American Political Culture & The Constitution

Chapter 1: American Political Culture

• Political Culture: A set of beliefs, values, and norms defining the citizen-government relationship.
• Liberty: The freedom to act and think without infringing on others' rights.
• Equality: The idea that all individuals have equal moral worth and legal treatment.
• Democracy: A system where power resides in the people, either directly or through representatives.
• Political Efficacy: The belief that one's actions can influence government.
• Political Trust: The extent to which people believe the government acts in their best interests.

Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution

• Articles of Confederation: The first U.S. Constitution, creating a weak central government.
• Constitutional Convention: The 1787 meeting where the U.S. Constitution was created.
• Separation of Powers: The division of government responsibilities among distinct branches.
• Checks and Balances: A system enabling each branch to limit the others, preventing excess power.
• Federalism: A system where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units.

Chapter 3: Federalism

• Dual Federalism: A system where states and the national government maintain separate powers.
• Cooperative Federalism: A system where states and the national government work together.
• Supremacy Clause: The Constitution and federal laws are supreme to conflicting state laws.
• Enumerated Powers: Powers explicitly given to Congress by the Constitution.
• Reserved Powers: Powers not given to the federal government or denied to the states.

Chapter 4: Civil Liberties

• Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, outlining individual rights.

Chapter 5: Civil Rights

• Civil Rights: The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
• Equal Protection Clause: Ensuring equal protection under the law for all citizens.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Legislation prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
• Civil Rights Movement: Decades-long struggle by African Americans to end discrimination.
• Affirmative Action: Policies favoring those who have historically faced discrimination.

Chapter 6: Congress

• Bicameral Legislature: A two-house legislative body (Senate and House of Representatives).
• Incumbent: An officeholder seeking re-election.
• Filibuster: A tactic used by senators to delay or block legislation.
• Cloture: A procedure for ending debate and forcing a vote.
• Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular party.

Chapter 7: The Presidency

• Executive Orders: Directives issued by the president with the force of law.
• Veto Power: The president's ability to reject legislation passed by Congress.
• Executive Agreement: Agreements between the president and a foreign leader.
• Cabinet: Advisers to the president, comprising heads of executive departments.
• Impeachment: The process for removing a government official from office.

Chapter 8: The Federal Judiciary

• Judicial Review: The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
• Supreme Court: The highest court in the U.S. federal system.

Chapter 9: Public Opinion and the Media

• Public Opinion: The distribution of beliefs about politics and policy.
• Political Socialization: The process of developing political attitudes.
• Mass Media: Forms of communication reaching large audiences.
• Agenda-Setting: The media's ability to influence public attention on specific issues.
• Framing: How news organizations define political issues.

Chapter 10: Political Parties

• Two-Party System: A political system dominated by two major parties.
• Party Realignment: A significant shift in party allegiance among voters.
• Primary Elections: Elections for party nominations.
• Party Platform: A formal statement of a party's principles and goals.
• Third Parties: Electoral candidates outside the two major parties.

Chapter 11: Interest Groups and Lobbying

• Interest Groups: Organizations that seek to influence public policy.
• Lobbying: Engaging in activities to influence policymakers.
• Political Action Committees (PACs): Organizations that raise and spend money in election campaigns.
• Iron Triangle: A stable relationship among congressional committees, administrative agencies, and interest groups.

Chapter 12: Elections and Voting

• Electoral College: A body of electors who formally elect the president.
• Popular Vote: The total number of votes cast by citizens.
• Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.
• Voter Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots.
• Campaign Finance: The fundraising and spending in elections.

Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy: A system of managing government through appointed departments.
• Regulation: Rules and standards established by government.
• Deregulation: Reducing or eliminating government regulations.
• Administrative Discretion: The flexibility bureaucrats have in implementing policies.
• Merit System: A system of public employment based on qualification and performance.

Chapter 14: Domestic Policy

• Public Policy: A course of action taken by the government to address issues.
• Social Welfare Policy: Policies providing benefits and resources to citizens.
• Medicare: Government health insurance program for the elderly.
• Medicaid: Federal and state program providing health insurance.
• Fiscal Policy: Government use of spending and taxation to influence economic conditions.

Chapter 15: Foreign Policy

• Foreign Policy: A nation's plan for interacting with other countries.
• Diplomacy: Negotiation between countries.
• National Security: The ability to protect the country from threats.
• Economic Sanctions: Economic penalties imposed on another country.
• Multilateralism: Working with multiple countries to address shared problems.

Court Cases

• Supreme Court precedents related to First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments rights, and others (e.g., Schenk v. United States, Mapp v. Ohio, etc.).