Wilson Ch. 1

authority

the right to use power

benefit

A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.

bureaucratic view

view that the government is dominated by appointed officials

class view

view that the government is dominated by capitalists

client politics

a policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays

cost

a burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is enacted

creedal passion view

view that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes

Democracy

government by the people

Direct Democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

elite

persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money or power

entrepreneurial politics

A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays the cost

interest group politics

a policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays

issue

A conflict, real or apparent, between the interests, ideas, or beliefs of different citizens

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution

log rolling

a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers

majoritarian politics

a policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays

pluralist view

view that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy

policy entrepreneurs

activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests

political agenda

issues that people believe require governmental action

Politics

the study of who gets what, when, and how - or how policy decisions are made

pork-barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Power

the ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions

power elite view

view that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government

Representative Democracy

A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote