Unit 1- Foundations of Government
This document outlines the structure of the U.S. government and is considered the “supreme law of the land.”
What is the Constitution
This term describes activities citizens use to influence politics, such as voting or protesting.
What is political participation?
These organizations nominate candidates and seek to control government by winning elections.
What are political parties?
This branch makes laws.
What is Congress?
This type of policy includes government programs like Social Security and Medicare.
What is social welfare policy?
This concept states that power is divided between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
Family is the strongest agent of this process by which individuals form their political beliefs.
What is political socialization?
This type of election system, used in the U.S., makes third parties unlikely to win seats.
What is single-member district / winner-take-all?
This presidential power allows the chief executive to reject legislation from Congress.
What is Veto?
This term describes a policy where government spending exceeds government revenue.
What is budget deficit?
This clause in Article I, Section 8 allows Congress to stretch its powers beyond what is explicitly listed.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Americans who believe the government should actively reduce economic inequality are typically aligned with this ideology.
What is liberal ideology?
These groups attempt to influence public policy without running their own candidates for office.
What are interest groups?
This court has the final authority on interpreting the Constitution.
What is the Supreme Court?
This constitutional power allows the Senate to approve presidential appointments and treaties, serving as a major check on executive authority.
Advice and Consent Power
This 1787 compromise created a bicameral legislature with one house based on population and one with equal state representation.
What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
Younger voters tend to have this type of turnout rate compared to older voters.
What is lower turnout?
News coverage that focuses more on who’s winning than on policy details.
Horse-Race Journalism
Federal agencies and departments make detailed rules known as these.
What is regulation / rulemaking?
Government taxing and spending to influence the economy.
Fiscal Policy
This principle, argued in Federalist No. 51, ensures that each branch of government can restrain the others.
What are checks and balances?
This polling error occurs when the sample does not accurately represent the population.
What is sampling bias?
This term describes a shift in party loyalties, often following a critical election.
What is party realignment?
The House of Representatives has this unique power involving “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
What is impeachment?
Relationship among bureaucracies, interest groups, and congressional committees.
Iron Triangle