Monster Vocab

• Federalism


  A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces
• Dual federalism


  A theory of federalism that asserts that the federal government and the state governments are each sovereign in their own sphere of influence
• Cooperative federalism


  A theory of federalism where the national and state governments work together to solve common problems
• Fiscal federalism


  The division of government functions and financial relations among levels of government
• Block grants


  Federal grants given to states or local governments for broad purposes, allowing them considerable discretion in how the funds are spent
• Unfunded mandate


  A requirement imposed by the federal government on state and local governments without providing funding to cover the costs
• Categorical grants


  Federal grants given to states or local governments for specific purposes, often with detailed conditions or restrictions
• Devolution


  The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to state or local governments
• Federalist #10


  An essay written by James Madison advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and arguing against factions
• Participatory democracy


  A system of democracy where citizens actively participate in decision-making processes
• Pluralist democracy


  A system of democracy where political power is dispersed among various interest groups
• Elite democracy


  A system of democracy where political power is held by a small number of wealthy or influential individuals
• Separation of powers


  The division of government powers among separate branches, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• Checks and balances


  The system of powers given to each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches
• Exclusive Powers


  Powers that are only granted to one level of government, either federal or state
• Concurrent Powers


  Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments
• Shay's Rebellion


  a violent uprising in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787 in response to a debt crisis and the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes
• The Great Compromise


  an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.
• Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)


  A clause in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that grants Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers
• Full faith and credit clause


  A clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution that requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states
• Rule of Law


  The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced
• Supremacy clause


  A clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution that establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, overriding any conflicting state laws
• Demographic


  Statistical characteristics of human populations, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, education, and occupation
• Political socialization


  The process by which individuals acquire their political attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors
• Political culture


  The shared beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors that shape political life within a society
• Political efficacy


  The belief that one's political participation and actions can make a difference in influencing government policies and decisions
• Gender gap


  Differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women
• Marriage gap


  Differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between married and unmarried individuals
• Sampling error


  The margin of error in a poll or survey that arises from the fact that only a sample of the population is surveyed, rather than the entire population
• Exit polls


  Polls conducted outside polling places on Election Day to predict the outcome of an election before the official results are available
• Public opinion polls


  Surveys conducted to gauge the public's opinions, attitudes, and preferences on various issues and topics
• Political Ideology


  A set of beliefs and values that shape an individual's political opinions and guide their policy preferences
• Agenda setting


  The process by which the media and other entities influence the issues and topics that are considered important and worthy of attention by the public and policymakers
• Single-member districts


  Electoral districts in which only one representative is elected to serve in a legislative body
• Redistricting


  The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect changes in population and ensure equal representation
• Proportional Representation


  An electoral system in which parties receive a share of seats in the legislature proportional to the votes they receive in the election
• Gerrymandering


  The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or group
• Rational Choice Voting


  Voting based on a careful consideration of the candidates' positions and qualifications
• Retrospective Voting


  Voting based on an evaluation of the incumbent's performance in office
• Prospective Voting


  Voting based on a candidate's promises or proposals for future action