Dual Credit Gov Ch. 1 Vocab

Government

The system for implementing decisions made through the political process

Faction

Groups of like minded people who try to influence the government, American governs set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups

Separation of powers

The division of government power across the judicial, executive, and legislative branches

Checks and balances

A system in which each branch of government has some power over the others

Federalism

The division of power across the local, state, and national levels of government

Public goods

Services or actions (such as protecting the environment) that, once provided to one person, become available to everyone. Government is typically needed to provide public goods because they will be improvised by the free market

Collective Action Problem

Situations in which members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off, refusing to cooperate and reaping the benefits from those who do the work

Free Rider Problem

The incentive to benefit from others work without making a contribution, which leads to individuals in a collective action situation to refuse to work together

Politics

The process that determines what government does

Free market

An economic system based on competition among businesses without government interference

Redistribution

Policies, generally favored by democratic politicians, that use taxation in an attempt to create social equality (for example, for higher taxation of the rich to provide programs for the poor)

Culture wars

Political conflict in the US between “ Red state” Americans who tend to have a strong, religious beliefs, and “ Blue state” Americans, who tend to be more secular

Ideology

A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs, used to organize and evaluate the political world

Conservative

The side of ideological spectrum defined by support for lower taxes, a free market, and more limited government; Generally associated with Republicans

Liberal

The side of ideological spectrum defined by support for stronger government programs and more market regulation; generally associated with Democrat

Libertarians

Those who prefer very limited government and therefore tend to be conservative on issues such as social welfare policy, environmental policy, and government funding for education, but liberal issues involving personal liberty, such as free Speech, abortion, and the legalization of drugs

Norms

Unwritten Rules and informal agreement amongst citizens and elected officials about how government and society should operate

Democracy

Government by the people. In most context, this means representative democracy, in which the people elect leaders to act policies democracy must have fair elections with at least two options.

Liberty

Political freedom, such as the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion. There is another legal and due process rights protecting individuals from government control or outline of the bill of rights of the US Constitution.

Equality

In the context of American politics, “ Equality” Means a equality before the law, political equality (One person, one vote) And equality of opportunity (The equal chance for everyone to realize their potential) But not material equality (equal income or Wealth)