Vocab: U3 vocab 2

Linkage Institutions

Organizations or systems that connect people to their government, such as political parties, interest groups, media, and elections.

Elections

A formal process in which citizens vote to choose their representatives or decide on specific policies.

Political Parties

Groups of individuals with shared political beliefs and goals who organize to win elections and influence policy.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence public policy and decision-making without running candidates for public office.

Journalism

The practice of gathering, assessing, and reporting news to the public, serving as a watchdog in a democracy.

Trade Union

An organization of workers formed to protect their rights and negotiate wages and benefits.

Professional Association

An organization that represents the interests of individuals in a specific profession.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about the role of government and political values.

Public Policy

The laws and actions implemented by a government to address public issues.

Individualism

A principle emphasizing the importance of individual rights and independence.

Welfare State

A government system that provides social and economic protections to its citizens.

Coercion

The use of force or pressure by a government to compel behavior.

Formal Political Participation

Involvement in official political activities, such as voting or running for office.

Informal Political Participation

Engagement in non-institutionalized political activities to influence decision-making.

Transparency

The extent to which a government shares information about its processes and actions.

Electoral Commission (EC)

An independent body responsible for overseeing the fairness of elections.

Neoliberalism

An ideology advocating for free markets and minimal government intervention in the economy.

Communism

An ideology seeking a classless, stateless society with communal ownership of property.

Socialism

An ideology advocating for public ownership of the means of production.

Fascism

An authoritarian ideology characterized by strong nationalism and suppression of dissent.

Referendum

A direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue or policy.