Flashcards
Unit 1 - ch.1 IDENTIFIES
Cards in this deck (30)
- 1Majoritarian Politics-One of several theories of public policy
-Theory says that gov will work w/ the public majority to pass a certain legislation or specific desired action.
-e.g. when candidates adopt a popular opinion & grassroots movements succeed. - 2Elite Theory-Another political theory that influences public policy.
-theory takes a class approach, arguing that there is inherent inequality in the distribution of power among citizens.
-So the elite (rich & powerful) have more influence over the gov.
-true: wealthy donors, educated politicians - 3Interest Group Politics-another theory of public policy
-interest groups are influential in all 3 branches of gov.
-These interest groups raise & spend money to help elect public officials that will further their goals.
-these groups also monitor the gov and send witnesses, etc. to testify @ Congress to ensure a bill is passed or rejected.
-e.g. organized labor or gun lobbyists.
- 4Pluralist Theory-another theory of public policy
-due to the size and diversity of ideas and viewpoints of U.S. citizens, no single view will suffice to make public policy.
-So an effective public policy law, etc., for our situation would be one that is agreed with by a consensus. - 5Social Contract-a voluntary agreement b/w a gov and the people
-the people give up some individual freedom in return for protection.
-all ppl born in state of nature w/ natural rights
-concept created by John Locke
-influenced Declaration of Independence
-"locked" via a contract
- 6John Locke/ Natural Law-English philosopher of Enlightenment
-everyone is born w/ a set of inalienable (natural) rights
-no gov can suppress them b/c ppl were in this natural state before gov was even formed.
-no one can subjugate another person w/out their consent
-it's the ppl's duty to rebel if go turns tyrannical. - 7Declaration of Independence-written by Thomas Jefferson
-a call to revolution
-listed reasons why the colonies were fighting (list of grievances, representation, etc.)
-heavily influenced by John Locke's ideas of inalienable rights & social contract. - 8Articles of Confederation-adopted during Revolutionary War.
-weak central gov & gave colonies too much freedom
-little sense of national unity
-Congress - limited powers
-Congress couldn't tax, legislation required 13 votes of agreement.
-rivalries b/w colonies
-good: Treaty of paris, purchased land
-not enough though - 9Virginia Plan-plan proposed @ Constitutional Convention of 1787 to replace Articles
-aka "the large state plan"
-blueprint for Constitution
-proposed by James Madison
-Separate judicial & executive branches & bicameral legislature
-multi-tiered court system
-Separation of Powers introduced
-Congress would be supreme authority in all areas e.g. defense, interstate trade.
-members of lower chapter elected by voters.
-members of lower house elect upper house members.
-# of representatives based on population of state
-more populous states would have more power than less populous states
-Delaware & smaller states didn't like it. - 10Three-Fifth's Compromise-1787
-Compromise b/w Southern & Northern states regarding slavery & trade
-each slave was counted as 3/5ths of a person for federal tax & determining representation.
-South depended on slavery b/c of agricultural economy & feared tax or ban of slave importation from Congress.
-Population: North was more populous & so had more power & potential to enact harmful taxes
-also, Congress wouldn't talk about banning slave trade until 1808.
-issue of slavery still a major issue. - 11Preamble-The Constitution opens with the Preamble.
-it is a mission statement that begins w/ "We the People" & outlines the purpose of the government.
-Also conveys unity among the colonies. - 12Checks and Balances-a system of dividing authority & specific powers among the 3 branches of gov.
-e.g. the President can veto legislation by Congress.
-e.g. Congress can impeach & remove the Prez if he acts unconstitutionally & can override Prez.'s veto & make budgets
-Supreme Court has power to interpret legal disputes cased by legislation & declare them unconstitutional
-The balance of powers ensures that, should one branch get too tyrannical, the other 2 powers can keep it in check.
- 13Enumerated Powers-The 17 expressed powers of Congress in Article I of the Constitution (sec.8)
-goal: have a strong gov w/ enough power to keep us safe & our economy stable.
