Liberty
The greatest freedom of the individual that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society.
Interest Groups
An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempts to influence policymakers.
Democratic Republic
Aka Representative Democracy or Indirect Democracy
A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies.
Totalitarian Regime
A form of government that controls all aspects of the political, social, and economic life of a nation.
Theocracy
No separation between the church and the state.
Authority
The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions.
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.
Conservatism
A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional ideals and life choices, and a cautious response to change.
Direct Democracy
A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities.
Dominant Culture
The group or groups that have traditionally controlled politics and government in that society.
Anarchy
The condition of no government
Aristocracy
Rule by the best" ; in reality, rule by members of the upper class
Authoritarianism
A type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government's control.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments of the US constitution.
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth creating assets, free marketing a, and freedom of contract.
Civil Liberties
Those personal freedoms, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech, that are protected for all the individuals. The civil liberties set forth in the US Constitution, as amended, restrain the government from taking certain actions against individ
Consent of the People
The idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy for the convent of the governed.
Conservative Movement
An American movement in the 1950s that provide a comprehensive ideological framework for conservative politics.
Democracy
A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. The term is derived from the Greek words demos("the people") and kratos("authority").
Elite Theory
A persepective holding that society is ruled by a smaller number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests.
Equality
As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth.
Government
The preeminent institution within society in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts and allocate benefits and privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority for making these decisions.
Ideology
A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government
Initiative
A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
Institution
An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
Legislature
A government body primarily responsible for the make of laws.
Legitimacy
Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority.
Liberalism
A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy or positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.
Libertarianism
A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward most government activities.
Limited Government
A government with powers that are limited either through a written document or through widely shared beliefs.
Majoritarianism
A political theory holding that, in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.
Majority
More than 50 percent. Or, the age at which a person is entitled by law to the right to manage her or his own affairs.
Majority Rule
A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies.
Oligarchy
Rule by Few
Order
A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purposes of government.
Pluralism
A theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decisions making is characterized by compromise and accommodation.
Political Culture
A patterned set of ideas, values, and ways if thinking about government and politics that characterize a people.
Political Socialization
The process by which political beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and to our children. The family and education system are two of the most important sources of the political socialization process.
Politics
The process of resolving conflicts and deciding "who gets what, when, and how". More specifically, politics is the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.
Popular Sovereignty
The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people.
Progressive
A popular alternative to the term liberal.
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
Recall
A procedure allowing the people to vote dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired.
Referendum
An electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disproval.
Republic
A form of government in which sovereign power rests with the people, rather than with the king or the monarch.
Socialism
A political ideology based 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 socioeconomic cooperatives.
Universal Suffrage
The right of all adults to vote for their government representatives.