Introduction to American Government and Politics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, terms, key historical figures, legislation, and principles from Chapter 1 to Chapter 7 lecture notes on American government and politics.

Government

The actual institutions, procedures, and laws that govern a defined territory and its population.

Politics

The conflict over leadership, structure, and policies of government, fundamentally concerned with power and who gets what, when, and how.

Autocracy

A form of government in which a single individual, such as a king, queen, emperor, or dictator, rules and makes all governing decisions.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group of landowners, military officers, wealthy merchants, or religious leaders controls most governing decisions.

Republic

A form of government, also known as a representative democracy, where citizens select representatives to make the majority of governmental decisions.

Constitution

A written document approved by the people that establishes formal limits on the powers of government.

Authoritarian Government

A system of government that recognizes no formal limits on its power, though it may be restrained by informal social forces such as the church.

Totalitarian Government

A system of government that recognizes no limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate any other social institutions that might challenge it.

John Locke

An English philosopher who wrote about the foundational concept that government requires the consent of the governed.

John Stuart Mill

An English philosopher who authored a treatise on liberty emphasizing individual freedom from government intrusion.

Direct Democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on specific laws, ballot initiatives, or constitutional amendments.

Pluralism

The theory that all political interests and groups compete for influence in government decision-making, also referred to as group politics.

Direct Action

Political participation aimed at influencing public opinion or forcing rulers to change behavior, ranging from nonviolent civil disobedience and boycotts to violent action.

Citizenship

Informed and active membership in a political community that grants legal rights and the right to participate in governance, especially through voting.

Political Knowledge

Information about political institutions, actors, and issues required for citizens to participate effectively in political action.

Political Efficacy

The belief that ordinary citizens can make a difference and affect what the government does.

Naturalization Act of 1790

A law restricting naturalized U.S. citizenship exclusively to free white individuals.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1882 federal law that outlawed the entry of Chinese laborers into the United States, which remained in effect until restrictions were lifted in 1943.

Immigration Act of 1924

Federal legislation establishing an immigration quota system based on the 1890 census population, heavily favoring immigrants from Northern Europe and England.

Fourteenth Amendment

A constitutional amendment ratified in 1868 that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people.

Reapportionment

The process of redistributing seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states every ten years based on updated census population data.

Political Culture

The broad, shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how government should function, centered in the U.S. on liberty, democracy, equality, and justice.

Liberty

Freedom from governmental control (limited government) combined with economic freedom, such as free markets and protection of private property.

Electoral College

The body of electors chosen from each state that formally casts votes to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Political Equality

The principle that all citizens eligible to vote possess equal voting power under the concept of 'one person, one vote.'

Equality of Opportunity

The ideal that all individuals should have the freedom to use their talents and wealth to reach their fullest potential.

Stare Decisis

A legal principle meaning 'that which has gone before,' dictating that courts rely on past judicial decisions and precedents to ensure fair and consistent outcomes.