Details Title: AP Government Description: AP government cards from James Q Wilson's book Total Flash Cards: 82 Created: 09/06/2007 18:04:14		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Political Studies Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term Power Definition The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions. Term Power elite view Definition View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government. Term Pluralist view Definition View that the government is dominated by appointed officials. Term Authority Definition The right to use power Term Legitimacy Definition Political authority conferred by law or by state or national constitution. Term Democracy Definition The rule of many Term Direct or Participatory democracy Definition A government in which all or most citizens participate directly. Term Representative democracy Definition A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competative struggle for the popular vote. Term Elite Definition Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money or power. Term Marxist View Definition View that the government is dominated by capitalists Term Pluralist View Definition The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy. Term Unalienable Definition A human right based on nature or God pg 19 Term Articles of Confederation Definition A weak constitution that governed American during the Revolutionary War. pg 21 Term Constitutional Convention Definition Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution. pg 22 Term Shay's Rebellion Definition A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes. pg 23 Term Virginia Plan Definition Proposal to create a strong national government. pg 25 Term New Jersey Plan Definition Proposal to create a weak national government. pg 26 Term Great Compromise Definition Plan to have a popularly elected house based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state. pg 26 Term Republic Definition A government in which elected representatives make the decisions. pg 27 Term Judicial Review Definition The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional. pg 28 Term Federalism Definition Government authority shared by national and state governments. pg 28 Term Checks and Balances Definition Authority shared by three branches of government. pg 29 Term Enumerated powers Definition Powers given to the national government alone. pg 29 Term Reserved powers Definition Powers given to the state government alone. pg 29 Term Concurrent powers Definition Powers shared by the national and state governments. pg 29 Term Separation of Powers Definition Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government. pg 30 Term Faction Definition A group with a distinct political interest. pg 30 Term Federalists Definition Those who favor a stronger national government. pg 30 Term Antifederalists Definition Those who favor a weaker national government. pg 30 Term Coalition Definition An alliance of factions. pg 34 Term Habeas Corpus Definition An order to produce an arrested person before a judge. pg 35 Term Bill of Attainder Definition A law that declares a person without a trial, to be guilty of a crime. Term Ex post facto law Definition A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed. pg 35 Term Bill of Rights Definition First ten amendments to the Constitution Term Amendment Definition A new provision in the constitution that has been ratified by the states. pg 42 Term Line-item veto Definition An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature. pg 43 Term How can we propose an amendment? Definition 2/3's of both houses vote to propose an amendment or 2/3's of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments. pg 42 Term How do we ratify an amendment? Definition 3/4's of the state legislatures apporve it, or Ratifying conventions in 3/4's of the states approve it. pg 42 Term What did colonials think of the English politicians? Definition They believed they were corrupt chp 2 Term Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Definition Jefferson Term When did the Confederation go into effect? Definition 1781 chp 2 Term What was the confederation allowed to do? Definition Make peace with other nations, coin money, and appoint post office officials. Term How many delegates attended and who refused to attend the Constitutional Convention? Definition 55 Framers and Rhode Island refused Term Was the idea of separation of powers controversial? Definition No chp 2 Term Who was the 9th state to ratify and when? Definition New Hampshire in 1788 Term When did the new government take office? Definition In 1789-90 Term How many slaves are counted as population? Definition 3/5s Term When was slavery allowed to be banished? Definition 1808 Term What was the alias under the Federalist papers and who really wrote them and how many did each person write? Definition Publius Hamilton -51 alone and 3 with Madison Jay- 5 alone Madison- 26 alone and three with Hamilton 65 total Term Devolution Definition chapter 3 page 50 The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states. Term Block grants Definition chp 3 page 50 Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington Term "necessary and proper" clause Definition chp 3 page 56 Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass al laws "necessary and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it (enumerated) by the Constitution. Term Nullification Definition chp 3 page 56 The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution. Term Dual federalism Definition chp 3 page 57 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. Term Police power Definition chp 3 page 59 State power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals. Term Initiative Definition chp 3 page 59 Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot. Term Referendum Definition chp 3 page 59 Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature. Term Recall Definition chp 3 page 59 Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office. Term Grants-in-aid Definition chp 3 page 60 Money given by the national government to the states. Term Categorical grants Definition chp 3 pg 63 Federal grants for the specific purposes, such as building an airport. Term Revenue sharing Definition chp 3 pg 63 Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states. Term Conditions of aid Definition chp 3 pg 66 Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to recieve certain federal funds Term Mandates Definition chp 3 pg 66 Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants Term What three types of block grants exist? Definition chp 3 pg 69 Operational grants-for purposes such as running state child-care programs Capital grants-for purposes such as building local wastewater treatment plants Entitlement grants-for transferring income to families and individuals Term Political Culture Definition chapter 4 page 77 A coherent way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out. Term What are five important aspects of American political culture? Definition Chapter 4 page 77 Liberty, Equality, Democracy, Civic Duty, and Individual responsibility. Term What do Americans believe about economic equality? Definition Chapter 4 page 79 Equality of opportunity is good but not equality of results Term What three things do Americans emphasize? Definition Chapter 4 pages 80-81 individualism, competition, and equality Term Civic duty Definition Chapter 4 Page 80 A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs. Term Civic competence Definition Chapter 4 Page 80 A belief that one can affect government policies. Term Do Americans today have more or less trust in the government? Definition Chapter 4 Less Term Are Americans becoming more or less religious? Definition Chapter 4 More religious Term Which two presidential nominees advocated religion? Definition Chapter 4 Bush and Gore in 2000 Term Who made the comment on the Protestant ethic? Definition Chapter 4 Max Weber Term How are aspects of the culture preserved and transmitted to new generations? Definition Chapter 4 Primarily by the family Term Class consciousness Definition Chapter 4 Page 96 A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups. Term Orthodox Definition Chapter 4 Page 86 A belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance. Term Progressive Definition Chapter 4 Page 86 A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion. Term Political efficacy Definition Chapter 4 Page 89 A belief that you can take part in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy). Term Internal efficacy Definition Chapter 4 page 90 The ability to understand and take part in politics. Term External efficacy Definition Chapter 4 page 90 The willingness of the state to respond to the citizenry. Term What do Americans believe the root of serious civic problems are? Definition Breakdown of moral values