Politics Chapter 1

GOVERNMENT

INSTITUTIONS AND PROCEDURES THROUGH WHICH A TERRITORY AND ITS PEOPLE ARE RULED

POLITICS

CONFLICT OVER THE LEADERSHIP, STRUCTURE, AND POLICIES OF GOVERNMENTS

POLITICAL EFFICACY

THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

CITIZENSHIP

INFORMED AND ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN A POLITICAL COMMUNITY

AUTOCRACY

A FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL RULING SUCH AS A KING OR A QUEEN

OLIGARCHY

A FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH A SMALL GROUP CONTROLS MOST OF THE GOVERNING DECISIONS SUCH AS LANDOWNERS OR WEALTHY MERCHANTS.

DEMOCRACY

A SYSTEM OF RULE THAT PERMITS CITIZENS TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT PART IN THE GOVERNMENT PROCESS, USUALLY THROUGH THE ELECTION OF KEY PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

A SYSTEM OF RULE IN WHICH FORMAL AND EFFECTIVE LIMITS ARE PLACED ON THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT

AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT

A SYSTEM OF RULE IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES NO FORMAL LIMITS BUT MAY BE RESTRAINED BY THE POWER OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT CHALLENGE IT

TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT

A SYSTEM OF RULE IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES NO FORMAL LIMITS ON ITS POWER AND SEEKS TO ABSORB OR ELIMINATE OTHER SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT CHALLENGE IT.

POWER

INFLUENCE OVER A GOVERNMENT'S LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, OR POLICIES.

REPUBLIC

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE POPULACE SELECTS REPRESENTATIVES WHO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

A SYSTEM OF RULE THAT PERMITS CITIZENS TO VOTE DIRECTLY ON LAWS AND POLICIES.

PLURALISM

ALSO CALLED GROUP POLITICS, THE THEORY THAT ALL INTERESTS ARE AND SHOULD BE FREE TO COMPETE FOR INFLUENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT; THE OUTCOME OF THIS COMPETITION IS COMPROMISE AND MODERATION.

POLITICAL CULTURE

BROADLY SHARED VALUES, BELIEFS, AND ATTITUDES ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FUNCTION.

AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE EMPHASIZES

THE VALUES OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND DEMOCRACY.

LIBERTY

THE FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

A PRINCIPLE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT; A GOVERNMENT WHOSE POWERS ARE DEFINED AND LIMITED BY A CONSTITUTION.

EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY

A WIDELY SHARED AMERICAN IDEAL THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO USE WHATEVER TALENTS AND WEALTH THEY HAVE TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.

POLITICAL EQUALITY

THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS EQUALLY, BADE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF 'ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE'.

POPULAR SOVREIGNTY

A PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY IN WHICH POLITICAL AUTHORITY RESTS ULTIMATELY IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.

POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE

PEOPLE WILL NOT BELIEVE THEY CAN AFFECT THEIR GOVERNMENT IF THEY DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, CITIZENS NEED THIS IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY ONLINE, BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN POLITICS.

PUBLIC GOODS

GOOD THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE BUT THAT NO INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP ON ITS OWN CAN AFFORD TO SUPPLY.

A direct democracy is a system in which

citizens are permitted to vote directly on laws and policies.

According to political scientist Harold Lasswell, politics is defined as

who gets what, when, and how.

American democracy rests on the principle of

majority rule, minority rights.

How does the text define citizenship?

enlightened political engagement.

How do most americans generally feel about income redistribution?

they are less supportive of incoe redistribution than europeans

In a democracy, popular sovereignty is invested in

the people.

In a representative democracy, public policies are determined by

officials regularly chosen by the people.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, why did the crown or aristocracy of some nations seek to expand voting rights to the working classes?

In order to gain them as allies against the bourgeoisie.

In what way was the 2008 election unique among national elections of the past several decades?

It reversed a long time trend of decreasing voter turnout and increasing political apathy.

Some states allow ballot referenda or popular initiatives, which are forms of

direct democracy

The US definition of liberty refers to

personal and economic freedom

The US's key political values are

liberty, equality, and democracy.

The belief that citizens can affect the government is called political

efficacy.

The bourgeoises of western Europe wanted to

promote political participation for the middle class.

The formal institutions that rule a people are called its

government

The principle that suggests 'one person, one vote' refers to

political equality

Under a system of lasses farre capitalism, the role of the government was to

interfere with the market as little as possible.

What kind of government does the united states have?

Republic

Which group is least likely to experience the negative aspects of the digital divide?

college students

Which of the following is true of changes in the income earnings and wealth distribution of the american people?

Beginning in the 1930s, a large middle class began to take shape.

Which of the following statements about the experience of the United States with immigration and designations of race is accurate?

In 1965, Congress tightened the restrictions on immigration to slow the influx of immigrants from Latin America and Asia.

Which of the following describes America's growing population since its founding?

The number of elderly Americans has grown, and the number of children aged 18 and under has declined.

Why are knowledgeable citizens more engaged in politics?

They understand how politics affects their lives.