The Democratic Republic

Politics

The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.

Institution

An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.

Government

The Institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority within society.

Order

A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government.

Liberty

The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society.

Authority

The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience.

Legitimacy

Popular acceptance of the right and power of government or other entity to exercise authority.

Totalitarian Regime

A form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation.

Authoritarianism

A type of regime in which only the government intself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the governments control.

Aristocracy

Rule by the "Best"; in reality, rule by an upper class.

Democracy

A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people.

Direct Democracy

A system of government in which political decisions are made by people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities.

Legislature

A governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws.

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Referendum

An electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.

Recall

A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired.

Consent of the People

The idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

Republic

A form of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch.

Popular Sovereignty

The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people.

Democratic Republic

A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies.

Representative Democracy

A form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role.

Universal Suffrage

The right of all adults to vote for their representatives.

Majority

More than 50 percent.

Majority Rule

A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies.

Limited Government

The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks.

Majoritarianism

A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.

Elite Theory

A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest.

Pluralism

A theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decision making is characterized by bargaining and compromise.

Political Culture

The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and political process held by a community or nation.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. The family and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process.

Equality

As a political value, the idea that all people are equal worth.

Property

Anything that is or may be subject to ownership. As conceived by the political philosopher John Locke, the right to property is a natural right superior to human law (laws made by government).

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract.

Eminent Domain

A power set forth in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that allows government to take private property for public use under the condition that just compensation is offered to the landowner.

Ideology

A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government.

Conservatism

A set of beliefs that includes limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.

Liberalism

A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.

Socialism

A political ideology base on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by the government or by employee cooperatives.

Libertarianism

A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government activities.

Communism

A revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning.

Fascism

A twentieth-century ideology-- often totalitarian-- that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler. fascism rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.

Hispanic

Someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish speaking country (other than Spain).