Unit 1

Question 0

Autocracy

Answer 0

A form of government in which a single individual rules

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The institutions and procedures through which a land and its people are ruled

Question 2

Oligarchy

Answer 2

A form of government in which a small group of landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions

Question 3

Democracy

Answer 3

A system of rule that permits citizens to play significant part in the governmental process, usually through the selection of key public officials

Question 4

Constitutional government

Answer 4

A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

Question 5

Authoritarian government

Answer 5

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

Question 6

Totalitarian government

Answer 6

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

Question 7

Politics

Answer 7

The conflicts and struggles over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

Question 8

Rationality principle

Answer 8

Political acts, both minor and major, are all done for a reason and therefore purposeful. No political acts are random

Question 9

Instrumental

Answer 9

Done with purpose, sometimes with forethought, and even with calculation

Question 10

Retail politics

Answer 10

Involves dealing directly with constituents.

Example: when a politician helps an individual navigate a federal agents

Question 11

Wholesale Politics

Answer 11

Involves appealing to a collection of constituents.

Example: when the legislator introduces a bill that would benefit a group that is active in his or her state

Question 12

Institution

Answer 12

The rules and procedures that provide incentives for political behavior, thereby shaping politics

Question 13

Jurisdiction

Answer 13

The domain over which an institution or member of an institution has authority

Question 14

Agenda power

Answer 14

The control of what a group will consider for discussion

Question 15

Veto power

Answer 15

The ability to defeat something even if it has made it on to the agenda of an institution

Question 16

Delegation

Answer 16

The transmission of authority to some official or body for the latter’s use (through often with the right of review and revision)

Question 17

Principal-agent relationship

Answer 17

The relationship between the principal and his or her agent. This relationship may be affected by the fact that each is motivated by self interest, yet their interest may not be well aligned

Question 18

Transaction costs

Answer 18

The cost of clarifying each aspect of the principal-agent relationship and monitoring it to make sure arrangements are complied with

Question 19

Collective action

Answer 19

The pooling of resources and the coordination of effort connectivity play group of people (often a large one) to achieve common goals

Question 20

Free riding

Answer 20

Enjoying the benefits of some good or action while letting others bear the costs

Question 21

Public good

Answer 21

A good that may be enjoyed by anyone if it is provided and may not be denied to anyone once it has been provided

Question 22

By-product theory

Answer 22

Mancur Olsen: The idea that groups provide members with private benefits to attract membership. The possibility of group collective action emerges as a consequence.

Question 23

Selective benefits

Answer 23

Benefits that do not go to everyone but, rather, are distributed selectively – only to those who contribute to the group enterprise

Question 24

Path dependency

Answer 24

The idea that certain possibilities are made more or less likely because of the historical path taken

Question 25

Authority

Answer 25

The power to enforce laws, command, or judge, usually because of ascribed legitimacy. For most societies, government is the ultimate authority.

Question 26

Consent of the governed

Answer 26

The idea that government and laws derived their legitimacy from the approval and acceptance (consent) of the people (the governed).

Question 27

Democracy

Answer 27

A system of government placing ultimate political authority in the people. Free and frequent elections

Question 28

Direct democracy

Answer 28

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly

Question 29

Representative democracy

Answer 29

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Question 30

Constitutional democracy

Answer 30

A government that enforces recognize limits on those who govern and allow the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections

Question 31

Divided Government

Answer 31

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 32

Elite theory

Answer 32

A political view that societies is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power in their self interest

Question 33

Hyperpluralism

Answer 33

Theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakend

Question 34

Legislature

Answer 34

A government body responsible for making laws. The legislature includes both houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives

Question 35

Legitimacy

Answer 35

The acceptance of the governments right to rule by the people the government rules. Legitimacy is conferred by the citizens of a government

Question 36

Limited government

Answer 36

A form of government in which the people grant the government the right to rule. The government's powers are clearly limited.

