Term
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Definition
Power is distributed among different levels of government and that no one level of government has complete authority over all areas of public policy. |
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Term
| Explain the difference between a government sovereignty and a popular sovereignty |
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Definition
| Governement sovereignty means the national government cannot be sued by states of citizens without its permission. Popular sovereignty means citizens hold ultimate authority through the ballot and even a sovereign government is accountable to citizens. |
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Term
| Explain the difference between a "Strong Mayor" and a "Weak Mayor." |
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Definition
A "Strong Mayor" will appoint his cabinet or council members while a
"Weak Mayor" will have them either voted in or appointed by others. |
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Term
| Explain the "reserved clause" in the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. |
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Definition
| Powers not delegated to the national governement, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states and the people. National governement can influance lower levels but cannot dictate manner in which state and local governments will operate. |
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Term
| Where do local governments derive their authority to exist? |
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Definition
The state constitution and laws and local charters.
(NOT the U.S. Constitution) |
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Term
| Give an example of a permanent and a temporary commission. |
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Definition
Permanent: Federal Trade Commission
Temporary: National Commission on Terrorist Attacts Upon the U.S. |
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Term
| Give some characteristics of a government coporation. |
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Definition
1. Establised under the authority of a general-purpose government.
2. Typically issued a charter defined by the general-purpose governnment
3. Often formed to conduct fee based, businesslike functions.
4. Usually have fewer regulations and restrictions than general-purpose entities
5. Their proliferation can lead to fragmentation in government services.
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Term
| Explain the current trend in the number of government entities. |
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Definition
| The number of general-purpose entities has held fairly constant. Special-purpose school districts have consolidated and special purpose non-school has seen significant increases. |
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Term
| Describe the distinction between policy and administration as it applies to government. |
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Definition
| Executive branch components implement policies when they administer programs. Legislative branch develops policies that establish and guide programs. The executive branch resembles an operating unit of a for-profit business in that it executes policies that were developed elsewhere. |
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Term
| Describe the difference between local charters and local ordinances. |
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Definition
Charters are the basic authority by which a local government operates (comparable to a state constitution)
An ordinance is a local law (comparable to a state statute or U.S. Code. |
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Term
| Explain how the judicial branch exercises its power vis-avis the legislative and executive branches. |
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Definition
| Through its authority of judicial review. The judicial branch has power to declare laws or statutes unconstitutional, and may also intervene in disputes involving the other two branches. |
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Term
| Identify ways in which tribal councils exercise sovereignty on tribal lands. |
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Definition
| Tribal governements have a nation-to-nation relationship with the U.S. and are not subordinate to states. Tribal councils determine criteria for legal membership in the council. They establish businesses, adopt and enforce their own civic codes, establish public safety mechanisms (such as their own police force), and have the power to eject nonmembers from tribal lands. They have the authority to license activities and collect taxes within tribal lands. |
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Term
| Explain what type of taxes tribal councils may or may not be exempt from. |
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Definition
| Tribal councils do not pay state income tax on money earned on tribal lands. They generally pay federal income taxes but exemptions may apply. Tribal lands are exempt from local real estate taxes. |
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Term
| Explain the interrelationship among the three levels of goverment |
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Definition
| The levels are seperate and distinct, yet they may coordinate their efforts. For example they may coordinate education and homeland security. Often achieved through grants. Primary purpose at all levels is to provide services to its citizens. |
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Term
| Explain how the national governenment may influence the other levels of government. |
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Definition
| Through grants and other funding, the national government provides funds that flow through the states to programs that are operated at the local level. |
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Term
| What is another name for the legislative branch at the state level? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Muncipal governements (cities, towns, villages) are special corporations organized according to state statues and operate under a charter. Compared to the Constitutions at the Federal and State level. |
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Term
| Explain separation of powers. |
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Definition
| Checks and balances and judical review stem from the doctrine of seperation of powers. No one branch of governement can exercise complete control over another. |
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Term
| Explain the three main ways municipal goverments are organized. |
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Definition
1. Mayor-Council- 2 branches, mayor (executive) and council (legislative)
2. Commission- Executive and legislative branches are combined in the authority of the commissoners.
3. Council-Manager- the council members embody the legislative branch, but the manager serves at the discretion of the council, not the voters.
Board of Supervisors, Selectmen or Representative Town Meeting are other possible names for the Council |
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Term
| Name other legislative branch members besides congress. |
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Definition
Congressional Budget Office
Library of Congress
GAO
Architect of the Capital
Congressional Staff Offices |
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Term
| Which branch of government has the most components. |
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Definition
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Term
| Which branch(es) may form commissions? |
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Definition
| Mostly executive but sometimes judicial. |
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Term
| Explain the hierarchy of government authority |
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Definition
Constitution
Laws- Mostly address policy (temporary and permenent)
Executive Orders- Issued by chief executives within parameters set by the constitution and laws.
Rules and regulations- drafted by executive branch agencies |
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Term
| Explain national government responsibilities. |
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Definition
The national governement has the broadest responsibility. The constitution gives it authority over national defense, foreign relations, interstate commerce and the establisment of federal courts. Many laws, judicial decisions and budgetary appropriations have allowed the government to assume responsibility in areas such as assuring adequate housing, health care and educationopportunity. |
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Term
Explain state government responsibilities.
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Definition
| State-level authority is circumscribed by national government but still broad. They include public safety, property laws, protection of privite property, education, marriage laws, and licensing of professionals. |
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Term
Explain local government responsibilities.
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Definition
| Building codes and permits, property taxes, police and fire protection, elementary and secondary education and sometimes things like zoos. |
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Term
Name the advantages and disadvantages to executive orders. |
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Definition
| The advantage to an excutive order is that they bypass the lengthy and difficult process requireed to enact legislation. The disadvantage is that it may be revoked by a future president. |
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Term
| Explain direct-action authorities of citizens. |
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Definition
Citizens possess ultimate governement authority through the ballot box. Other forms of direct authority include:
1. Initiative- present their view of a problem and proposed solution (Proposistion 13)
2. Referendum- Requires certain legislative actions to be presented to voters approval.
3. Recall- Enables voters to remove elected officals. |
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Term
| Name three types of governmental entities. |
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Definition
1. General purpose- Perform multiple functions such as public works, public safety, recreation, health and law enforcement
2. Special purpose- most perform just one or two functions such as education, water supply, water and sewer and environmental monitoring.
3. Quasi governement- blend characteristics of government and for-profit organizations. Skilled financial managers are needed to help plan, control, audit, and report on financial relationships. |
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