-Congress's enumerated powers: power to tax, borrow $$$, raise an army, create postal system, address piracy, define immigration & naturalization process, etc. - 14Commerce Clause-in Article I
-allows Congress to regulate commerce with other nations & among states. - 15Necessary and Proper Clause aka "Elastic Clause"-grants IMPLICIT powers b/c goes beyond the enumerated powers.
-the clause says that Congress will have the power to make all laws necessary and proper in order to carry out the enumerated powers.
-gives Congress some flexibility - 16National Supremacy -aka "Supremacy Clause"-states that the Constitution is the ultimate law of the United States. This was necessary b/c otherwise, some states would try to go against these rules & go by their own.
-would allow U.S. to be unified and strong. - 17Bicameral-a legislative body is bicameral if it has 2 chambers or houses.
-Congress is bicameral: Senate and House of Representatives.
-introduced by the Virginia Plan - 18Separation of Powers-the intentional structure of a government so that each branch or government knows clearly its distinct responsibilities and limits.
-will prevent any branch of gov from becoming too powerful.
-introduced by Virginia Plan.
- 19New Jersey Plan-aka "Small State Plan"
-a rebuttal to the Virginia Plan
-retained states' sovereignty
-national legislature would have limited, defined powers.
-no provision for national courts.
-unicameral Congress with each state getting 1 vote. - 20The Great Compromise -House of Representatives -Senate=the middle ground b/w VA Plan and New Jersey Plan.
-Bicameral Congress: 1)House of Reps populated based on state's population.
2)Senate would be populated by 2 senators per state, so == representation.
-and so all states felt secure w/ the new gov. - 21The Federalist Papers-collection of political essays written by James Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay.
-published in newspaper (pen name)
-Argued that the new gov. under the Constitution will improve the shortcomings of the Articles.
-a lot of distrust among common ppl, thought that this new gov was going to be as tyrannical as GB.
-Papers touched upon separation of powers, president's power to veto, & importance to avoid 'tyranny of the majority' that would trample over minorities. - 22Anti-Federalists-ppl opposed the Constitution & the Federalists' idea of a strong federal gov.
-notable anti-feds: Patrick Henry & George Mason.
-feared transformation to a monarchical king (executive).
-thought it threatened self-gov in states & the freedom of citizens in general.
-NY and VA had a lot of anti-Feds. - 23Bill of Rights-were the 1st 10 amendments to the Constitution.
-served to protect individuals' basic rights of freedom of expression, a fair trial, & property, among other things.
-fully ratified in 1891.
-Anti-feds & pro-Constitution ppl felt it was necessary
-BUT, in retrospect, this wouldn't have affected ordinary Americans b/c it only applied to national gov, not to state gov's. - 24Popular Sovereignty-The people are the ultimate ruling authority
-ppl decide in the ratification & amendment process
-BUT runs risk of letting hasty, rash , yet popular idea go through our gov.
-Our gov is not based on popular sovereignty.
-only House of Reps elected via popular sovereignty - 25Representative RepublicThe U.. was a collection of sovereign states, representatives of ppl, who voted on issues such as defense, national interests, etc.
- 26Veto-an example of the checks and balances b/w the executive & legislative branch.
-Once Congress presents the President w/ a bill, he can sign it into law or veto it.
-again, Congress's power to reverse a veto w/ 2/3 override of both houses, separately, further shows the strength of checks and balances - 27Pocket Veto-if the President doesn't sign a bill he is given @ end of a legislative session, his refusal to sign is a pocket veto.
-This kills the bill. - 28Impeachment-An accusation of wrongdoing.
-Article I says that only House of Reps can impeach a president, fed. judge, or other official, of wrongdoing.
-a simple majority is enough for representatives to write up an impeachment bill.
-if passed, the guilty person goes thru trial presided over by the Chief Justice & the Senate acts as jury.
- 2/3 of votes required for removal. - 29Advice and Consent-another check and balance.
-the Senate has a right to provide advice and consent on president appointments. - 30Marbury v. Madison-This case established the precedent for judicial review.
-*details in Important Cases flashcard section*
-Chief Justice John Marshall interpreted a part of the law as a violation of the Constitution and declared it null & void.
-judicial review allows courts to check Congress, President, & states in order to protect civil liberties, among other things.