American Politics - Module 1: The Democratic Republic

Vocabulary flashcards derived directly from Module 1: The Democratic Republic study cards.

Common goods

Goods that everyone may use but that have a limited supply.

Democracy

A form of government in which political power rests with the people.

Direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens vote directly on government decisions and laws.

Elite theory

The belief that political power rests with a small, powerful group of people.

Government

The way a society organizes itself and distributes authority to accomplish collective goals.

Ideology

A set of beliefs and ideals that shapes political opinions and policies.

Intense preferences

Strong beliefs about an issue that a person maintains over time.

Latent preferences

Beliefs that a person does not feel strongly about and that may change over time.

Majority rule

The democratic principle that the majority has the power to make decisions that apply to everyone.

Minority rights

Protections for people who are not part of the majority.

Monarchy

A government in which one ruler, usually a hereditary king or queen, holds political power.

Oligarchy

A government in which a small group of elite people holds political power.

Partisanship

Strong support or loyalty toward a particular political party.

Pluralist theory

The belief that political power rests among multiple competing groups.

Political power

Influence over government institutions, leaders, or policies.

Politics

The process of deciding how resources will be distributed and which policies government will pursue.

Private goods

Goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by people who pay for them.

Public goods

Goods or services provided by government that are available for everyone to use without being charged directly.

Representative democracy

A government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws for them.

Social capital

Connections with other people and a willingness to interact, cooperate, and help one another.

Toll good

A good available to many people but usable only by those who pay for it.

Totalitarianism

A system in which the government has total power and citizens have few or no protected rights.

Autocracy

A government controlled by one individual, such as a king or dictator.

Authoritarian government

A system in which leaders control the government, although other social institutions may place some limits on their power.

Republic or constitutional government

A government whose power is limited by a constitution and other laws.

Constitutional monarchy

A monarchy in which the ruler's power is limited by law and shared with an elected legislature.

Absolute monarchy

A monarchy in which the ruler's power is largely unrestricted.

Civic engagement

Participation that connects citizens to their government and communities.

Four major goals of government

Providing national security, maintaining law and order, maintaining social and economic order, and ensuring liberty.

Six principles of democratic government

Majority rule, universal suffrage, free and competitive elections, limited government, political freedom, and political equality.

Universal suffrage

The right of all eligible adult citizens to vote.

Five liberties protected by the First Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Limited government

The principle that government's power is restricted by laws and the Constitution.

Political freedom

The freedom to participate in government and express political opinions without unfair punishment or interference.

Political equality

The principle that citizens should have equal political rights and opportunities to participate.

Checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches.

Separation of powers

The division of government authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Federalism

A system in which government power is divided between the national government and state governments.

Tradeoffs perspective

The belief that government policies result from ongoing compromises among competing groups, elites, and public interests.

C. Wright Mills

Author of The Power Elite who is strongly associated with elite theory.

Pluralist theory figures

James Madison through Federalist No. 10 and Robert Dahl through Who Governs.

Classical liberalism

An ideology emphasizing individual liberty, private property, free markets, and limited government.

Contemporary liberalism

An ideology supporting government action to protect rights, provide public services, and promote social and economic equality.

Conservatism

An ideology that generally supports traditional values, free enterprise, limited economic regulation, law and order, and a strong national defense.

Libertarianism

An ideology favoring maximum individual freedom and minimal government involvement in both economic and personal matters.

Social democracy

An ideology supporting democratic government, a market economy, and strong public programs intended to reduce inequality.

Origin of direct democracy

Ancient Athens, Greece.

Origin of representative democracy

Ancient Rome through the Roman Republic.

Switzerland

Modern country known for practicing direct democracy.

Faction (James Madison)

A group of citizens united by a shared interest or passion that may conflict with other citizens' rights or the public good.