Glossary of Political Science Terms: Government, Power, and Politics, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Glossary of Political Science Terms: Government, Power, and Politics and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Political Efficacy DEFINITION 1 the ability to influence the government and politics. TERM 2 government DEFINITION 2 institutions in which people and a territory are ruled. TERM 3 autocracy DEFINITION 3 form of government. where single individual rules: king, queen, or dictator. TERM 4 oligarchy DEFINITION 4 form of government in which a small group of individuals, military, landowners, or merchants, control the decisions. TERM 5 democracy DEFINITION 5 a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant role in governmental processes, usually through election. TERM 6 constitutional government DEFINITION 6 a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of government. TERM 7 authoritarian government DEFINITION 7 a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may be restrained by the power of other social institutions. TERM 8 totalitarian government DEFINITION 8 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. TERM 9 politics DEFINITION 9 conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments. TERM 10 power DEFINITION 10 influence over a government's leadership, organizations, or politics. TERM 21 Virginia Plan DEFINITION 21 Framework of the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, which called for representation in the nat. legislature based on the population of each state. TERM 22 New Jersey Plan DEFINITION 22 Framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, which called for equal state representation in the nat. legislation regardless of population. TERM 23 Great Compromise DEFINITION 23 agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of the 1787 that gave each state an equal num of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Reps to population. TERM 24 bicameral DEFINITION 24 having legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses. TERM 25 separation of powers DEFINITION 25 the division of gov. that power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making. TERM 26 federalism DEFINITION 26 system in gov in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government gov and regional govs. TERM 27 expressed powers DEFINITION 27 powers specified in constitution to congress and to the president. TERM 28 elastic clause DEFINITION 28 necessary and proper clause. gives congress the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out. TERM 29 supremacy clause DEFINITION 29 all treaties and laws passed by nat. gov are the law of the land. every state and any other subdivision must obey. TERM 30 federalists DEFINITION 30 those who favored a strong nat gov and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787 TERM 31 antifederalists DEFINITION 31 those who favored a strong state gov, and a weak nat. gov. They were the opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. TERM 32 Federalists papers DEFINITION 32 series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution. TERM 33 tyranny DEFINITION 33 oppressive gov. that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority. TERM 34 amendment DEFINITION 34 a change added to a bill, law or constitution. TERM 35 unitary system DEFINITION 35 a centralized gov. system in which lower levels of gov have little power independent of the nat. gov. TERM 46 cooperative federalism DEFINITION 46 type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically yo encourage states and localities to pursue nationally defined goals. AKA: intergovernmental cooperation TERM 47 regulated federalism DEFINITION 47 a form of federalism in which congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet nat. standards. TERM 48 unfunded mandates DEFINITION 48 regulations and conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on states and local govs. and they ARE NOT reimbursed by the gov. TERM 49 new federalism DEFINITION 49 Nixon tried to give power to the states through block grants. TERM 50 block grants DEFINITION 50 federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent. TERM 51 redistributive programs DEFINITION 51 economic policies designed to control the economy through taxing and spending, with the goal of benefiting the poor. TERM 52 habeas corpus DEFINITION 52 a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention TERM 53 civil liberties DEFINITION 53 areas of personal freedom which governments are constrained from interfering. TERM 54 ex post facto law DEFINITION 54 a law declares an action to be illegal AFTER it was committed. These are prohibited in the Constitution TERM 55 selective incorporation DEFINITION 55 the process by which different protections in the bill of rights were incorporated into the 14th amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as nat. gov. TERM 56 establishment clause DEFINITION 56 a wall of separation exists between church and state TERM 57 free exercise clause DEFINITION 57 1st amendment clause that protects citizen's rights to believe and practice whatever religion they choose. TERM 58 clear and present danger test DEFINITION 58 test that determines whether speech is protected or not based on its capacity to present a clear and present danger to society. TERM 59 speech plus DEFINITION 59 speech accompanied by conducts such as sit-ins, picketing, demonstrations. This is protected under 1st amendment, but it is conditional. Can be restricted by state and local govs. if properly balanced by considerations of public order. TERM 60 prior restraint DEFINITION 60 an effort by a gov. agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some way; censorship.