Question 37

Majority rule

Answer 37

A principle of democracy asserting that a simple majority, defined as 50% plus one, should select public officials and determine the policies and actions of their government. Exception: the two thirds majority within the Senate that the Constitution requires to approve a treaty

Question 38

Natural rights

Answer 38

The doctrine that humans have certain inalienable rights and that the governments role is to protect these rights. Example: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Question 39

Pluralist theory

Answer 39

Theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies

Question 40

Political science

Answer 40

The formal, scientific study of the processes, principles, and structure of government and political institutions

Question 41

Politics

Answer 41

The method in which decisions are made either by or for a society to allocate resources, distribute benefits, and impose costs.

Question 42

Power

Answer 42

Ability to make other people change their behavior and do with the person exercising power wants them to do

Question 43

Power elite

Answer 43

Theoretical group of corporate, political, military leaders who together form an interlocking, highly centralized, decision-making structure

Question 44

Republic

Answer 44

A government in which ultimate sovereignty belongs to the people, and people elect officials to represent them in government decisions

Question 45

Theory

Answer 45

A supposition about how our why events occur

Question 46

Tyranny

Answer 46

A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power; absolute power, especially when exercised unjustly or cruelly

Question 47

Universal suffrage

Answer 47

The right of all people to vote

Question 48

10th Amendment

Answer 48

The final part of the Bill of Rights that declares powers not given to the national government or denied by the states are reserved for states or for the people

Question 49

1st Amendment

Answer 49

Protects civil rights which includes speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

Question 50

Advice and consent

Answer 50

Power the Constitution grants the U.S. Senate to give its advice and consent to treaties and presidential appointment of federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members

Question 51

Alien and sedition acts (1798)

Answer 51

These acts authorized the president to deport "undesirable aliens" and made it a crime to criticize the government or its officials.

Question 52

Amendment process

Answer 52

The means spelled out Article V by which formal changes in, or additions to, to the Constitution are made

Question 53

Anti-Federalist

Answer 53

A person opposed the adoption of the Constitution because of its centralist tendencies and who attacked the Constitution's framers for failing to include a Bill of Rights

Question 54

Articles of Confederation

Answer 54

The compact made among the 13 original states to form the basis of their government. Officially adopted in 1781

Question 55

Bicameral legislature

Answer 55

A legislature made up of two parts. The US Congress, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, is a bicameral legislature

Question 56

Bill of rights

Answer 56

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. They contain a listing of the freedoms that a person enjoys and that cannot be infringed on by the government, such as the freedom of speech, press, and religion.

Question 57

Checks and balances

Answer 57

A major principle of the US governmental system whereby each branch of government exercises a limiting power on the actions of the others and in which powers are distributed among the three branches in a manner designed to prevent tyranny

Question 58

Confederation

Answer 58

A political system in which states or regional governments have ultimate authority except for those powers expressly delegated to a central government.

Question 59

Delegated to ratifying convention

Answer 59

Representatives for each 13th original states who attended their state conventions to ratify the Constitution. These delegates were chosen by special elections. Nine of the 13 states had to vote to ratify for the constitution to become the law of the land

Question 60

Democratic Republican

Answer 60

A political party founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1792. It was dissolved in 1828

Question 61

Elastic clause

Answer 61

Grants Congress the power to choose whatever means are necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers. Officially known as the "necessary and proper" clause

Question 62

Electoral college

Answer 62

A group of electors selected by the voters in each state and Washington DC this group officially elects the President and vice president of the United States

Question 63

Enumerated powers

Answer 63

Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first 17 clauses of article 1, section 8, specify most of Congress's enumerated powers

Question 64

Executive agreement

Answer 64

A binding international agreement between Chiefs of State. Unlike treaties, these do not require the consent of the Senate

Question 65

Faction

Answer 65

A group in the legislature or party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position

Question 66

Federalist

Answer 66

A person who supported the adoption of the new Constitution and the creation of the federal union. Federalist former the first American political party, which was led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams

