ap gov unit 1

Government

the institutions through which public policies are made for a society

Politics

The process determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

political participation

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue

single-issue groups

groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance

Democracy

A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.

Pluralism

A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails.

Elitism

A theory of American democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization.

Hyperpluralism

A theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives in to the many different groups, is thereby weakened.

political culture

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

Political socialization

The process through which individuals in a society acquire political attitudes, views, and knowledge, based on inputs from family, schools, the media, and others.

Political ideology

A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose, which helps give meaning to political events.

Gender gap

The regular pattern in which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates, in part because they tend to be less conservative than men and more likely to support spending on social services and to oppose higher levels of military spending.

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

Pluralist democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

Factions

Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Founders.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power.