections or what issues are important to them. Caucuses often involve discussions, debates, and voting to make decisions collectively

91
Q

Electoral College

A

group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president (must get 270 at least to win)

92
Q

Party-in-the-Electorate

A

members of the voting public who consider themselves part of a political party or who consistently prefer the candidates of one party over the other

93
Q

Party Organization

A

made up of the formal structure of the party, like leaders, committees, and members who work behind the scenes to make the party run smoothly

94
Q

Party-in-the-Government

A

people who have been elected to office and belong to a particular party.

95
Q

party polarization

A

widening gap between political parties and their supporters, often resulting in increased ideological differences and decreased cooperation between parties

96
Q
A

Political Science (1 decks)

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