Enlightenment & Documents
This 18th‑century European intellectual movement inspired ideas like natural rights, social contract, and separation of powers.
What is the Enlightenment?
This model emphasizes broad citizen participation via town halls, initiatives, and referenda.
What is participatory democracy?
This bicameral body must pass identical bills in both houses before sending them to the president.
What is Congress?
The formal power allowing the president to refuse to sign legislation; Congress can override it with a two‑thirds vote.
What is the veto?
The 15 leaders who head major executive departments and advise the president; they are typically Senate‑confirmed.
What are Cabinet secretaries (the Cabinet)?
The document that declares "all men are created equal" and articulates natural rights and government by consent.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This model relies on organized interest groups competing to influence public policy (examples: NAACP, NRA).
What is pluralist democracy?
Unrelated additions attached to bills that often benefit a member’s agenda or help secure passage.
What are riders?
This is when the president takes no action on a bill, and Congress adjourns within 10 days, causing the bill to die.
What is a pocket veto?
The term for the discretionary rulemaking authority Congress delegates to agencies so they can implement laws.
What is delegated discretionary authority (rulemaking)?
Jefferson substituted John Locke’s "life, liberty, and property" with this phrase in the Declaration.
What is "the pursuit of happiness"?
This model assumes governance by educated/elite actors; the Electoral College can reflect it.
What is elite democracy?
The House official who recognizes speakers, assigns committees, and is always from the majority party.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Formal foreign‑policy tools that the president can negotiate without Senate ratification.
What are executive agreements?
The mutually beneficial three‑way relationship among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.
What is the iron triangle?
This essay champions a single energetic executive and influenced thinking about the presidency.
What is Federalist No. 70?
This Anti‑Federalist essay warned a large republic would be too distant from citizens and threaten liberties.
What is Brutus 1?
This Senate tactic allows unlimited debate to delay legislation unless ended by cloture (60 votes).
What is a filibuster?
These presidential directives to agencies carry the force of law within the executive branch but are not statutes.
What are executive orders?
Congress’s principal tool to check agencies is by controlling agency funding and spending authorization.
What is the power of the purse?
This Federalist essay argues that factions are best controlled by a large republic and the separation of powers.
What is Federalist No. 10?
James Madison used this collective term for groups pursuing self‑interest that can threaten minority rights.
What are factions?
The congressional power, listed in Article I §8, that allows Congress to raise money, declare war, and regulate commerce.
What are the enumerated powers (Article I, §8)?
The presidential role described by Teddy Roosevelt as a "bully pulpit" refers to this ability to influence public opinion and pressure Congress.
What is using the bully pulpit (presidential persuasion)?
The 1883 reform that replaced the patronage system with a merit‑based civil service hiring process.
What is the Pendleton Civil Service Act?