Key Concepts in American Government

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to American Government, including formal and political institutions, policy making, and linkage institutions.

Formal Institutions

Institutions created in the Constitution, namely the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

Legislature

The formal institution outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution responsible for making laws.

Executive

The formal institution outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution responsible for enforcing laws.

Judiciary

The formal institution outlined in Article 3 of the Constitution responsible for interpreting laws.

Political Institutions

Institutions that are involved in the political process and serve the public will, such as Congress and the presidency.

Public Policy

Anything that government chooses to do or chooses not to do, including laws, executive orders, and regulations.

Policy Making Institutions

Institutions that create public policy, such as Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary.

Linkage Institutions

Institutions that connect the public with policymakers, such as media, political parties, and interest groups.

Political Parties

Groups of people that put resources together to take over government and make public policy.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence policymakers but do not seek to become them.

Electoral College

A group established by the Constitution that formally elects the president of the United States.

Single-minded Seekers of Reelection

A term describing members of Congress who are primarily focused on being reelected.

Power to Persuade

The ability of a president to influence other institutions and the public, often tied to their popularity.

Recalls

A political process through which voters can remove an elected official from office.

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose legislation and vote on it directly.

Referendum

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, in this context, the government.

Executive Orders

Directives issued by the president that have the force of law.

Campaign Contributions

Donations made to political candidates or parties to help fund their campaigns.

Constituents

The people who live and vote in a representative's district.

Majority Rule

A principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

Minority Rights

The normal individual rights as applied to members of racial, ethnic, class, religious, linguistic, or gender and sexuality minorities.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in elections.

Political Scientist Harold Lasswell

Defined politics as 'who gets what, when, and how'.

Civic Engagement

Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.

Public Opinion

The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the adult population.

Media Influence

The capacity of media to affect the social and political opinions of the public.

Protests

Public demonstrations expressing strong objections to policies or regulations.

Education in Politics

The process of educating the public about political processes and issues.

Social Media

Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking.

Political Campaigns

Organized efforts to influence decision making within a specific group.

Laws

Rules made by legislative bodies that govern behavior.

Administrative Rules

Regulations created by governmental agencies.