Foundations of Gov't
This Enlightenment idea says people are born with rights like life and liberty.
Natural Rights
This system divides power between national and state governments.
Federalism
This chamber of Congress has equal representation for each state.
Senate
This is the president’s role as head of the armed forces.
Commander-in-Chief
This process describes how individuals form political beliefs.
Political Socialization
This principle divides power among different branches to prevent concentration of power.
Separation of Powers
These powers are shared by both state and national governments.
Concurrent Powers
This type of spending is required by law and includes programs like Social Security.
Mandatory Spending
This presidential tool uses the media to shape public opinion.
Bully pulpit
This type of poll asks voters how they voted after leaving the polls.
Exit Polls
This system allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the others, preventing tyranny.
Checks and Balances
This clause allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.
Necessary and Proper Clause
This power allows Congress to investigate and monitor the executive branch.
Congressional Oversight
This principle means courts should follow past rulings when making decisions.
Stare Decisis
This voting behavior occurs when individuals vote strictly based on party affiliation.
Party-Line Voting ("Down Ballot Voting")
This concept describes an agreement where people give up some freedoms for protection by government.
Social Contract
This type of federal funding gives states flexibility in how money is spent.
Block Grant
This type of committee resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
This process allows bureaucratic agencies to create regulations.
Bureaucratic Rulemaking
This system awards all electoral votes in a state to the candidate who wins the popular vote there.
Winner-Take-All
This principle means government derives its authority from the people.
Popular Sovereignty
This clause establishes that federal law overrides conflicting state law.
Supremacy Clause
This House committee determines how and when a bill is debated.
Rules Committee
This concept refers to courts making bold policy decisions rather than deferring to other branches.
Judicial Activism
This constitutional doctrine applies Bill of Rights protections to the states through the 14th Amendment.
Selective Incorporation
This model of democracy argues that a small, educated elite should make governing decisio
Elite Democracy