Key Concepts in US Politics and Government

Politics as 'The State'

Activities that involve or affect the institutions, geography, or people of 'The State'.

The State

The permanent institutions that provide public services, enforce laws, ensure security, and govern persons.

Politics as conflict resolution

The activity by which differing interests share power in proportion to the importance to the welfare and survival of a community.

Politics as the conflict itself

A process that makes possible the coexistence of difference and conflict.

Politics as a social/public activity

Activities through which people engage one another and as aggregated collectives.

Politics as power

The exercise of power to influence the actions of others, shape political agendas and preferences, and decide how resources are distributed.

Government

A system of institutions and organization that has control over a defined geographic area which possesses legal or extralegal political authority to govern a society and its citizens and residents.

Democracy

A form of government in which people hold power, either by acting directly or through elected representatives.

Republic

A government in which citizens rule indirectly and make government decisions through their elected leaders.

Pluralist Theory

People influence government through interest groups.

Elitist Theory

The wealthy and powerful control government.

Bureaucratic Theory

The government workers hold governing power.

Social Movement Theory

People control government through organized protest.

Ideas

The foundational unit of politics, the things individuals believe about themselves, society-at-large, the nation, the world, and various political phenomena.

Interests

The articulation of political ideas as individual or collective political demand and desires.

Institutions

The organizations, norms, and rules that structure government and public action.

Liberty

The ability to pursue one's own desires without interference from others.

Negative liberty

Freedom from the constraints or the interference of others. (individualistic, free from fear) The primary liberty of America.

Positive liberty

The ability and the provision of the basic necessities, to pursue one's goal.

Self-Rule

The idea that legitimate political power comes from citizens, used interchangeably with "democracy"

Direct or Pure Democracy

Citizens make collective decisions without relying on elected officials.

Representative Democracy or Republic

Citizens elect representatives that make decisions on their behalf.

Mixed-System Democracy

A system where some decisions are made by elected representatives, and others directly by citizens. (US Uses)

Referendum

An election in which citizens vote directly on an issue.

Initiative

A process in which citizens propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution.

Limited Government

Limited government implies that Americans distrust centralized leadership and have consistently sought to limit the government's power. However, most Americans demand more government intervention.

Individualism

The idea that individuals, not society, are responsible for their own well-being. Policy outcomes include weakened social safety nets and reductions in public investments.

Social Democracies

A form of government which ensures that all citizens receive their basic needs, including housing, education, healthcare, and transportation. Popular in Western Europe despite capitalist economies.

The American Dream

Asserts that any American citizen or immigrant can use talent and hard work to achieve personal success. Primarily about wealth and economic mobility.

Equality

All citizens enjoy the same privileges, status, and rights before the law.

Social Equality

All individuals enjoy the same status in society.

Political Equality

All citizens have the same political rights and opportunities.

Economic Equality

A situation in which there are small differences in wealth among citizens.

Equal Opportunity vs Equal Outcome

Equal opportunity, every citizen has the same chance to influence politics and achieve economic success. Applies to US. Equal outcome, citizens should have roughly equal economic circumstances (DOES NOT APPLY TO USA).

Religion

Religion is uniquely omnipresent in American Society.

Religious Belief Statistics

87% of Americans believe in a deity. 54% belong to a religious institution. 46% attend services at least monthly.

Religious Rights

Religious rights are written in the Constitution.

American Exceptionalism

The idea that the US is uniquely characterized by a distinct set of ideas, including equality, self-rule, and limited government.