Module 1 Key Terms - Gov

Authority

The official right of a government to use power, make decisions, and enforce laws

Direct Democracy

A form of government where people participate in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

Elite Democracy

A small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making

Legitimacy

Widely held belief by citizens that a government or its leaders have the rightful authority to exercise power and make decisions

Majoritarian Politics

A system or policy-making process where the government follows the explicit preferences of the numerical majority

Public Policy

The system of laws, regulatory measures, and funded priorities enacted by a government to address issues and manage societal needs

Political Power

Influence over a government’s institutions, leadership, or policies

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad, direct citizen involvement in politics and civil society, where individuals shape policy and political decisions

Pluralistic Democracy

A model of democracy where power is distributed among competing organized interest groups

Representative Democracy

A form of government where voters elect others to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws