Chapter 1 Vocabulary: Critical Thinking

What is critical thinking?

Determining what can be reasonably be believed and using information to reach a thoughtful conclusion

What are some obstacles to critical thinking?

Untrue and biased information

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to interpret information in ways that confirms what we already believe

What are the 4 core American values?

Liberty, equality, individualism, and self-government

What is self-government?

People have the biggest voice of governing authority

What is individualism?

Commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and economic independence

What is bipartisanship?

Cooperation between two political parties that usually oppose each other

What is party polarization?

Growing idealogical divide between two political parties towards each party extreme

What are politics?

The means by which society settles its conflicts and determines who gets the benefits and who pays the costs

What is constitutionalism?

The idea that there are lawful restrictions on the government’s power and officials are obliged to act within the limit of the law

What is corporate power?

The influence of business firms on public policy