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| who get what when and how in the political process |
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| those issues that are receiving the serious attention of policymakers |
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| policymaking institutions |
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| those institutions (Congress, the president, the courts, and the bureaucracy) that are responsible for making public policy in the American political system |
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| those institutions (political parties, elsections, special interest groups and the news media) that link ppl and govt; assist the ppl in gettin gthier concerns on the policy agenda; the channels through which ppl's concerns become pol issues on the govt's policy agenda |
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| a choice that govt makes in response to a political issue; includes: congressional statutes, bureaucratic rules and regulations, executive orders, cout decisions, presidential decisions |
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| 50 percent + 1 (one more than half) |
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| the most votes but not necessarily a majority |
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| belief that many groups competing for power express the public will; a theory of group competition that emphasizes multple access points and a positive view of group competition |
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| a theory of govt and politics that contends that society is divided along class lines and a wealthy or upper class elite will rule regardless of the govt structure; belief that big business, the wealthy, or even thechnical experts have the greatest influence in American govt |
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| a group theory of politics that contends that groups are so strong that govt is weakened; an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism; pluralism gone bad--too many groups create gridlock and contradictory policies |
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| term used by founding fathers to refer to self-interested groups arising from the unequal distribution of property; feared factions would create instability in govt; todya's interst groups and political parties are examples of what Madison and others had in mind |
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| a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Daniel Shays in 1786; Catalyst for the Constitutional Convention |
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| the major compromise made at the constitutional convention that combined the virginia (rep. based on pop.) and the new jersey (equal rep. of the states) plans to create a bicameral congress consisting of a senate with two senators per state and a house of resp based on pop. |
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| plan for govt designed by madison to keep as much power as possible out of the hands of the ppl to prevent majority factions from taking over govt |
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| a collection of 85 articles written by hamilton, madison an djay in support of ratification of the u.s. constitution |
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| principle of the constitution that calls for three separate branches of govt, each with separate but overlapping or shared powers |
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| a principle of the constitution that seeks a balance of power between the various branches of govt by giving each branch the ability to check the powers of the other branches |
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| the power of the cts to determine the constitutionality of govt actions (declare laws or presidential actions unconstitutional in cases before them) |
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| u.s. laws and treaties the supreme law of the land; establishes national supremacy in areas where the nation govt has legitimate power |
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| necessary and proper clause |
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| gives congress the power to do what is necessary and proper to carry out its stated powers |
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| powers of the national govt not specifically stated in the constitution but reasonably derived from those that are |
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| state powers; those powers not delegated to the national govt nor denied to the states; 10th amendment |
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| powers of the national govt specifically stated in the constitution; also called expressed powers |
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| full faith and credit clause |
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| requires states to give full faith and credit to the civil acts, records and judicial proceedings of other states; allows the use of a TX drivers lice4nse while temporarily driving in other states |
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| the division of powers between the nationl and state govts is distinct and clear like a layer cake; each level of govt is relatively supreme with in its own sphere of power; requires a narrow interpretation of the national govt's powers |
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| powers and policy assignments are shared between the levels of govt; like a marble cake in that national and state powers are mingled and the distinction between the two is blurred |
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| the pattern of spending, taxing and porviding grants in the federal system; it is the main way in which the national govt exerts its authority over traditional areas of state authority by providing th emoney or a portion of the money for projects and programs |
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| federal grant to the state or local communities to support broad programs or areas at state discretion; fewer strings attached than catergorical grants and more options for spending by state and local govts |
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| federal grant that can be used only for specific purposes of state and local spending |
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| a tend toward returning power to the state and local communities by reducing nation authority and reinstating state and local authority in certain programs and policy areas |
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| the process of the supreme ct. applying selected rights/freedoms in the bill of rights to the states thru the due process clause of the 14th amendment on a case by case basis |
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| clause in the 1st amendment that states that congress can make no law respecting an extablishment of religion strictly interpreted it was intended to restrict congress from establishing a national religion |
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| 1st amendmend-prevents congress from passing laws that restrict the free exercise of religion; intended to guarantee freedom of religion |
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| illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court against a criminal defendant |
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| practice within the criminal justice system to offer criminal defendants a reduced sentence if they plead guilty to a lesser crime and avoid a lengthy trial; most criminal cases are decided thru this process |
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