AP Government Chapter 1 Vocab

Test 8/13

government

the institutions that make public policy descisions for a society

collective goods

public goods and services that benefit everyone and cannot be denied to people

politics

the determinator of who is selected as government leaders and what policys they endorse

political participation

made up of how people get involved in politics; the most popular form being voting

single-issue groups

groups that are concerned with one issue and vote according to a party’s response to the issue

policymaking system

the system that describes how the government responds to the priorities of the people

linkage institutions

institutions that give the government an idea of what the people want; includes parties, elections, intrest groups, and media

policy agenda

the issues that attract the serious attention of government officials and others involved in politics

political issue

an issue that arises when people disagree about an issue and how to deal with it

policymaking institution

the branches of government established by the Constitution; the presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court

public policy

a choice that the government makes in response to a political issue

policy impacts

the impact that a public policy has on people and policy issues

democracy

the system where people elect policymakers to represent the wishes of the people

majority rules

the majority represents the most people, so their desire will be respected

minority rights

even though the majority “wins,” the minority still has rights and protections

representation

the releationship between the people and the policymakers they elect

pluralism

groups with shared ideas and interests that influence public policy by using organized efforts to share their concerns

elitism

the theory that says people in the upper class hold more power in politics despite the organization of government

hyperpluralism

pluralism gone wrong, as it says that with there being so many groups, the government is weakened and can’t make public policy descisions

policy gridlock

a condition that forms when an issue is presented and those opposed or for the solution are unable to form a majority

political culture

the overall set values shared in American society

gross domestic product

the total value of goods and services produced anually by the United States