Term
|
Definition
Ideological basis for the merchant/
middle class
• Metaphor= Marketplace
• Equality at birth
• Government and religion are separate
• Individualism
• Government’s role: least is best
Veto power
Commander in chief and Chief diplomat
War making power |
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Term
| The three strains of Classical Liberalism |
|
Definition
1. Jeffersonian Liberalism- Least is best/
Government should help farmers/
small business/ Democratic Party until
1932
2. Hamiltonian Liberalism- Least is
best/ Gov’t should help business/
Republican party
3. Reform/Welfare Liberalism-
Government regulation of
business/ Government helps poor/
Democratic party after 1932/
Liberalism “lightly brushed” with
Socialism |
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Term
|
Definition
Liberty
• Equality (both equal opportunity and
equal result)
• Order and stability
• Majority Rule/ Minority Rights
• Participation
***Remember how they conflict*** |
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Term
| The two irreconcilable problems were..? |
|
Definition
• Need for centralized power
versus fear of centralized power
• Need for democracy versus fear
of democracy |
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Term
| Need for centralized power |
|
Definition
Need for centralized power--
Strengthened national power
• Single and Independent
Executive
• Expressed Powers
• Implied Powers- Elastic clause
Fear of centralized power-
Weakened national gov’t
• Separation of Power permitted
Checks and Balances
• Federalism
• 10th amendment’s reserve
claus |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Need for Democracy
• House of Representatives-
popularly elected
Fear of Democracy
• Separation of Power/
Federalism
• Limited Suffrage |
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Term
|
Definition
| Powers of the government listed in the constitution |
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Term
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Divides power between the
national and lower-level
governments
• Each level of government has
distinct powers that the other
levels cannot override |
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Term
|
Definition
• Divides power between the
national and lower-level
governments
• Each level of government has
distinct powers that the other
levels cannot override
Ex. United States |
|
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Term
|
Definition
A Unitary System
National government
creates subnational gov’ts
and gives them what power
it wishes.
Ex. Great Britain |
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Term
| Single member/ two party system |
|
Definition
• Single member districts-
Winner-takes-all
• State and federal laws
favoring two parties
Party coalitions are FUZZY so
they will hold together |
|
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Term
| Proportional party system-multiparty system |
|
Definition
Seats in legislature are awarded
in proportion to the percentage of
votes a party receives. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Allowed African Americans to vote |
|
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Term
|
Definition
laws that
segregated blacks and whites
and kept blacks from voting
Example: literacy
tests |
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Term
| Consequence of a responsible party system |
|
Definition
Representatives address the
national policy goals of
their respective parties. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Private Meetings
• Testifying before congressional
committees
• Testifying before executive
agencies
• Entertaining |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| targets all members to support cause |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Target less members, the more influencal members |
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Term
|
Definition
Party election
to nominate party candidates
• Presidential Preference
Primaries
• Caucuses- meetings of party
members
• Superdelegates- elected officials
held
on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in
November. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Each state has as many electors as
Senators and Representatives
• Electors chosen by state parties
• Winner-take-all- winner of the
popular vote gets all the state’s
electoral votes2/12/11
10
Candidate must receive majority
(270 electoral votes). If not,
president is selected by House.
• Each state delegation in the House
receives one vote
• Candidates must receive 26 votes
to be elected. |
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Term
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
| filling the vacancy of the president if he/she were to die. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A president can only serve/ be elected for two terms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Chief Executive
Appointment PowerPresident appoints highlevel executive officials,
ambassadors, and federal
judges.
Limits on Appointment Power
• Most appointments must be
approved by Senate
• Growth of the Civil Service-
permanent bureaucracy
Budget Power
• Revenue Estimates
• OMB prepares 1st draft of
budget
• President shapes debate over
spending5
Chief Legislator
President plays a dominant
role in setting the
congressional agenda.
Factors in Presidential Success
with Congress:
• Political Capital: party seats in
Congress and public approval
• Presidential skills at persuasion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
President must inform Congress
within 48 hrs. of committing troops
to combat.
• Use of forces must end in 60 days
(with a 30 day extension) unless
Congress authorizes a longer
period. |
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Term
| President Diplomatic powers |
|
Definition
• Receives and appoints ambassadors
• Negotiates treaties (approved by
Senate)
• Executive Agreements- do not require
Senate approval
• Officially recognizes foreign
governments |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
• Small bureaucracies which
assist the President- OMB,
NSC, CEA
• Generally loyal to the
President
Ex. CIA, FBI |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
• Consists of 15 heads of executive
departments
• Dual role of Cabinet members:
Presidential advisors versus heads of
their own departments
• President may rely on a “kitchen
cabinet” |
|
|
Term
| House of Representatives and Senate differences |
|
Definition
• Bicameral- 2 Houses
• House of Representatives: 435
members; 2 yr. terms; Redistricting
every 10 years
• Senate: 100 members; 6 yr. terms;
continuous body (one-third stand
for election |
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Public often disapproves of
Congress
• 93% re-election rate (House)
normal |
|
|
Term
| Role of standing committees and committee chairs in congress |
|
Definition
• Public testimony
• Amending or “marking up” the bill
• Voting out favorably
• Voting down
• Pidgeonholing the bill |
|
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Term
| Judicial Review defin and orgin |
|
Definition
Federal courts review the
constitutionality of
congressional acts,
presidential actions, or
state laws
Orgin: Chief Justice John Marshall |
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Court protects “fundamental
rights”
• Court not subject to political
pressure
• Court provides objective
interpretation |
|
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Term
|
Definition
• Judicial Review undemocratic.
