Lamar University POLS 2302 Exam 1 Guide with
complete solution
American political culture
-A set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about government that is shared by
most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law, limited government,
capitalism & private property
-The collection of public opinion through polling and interviews
economic freedom
is the ability of people of a society to take economic actions
democracy
a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people
Shay's Rebellion
armed uprising led by Daniel Shay due to economic reasons; led that there needed to
be a change in our current constitution ( He borrowed money from Massachusetts and
could not pay it back)
auxiliary precautions
A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but
experience has taught mankind the necessity
power map
a visual tool used by social advocates to identify the best individuals to target to
promote social change
Alexander Hamilton
1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank,
assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the
national debt.
Judiciary Act of 1789
The act Marbury used to go directly to the supreme court in Marbury v Madison
appellate jurisdiction
the power of a higher court to review and revise a lower court's decision
Supreme Court
the highest federal court in the United States
judicial review
ability to take a law and examine/compare it to the constitution
Thurgood Marshall
American civil rights lawyer, first black justice on the Supreme Court of the United
States. Marshall was a tireless advocate for the rights of minorities and the poor.
freedom-of-choice plans
A school integration plan mandating no particular racial balance
Monarchy
a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power
Representative Democracy
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass
laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws
direct democracy
, a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions
instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
pluralist theory
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
Robert Putnam
argued that a decline in social capital has led to a decline in political participation. Mid-
20th century societal changes fueling the decline in social capital: mobility and urban
sprawl; technology and mass media; generational change.
Social Contract
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
Articles of Confederation
-First constitution, very weak
- States retained power
-no army, no president and weak national gov
- led to shays rebellion
New Jersey Plan
representation by equal representation
enumerated powers
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I,
Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support
armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
writ of certiorari
4 supreme court justices have to agree to hear your case
white primaries
a primary election in which only White people are allowed to vote
de jure segregation
segregation that results from government discrimination
glass ceiling
an invisible barrier caused by discrimination that prevents women from rising to the
highest levels of an organization—including corporations, governments, academic
institutions, and religious organizations
USA DREAM Act
proposal for granting undocumented immigrants permanent residency in stages
civil right
civil liberty (definition and distinction between the terms)
-law: dispute between individuals and/or companies that do not include criminal acts
liberty
Freedom from government control
political equality
the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one
vote"
political efficacy
complete solution
American political culture
-A set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about government that is shared by
most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law, limited government,
capitalism & private property
-The collection of public opinion through polling and interviews
economic freedom
is the ability of people of a society to take economic actions
democracy
a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people
Shay's Rebellion
armed uprising led by Daniel Shay due to economic reasons; led that there needed to
be a change in our current constitution ( He borrowed money from Massachusetts and
could not pay it back)
auxiliary precautions
A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but
experience has taught mankind the necessity
power map
a visual tool used by social advocates to identify the best individuals to target to
promote social change
Alexander Hamilton
1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank,
assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the
national debt.
Judiciary Act of 1789
The act Marbury used to go directly to the supreme court in Marbury v Madison
appellate jurisdiction
the power of a higher court to review and revise a lower court's decision
Supreme Court
the highest federal court in the United States
judicial review
ability to take a law and examine/compare it to the constitution
Thurgood Marshall
American civil rights lawyer, first black justice on the Supreme Court of the United
States. Marshall was a tireless advocate for the rights of minorities and the poor.
freedom-of-choice plans
A school integration plan mandating no particular racial balance
Monarchy
a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power
Representative Democracy
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass
laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws
direct democracy
, a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions
instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
pluralist theory
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
Robert Putnam
argued that a decline in social capital has led to a decline in political participation. Mid-
20th century societal changes fueling the decline in social capital: mobility and urban
sprawl; technology and mass media; generational change.
Social Contract
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
Articles of Confederation
-First constitution, very weak
- States retained power
-no army, no president and weak national gov
- led to shays rebellion
New Jersey Plan
representation by equal representation
enumerated powers
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I,
Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support
armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
writ of certiorari
4 supreme court justices have to agree to hear your case
white primaries
a primary election in which only White people are allowed to vote
de jure segregation
segregation that results from government discrimination
glass ceiling
an invisible barrier caused by discrimination that prevents women from rising to the
highest levels of an organization—including corporations, governments, academic
institutions, and religious organizations
USA DREAM Act
proposal for granting undocumented immigrants permanent residency in stages
civil right
civil liberty (definition and distinction between the terms)
-law: dispute between individuals and/or companies that do not include criminal acts
liberty
Freedom from government control
political equality
the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one
vote"
political efficacy