Question 67

Federalist No. 10

Answer 67

A Federalist paper written by James Madison that discusses factions (or single interest groups) that seek to dominate the political process

Question 68

Federalist Papers

Answer 68

A group of 85 essays published in several New York newspapers in 1787 to persuade the people in New York to adopt the constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the first Federalist Papers under the name Publius

Question 69

Great compromise

Answer 69

The compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 between the New Jersey and Virginia plans, creating a bicameral governments with states represented equally in the Senate and by population in the house of representatives. Also count called the Connecticut Compromise, the Great Compromise gives disproportionate influence to states with small populations by granting them equal representation in the Senate

Question 70

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)

Answer 70

The first US Sec. of the Treasury he established a National Bank and public credit system

Question 71

Implied powers

Answer 71

Authority possessed by the national government by inference from those powers delegated to it in the Constitution

Question 72

Indirect democracy

Answer 72

Democracy in which people do not directly govern or directly vote for the representatives. For example, citizens vote for the electoral college, which elects president.

Question 73

Interstate commerce

Answer 73

The buying and selling of commodities, transportation, and other commercial dealings across state lines. It also includes radio, television, telephone, and telegraphic transmissions

Question 74

Judicial review

Answer 74

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional. Judicial review is not mentioned in the Constitution

Question 75

Judiciary Act of 1791

Answer 75

This act ended the"circuit riding" by Supreme Court justices and established the courts of appeal

Question 76

James Madison (1751-1836)

Answer 76

Fourth president of the US (1809-1817). A member of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, he wrote many of the Federalist Papers including Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51

Question 77

Madisonian model

Answer 77

The political philosophy proposed by James Madison that espoused the system of checks and balances.

Question 78

Marbury versus Madison (1803)

Answer 78

This case struck down, for the first time in US history, an act of Congress as unconstitutional. It declared the Constitution to be the supreme law of the USA and that its is "the duty of the Justice Department to say what the law is"

Question 79

Mischiefs of faction

Answer 79

Madison's reference, in Federalist No. 10, to his concern about the dangers posed by factions, or groups who might attempt to dominate the political process

Question 80

Necessary and proper clause

Answer 80

Delegates legislative powers to Congress. Also known as the elastic clause

Question 81

Nullification

Answer 81

Declaring something null or void. Before the Civil War, states' rights advocates in the South claimed that a state has the right to nullify national law. They argued that ultimate power rested with the state governments.

Question 82

Popular sovereignty

Answer 82

A principal originating in natural rights philosophy that claims political authority rests with the people

Question 83

Publius

Answer 83

The name used by the three authors -- Hamilton, Madison, and Jay -- of the Federalist Papers

Question 84

Rage for paper money

Answer 84

Madison's reference, in Federalist No. 10, to the decision by some state governments to print currency that was not backed by gold.

Question 85

Ratification

Answer 85

The formal approval, as of a law or constitutional amendment

Question 86

Separation of powers

Answer 86

The principle that divides American government among three branches

Question 87

Shay's Rebellion

Answer 87

An armed revolt led by farmers in Massachusetts in 1786-1787, seeking relief from debts and possible foreclosure of mortgages. It's credited with being a major factor in the demand for revision of the articles of confederations

Question 88

Super majorities

Answer 88

Define voting blocks of greater than 51% needed to approve the proposal for example, a two thirds vote is required for proposing a constitutional amendment.

Question 89

Supremacy clause

Answer 89

The provision in the Consultation that makes the Constitution, federal government, and federal laws superior to state and local laws that contradict them, but only on issues over which the federal government has a constitutionally granted authority

Question 90

Unicameral legislature

Answer 90

Legislature made up of only one legislative body. Nebraska is the only unicameral state legislature, though many local governments use this form.

Question 91

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Answer 91

A court order requiring police officials producing individual held in custody and show sufficient cost for that person's detention.

Question 92

Writ of Mandamus

Answer 92

An order issued by a court to compel performance of an act.