The Blueprint
This principle splits the government into Legislative, Executive and Judicial
What is Separation of Powers?
The belief that people should be responsible for themselves
What is Individualism?
This groups main goal is to win elections and run for government
What is a Political Party?
The power of the court to declare a law unconstitutional
What is judicial review?
Protections from the government (like Free Speech)
What are Civil Liberties?
The system where one branch can veto or block another
What are checks and balances?
The philosophy prioritizing the "common good" of the group
What is Communitarianism?
An organization that "lobbies" for one specific issue
What is an interest group?
The millions of experts who actually carry out federal laws
What is the federal Bureaucracy?
Protections by the government to ensure equal treatment
What are civil rights?
The division of power between national and state levels
What is federalism?
The process (usually via family) of forming political beliefs
What is Political Socialization?
A large informal group of people pushing for social change
What is a social movement?
When an agency turns a broad law into specific rules
What is policy implementation?
The Amendment used to apply the Bill of Rights to the states
What is the 14th Amendment (or incorporation)?
This clause allows congress to stretch its powers to meet new needs
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (or Elastic Clause)?
The theory that having many groups compete leads to the best policy
What is Pluralism?
The media's power to decide which topics become national issues.
What is agenda setting (or gatekeeping)?
The presidents right to keep certain communications secret
What is executive privilege?
The legal process of applying the bill of rights to the states
What is Selective Incorporation?
These powers are not listed in the constitution but belong to States.
What are Reserved Powers (per the 10th Amendment)?
The theory that a small wealthy group actually holds all the power
What is elitism (or elite theory)?
The relationship between groups, congress and the Bureaucracy
What is the Iron Triangle?
When the court follows past rulings to make a new decision
What is stare decisis (or precedent)?
This "rule" prevents illegally seized evidence from being used
What is the Exclusionary rule?