Single Issue Groups Groups that focus on one issue, and tend to

focus on making their issue absolute law

(making all abortion is illegal)

Policymaking system The System that is used to help make

policies a reality

Political Participation Participating in politics

Politics Activities associated with government

Collective goods Goods that we cant be denied, like air

Government A system which makes policies for society

Linkage Institutions THe paths where concerns become political

issues on the agenda, these are usually
parties

Policy Agenda The important policies that people want

addressed and politicians want to adress to
get votes.
Political Issue Issue where people disagree with how to
solve the problem

Policymaking Institution A part of government (Depending on what the

policy in question is, it could be multiple
branches) that makes decisions on what
policies to enact.

Public Policy The government's response to an issue

Policy Impacts Impacts of a policy.

Democracy A government where the people vote on

policies being made in the country, or where
people vote for representatives to vote for
them.

Majority Rule The main concept of democracy where the

largest groups get their way. (This usually
applies to the amount of people, but it can be
interpreted differently based on how you look
at the way democracys handled)

Minority Rights Rights given to those who arent a part of the

majority.
Representation

Pluralism Power is shared between multiple

governmental parties, so that no one group
gets all the political power

Elitism Promoting an elite person, or group of people

to lead a society
Hyperpluralism A form of pluralism that spreads the power of
government so much that it is rendered
almost useless

Policy Gridlock When its impossible or near impossible to

pass a law that does not cause the people to
get angry

Political Culture The actions and attitudes that define how

politics work in a certain government
(Refer to most of the cartoons above)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) A broad measure of a nation's economic
activity

Constitution A Document that acts as the nations basic

law, defining how the government should be
handles, and the rights of the people

Declaration of independence The Uss letter to britain that stated that the
 British Colonys wanted to become their own
nation, and the issues they had with Britain.

Natural Rights The rights every person should have, which

are to life, liberty, and property

Consent of the Government The idea that the government's authority is

controlled by the people
Limited Government A government that is limited as to not infringe
on peoples natural rights

Articles of Confederation The original US constitution made in 1777,

enacted in 1781, and failed miserably, due to
the lack of any will for the states to work
together, and the fact that the federal
government was completely useless

Shays Rebellion A rebellion of farmers led by the revolutionary

war general Daniel Shays. The farmers
attacked courthouses in order to stop them
for foreclosing on the rebels farms.
Republicanism A government where the people elect people
to represent them

Popular Sovereignty The people have the power

Separation of powers THe powers of the government are separated

so no one side becomes too powerful

Checks and Balances Where each branch of government must

approve what the other party chooses to do.
Federalism When the power is divided by the federal
government and the state governments

Individual Rights The protected rights of an individual

Extradition When one country gives another country a

 convicted felon

Privileges & Immunities The provisions of the constitution based on

each state

Dual Federalism Where state and federal government each

are all powerful in their own parts

Cooperative federalism The federal and state governments all share

the powers
Devolution When something changing back into the way
it was before it became its current form. The
full name for Devo. Also, when federal
powers are given back to the states.

Fiscal Federalism

Categorical Grants Grants that can only be used for stuff in a

specific category

Project Grants

Formula Grants

Block Grants

Intergovernmental relations
Unitarian federalism Federalism that is focused on a strong central
government

Supremacy clause

10th amendment The amendment that says that any power

that isnt explicitly given to the federal
government, goes to the states or the people.
(AKA Enumerated powers)

McCulloch vs Maryland Maryland wanted to stop the second US

federal bank by imposing taxes on every non
maryland bill. Fed says that they can use
powers implied by the constitution when it
seems proper.

Enumerated powers Any power that isnt explicitly given to the

federal government, goes to the states or the
people.(See 10th amendment)

Implied powers Powers that are not necessarily stated, but

are considered powers
Elastic Clause The government has the power to get back
the powers it needs to do its job

Gibbons vs Ogden Court case that gave the federal government

the power to control intercontinental trade
Full faith & credit

Other states must respect the laws and

decisions made by the other states

Press conferences Meetings with public officials and reporters

Investigative journalism

Journalism that unearths

scandals

Print media Media thats thats printed (newspapers,

magazines, etc)

Electronic Media Media thats electronic

Political party A group that supports a political ideology and
works together to promote their ideas

(This is a real party)

Nomination To be chosen

Campaign Strategy A strategy that is made to help you win a

campaign
National Party Convention A convention where a political party meets to
elect their representatives.

Selective Perceptions The clause in United States Constitutions

Article VI, stating that states cant interfere
with federal law

Sufferage The ability to vote

Soft Money Donations that arent for a specific candidate
(Aka, a legal bribery)

Federal Election Commission A bipartisan governmental organization that

administers laws over campaigns.

Independent Expenditures Messages made by political parties that isnt

connected to any candidate.
Campaign Contributions Donations towards a specific campaign

Presidential Primaries When the presidential candidates run to get

elected

Caucus
Invisible Primary The period between when a candidate
announces their bid for public office and
when the actual primaries take place.

Superdelegates National party leaders who always get a

delegate spot at the national party
conventions

McGovern-Fraser Commission The McGovernFraser Commission, was

a commission created in response to the
1968 Democratic National Convention,
where minorities demanded reform to
give them more representation.

Party Platform The ideas and values which a party is defined

by.
Frontloading Moving a primary to the beginning of
presidential; nomination season to profit of off
media attention. (Self explanatory)

Political Action Committees an organization that raises money privately to

influence elections or legislation, especially at
the federal level.

Federal Election Campaign Act Law that regulates campaign spending, can
be worked around by using 501(c) groups
and Super PACs.

SuperPACs Anonymous pacs that can donate larger

sums than regular PACs
501(c) groups Nonprofit, tax-exempt groups organized
under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code that can engage in varying amounts of
political activity, depending on the type of
group. For example, 501(c)(3) groups operate
for religious, charitable, scientific or
educational purposes.

Citizens United vs Federal Election Rule that said that individuals and
Commision corporations can donate as much as they
want.

527 groups Groups who can donate as much as they

want as they dont represent any party
directly.

National Convention The convention where a party meets to pick

their representative.

National Committee The committee of a national party.

National Chairperson The head of a political party.

Coalition A group of people with a common interest

who political parties depend on.

Critical election Election that marks a rapid change in the

political status quo
Party Realignment Change of voting behavior

New Deal alignment A coalition of voting blocs of interest groups

that worked from 1932 to 1960 to get
democrats elected.

Party Dealignment Large portion of voters abandon their political

party.
Third Parties Parties that are not the 2 major parties
(Currently the Democrat and republican
parties)

Winner Take All system Where the person who wins the election gets
all the electors

Proportional representation an electoral system in which parties gain

seats in proportion to the number of votes
cast for them.

Coalition government A cabinet of a parliamentary government in

which several political parties cooperate.
(What america looks like on the outside).
Responsible Party Model Political parties have distinct platforms they
go on, and must be different from each other.

Blue Dog Democrats Democrat in a southern state with a

conservative voting record (Texans who vote
for hillary)

Political Efficacy Citizens trust in the government

Civic Duty The idea that a citizen should vote

Voter Registration Where voters must register to vote, to stop
voting fraud

Motor Voter Act Requires states to let people register to vote

when applying for a driver's licence (Self
explanatory).

Mandate theory of elections Idea that elected candidates should carry out
their promises
Policy Voting People pick candidates based on personal
beliefs instead of blind allegiance to a party.