Why?
• Court is not elected
• The will of the majority may be
violate |
|
|
Term
| Judicial activism and judicial restraint |
|
Definition
• Judicial Restraint-Judges should
defer to the decisions made by
elected representatives
• Judicial Activism-Judges should
take an active role to check the
activities of governmental bodies
which exceed their authority. |
|
|
Term
| Types of supreme court opinions |
|
Definition
• Majority opinion- explains the
decision
• Dissenting opinion- disagrees with
the decision (optional)
• Concurring opinion- agree with the
majority decision, but for a
different reason (optional) |
|
|
Term
| Describe the context of today’s Texas Politics (population, economy, etc.) |
|
Definition
- Unique influences have shaped the state’s politics.
-Size--large land mass leads to diversity
-Texas Cultural Regions- different economies and political cultures |
|
|
Term
| - What are some characteristics of the Texas Constitution and how is it different from the U.S. Constitution? |
|
Definition
o Statutory in nature
o Very restrictive
o Many amendments: two-thirds vote in each house of legislature to propose/ majority vote of people to ratify |
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|
Term
| How has history made an impact on the Texas Constitution? |
|
Definition
o Reaction to Reconstruction
o Reaction to Constitution of 1869 and military rule
o Reaction to centralized power and strong executive (E.J.Davis) |
|
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Term
| Was Governor E.J. Davis good or bad? |
|
Definition
There are two views on Davis-
Corrupt government used to support tyrannical centralized of power
Brought progressive policies, built roads and schools, and protected civil rights of former slaves |
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|
Term
| What are some characteristics of the Texas legislature? |
|
Definition
o Bicameral: House‐ 150 members/ 2 yr. terms.
o Senate‐ 31 members/ 4 yr. terms
o Sessions: biennial sessions‐ 140 days in odd‐no. years
o Pay: $7,200 per year/$128 per diem |
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Term
| What are some powers of the Texas legislature? |
|
Definition
o “No party” system of organization
o Presiding officers (Speaker and Lieutenant Governor) have considerable power |
|
|
Term
| What are some duties of the Speaker and Lt. Governor? |
|
Definition
o Appoint most committee members and all chairs
o Assign bills to committees
o Control agenda through scheduling
o Appoint members to (and serve on) the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) |
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|
Term
| What are some characteristics of the office of the TX Governor? |
|
Definition
o 4 year term‐ no limit
o Salary: $115,345 plus expense account and mansion
o Relies on large staff |
|
|
Term
| What are some powers of the Governor? |
|
Definition
o Message Power
o Appointment Power‐ appoints almost 3,000 officials, but is limited
o Veto/ Item Veto
o Special sessions‐ 30 days/ no limit on how many/ determines the agenda |
|
|
Term
| - What are some reasons the Texas Governor has little control over state administration? |
|
Definition
-Plural Executive
o The most powerful Texas executives are elected, not appointed by the Governor
o Examples: Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Comptroller |
|
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Term
| - What are characteristics of the Texas budget process? |
|
Definition
-The Comptroller of Public Accounts is required to give a 2 yr. revenue estimate. The state budget may not exceed this. “Pay as you go”
-Two budget proposals submitted: LBB’s and Governor’s
-LBB’s budget is more important. |
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Term
| How are courts organized in the Texas judiciary? |
|
Definition
Different levels, but some courts have overlapping jurisdictions
• Local Trial Courts
• County Courts
• State Trial Courts
• Appellate Courts |
|
|
Term
| What are some characteristics of state district courts? |
|
Definition
Chief trial courts of the state / 444 judges / Very heavy caseload
80-90% of cases in state district courts are plea bargains |
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|
Term
| What is the function of the Grand Jury in Texas? |
|
Definition
| In Texas, Grand Juries used to decide indictments (true bills) |
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|
Term
| How are the Texas judges selected? |
|
Definition
Partisan Election
o About 45% of judges first assume office through gubernatorial appointment
o About 80% of judges run unopposed |
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|
Term
| What is the salary of Texas legislators and how can it be raised? |
|
Definition
$7,200 per year / $128 per Diem
It can be raised if people vote it to be raised |
|
|
Term
| - What are some reasons that Texas party politics are dominated by the Republican Party? |
|
Definition
o Civil Rights Movement- 1950s and 1960s
o Reagan, 1980
o Newcomers in the 1970s and 1980s
o Long term economic trends |
|
|
Term
| - What factors might allow the Democratic party to be competitive in Texas in the future? |
|
Definition
o Growth of Ethnic Minorities
o Minority voters tend to vote Democratic
o Large urban centers voting Democratic |
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