Midterm Review: Essential US Government Vocabulary and Concepts
This page provides a comprehensive overview of crucial government vocabulary words and definitions, focusing on key terms, political ideologies, and governmental structures essential for understanding the US political system.
Vocabulary: Salience refers to the importance or prominence of an issue in politics.
Definition: An incumbent is a person currently holding a political office.
The concept of polarization is introduced as the division of society into sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions, which is increasingly relevant in modern US politics.
Highlight: Political realignment, such as the New Deal era, represents a significant shift in political party affiliations and ideologies.
The page outlines the basic differences between political ideologies:
- Liberals generally favor a more expansive use of government.
- Conservatives typically advocate for limited government intervention.
- Libertarians support minimal government involvement in both social and economic spheres.
Example: Democrats are often described as socially conservative but fiscally liberal, while Republicans are characterized as socially liberal but fiscally conservative.
The text also covers different types of government grants:
Definition: Categorical grants are funds provided by the government with specific conditions attached, while block grants offer more flexibility in their use.
Other important terms explained include:
- Decentralization: The distribution of power, often to state governments.
- Filibuster: A prolonged speech in the Senate to obstruct legislative progress.
- Factions: Groups of like-minded individuals that can form interest groups.
- Mandates: Official orders to carry out specific actions, with unfunded mandates requiring action without providing funding.
Vocabulary: The electorate refers to all eligible voters in a jurisdiction.
