Democracy
a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Self Government
A form of government in which people who live in a place make laws for themselves; goal of democracy
Majority Rule
the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group
Mob Rule
government by mob/mass with no formal authority
Liberty
the greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society
Order
political value in which the rule of law is followed and does not permit actions that infringe on the well being of others
Rule of Law
legal system with know rules that are enforced equally against all people
Minority Rights
protecting the rights and freedoms of the minority in choosing among policy alternatives
Constitutional System
A system based on rule of law, including legal protections for individuals; empowers individuals by enabling them to claim their rights in court (judicial action).
Framers
Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787
Founders
people who helped create the U.S. constitution
Social Contract
an agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed
Natural Rights
the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property
Direct Democracy
a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives
Representative Democracy
A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.
Republic
A form of government in which power is in the hands of representatives and leaders are elected by citizens who have the right to vote.
Faction
a group of people who seek to influence public policy in ways contrary to the public good
Separation of Powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Federalism
a political system in which a national government and constituent units, such as state governments, share power
Political Parties
groups of people who organize to help elect government officials and influence government policies
Politics
the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue
Political Ideology
a set of beliefs about politics
Liberals
those who are willing to use government to promote equality but not order
Conservatives
favor traditional social values, distrust gov't action except in matters of national security, slow to advocate change
Moderates
individuals who are in the middle of the ideological spectrum and do not hold consistently strong views about whether government should be involved in people's lives
Libertarians
those who generally believe that government should refrain from acting to regulate either the economy or moral values
Populist
those who oppose concentrated wealth and adhere to traditional moral values
Political Culture
an overall set of values widely shared within a society
Individualism
a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence
Capitalism
an economic system based on private ownership and on the investment of money in business ventures in order to make a profit
Socialism
economic system in which the government owns major industries
Egalitarianism
belief in human equality that disdains inherited wealth
Public Policy
intentional actions of a government designed to achieve a goal
Interest Groups
groups of individuals with common interests that organize to influence public policy in a manner that benefits their members
Stakeholders
participants in the policy making system who seek to influence the content and direction of legislation
Power Elite
a small group of influential people who make a nations's major political decisions.
Pluralism
system of policy makers who hold authority over a large set of issues
Majoritarian
system of policy making in which those with a numerical majority hold authority.
Responsiveness
idea that government should implement laws and policies that reflect the wishes of the public and any changes in those wishes
Equality
the state of having the same privileges, rights, status, and opportunities as others
Autocracy
a political system governed by a single individual
Oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique
Monarchy
a system of government in which the ruler inherits the right to rule and has power for life
Public Goods
goods or benefits provided government from which everyone benefits and from which no one can be excluded
Private Goods
goods or benefits provided government; most of the benefit falls to the individuals or families receiving them.
Trustee
A legislature who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society
Delegate
To entrust to another person; a person authorized to act as the representative of another
Political Equality
that idea that people should have equal amounts of influence in the political system
Equality of Opportunity
the expectation that all citizens will be treated equally before the law and have equal opportunity to participate in government
Equality of Outcome
the expectation that incomes will level out or that standards of living will be roughly the same for all citizens
Self Interest
concern for ones own well being and advantages
Civic Interest
concern for the well-being of society and the nation as a whole.
Civil Society
voluntary organizations that allow communities to flourish
Millennials
generation born between 1982 and 2003