American National Govt. Ch 1-7 Review

Autocracy

System of government in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of an individual ruler.

Capitalism

Economic system in which businesses and key industries are privately owned and individuals are free to create businesses.

Checks and Balances

Government structure that authorizes each branch of government to share powers and hold scrutiny over the other branches.

Civic Interest

Concern for the well-being of society and the nation as a whole.

Civil Society

Voluntary organizations that allow communities to flourish.

Conservatives

Individuals who distrust government and believe free markets improve livelihoods better than government involvement.

Constitutional System

System of government where people agree on the basic rules and procedures that govern them.

Democracy

System of government where supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly or indirectly through elected representatives.

Direct Democracy

Form of democracy where political power is exercised directly by citizens.

Egalitarianism

Belief in human equality that disdains inherited titles of nobility and wealth.

Equality

Idea that all individuals are equal in moral worth and treatment under the law.

Equality of Opportunity

Expectation that citizens should have an equal chance to succeed without discrimination.

Equality of Outcome

Expectation that results should be comparable for all citizens regardless of background.

Executive Branch

The branch of the federal government that executes the laws.

Faction

Any group that places its own interests above the aggregate interests of society.

Federalism

System of government where sovereignty is constitutionally divided between national and state governments.

Founders

Individuals involved in establishing the United States during the Declaration of Independence or Constitution writing.

Framers

Individuals involved in writing the Constitution.

Generation Z

Generation born from 1997 onward.

Individualism

Belief that individuals, not government, are responsible for their own well-being.

Judicial Branch

The branch of the federal government that interprets the laws.

Legislative Branch

The branch of the federal government that makes the laws.

Liberals

Individuals who believe government can improve lives and support diverse lifestyles.

Libertarians

Those who believe government should refrain from regulating the economy or moral values.

Liberty

Political value that cherishes freedom from arbitrary power.

Majoritarian

System of policy making where those with a numerical majority hold authority.

Majority Rule

Idea that a numerical majority should hold the power to make binding decisions.

Millennials

Generation born between 1981 and 1996.

Minority Rights

Idea that the majority should not take fundamental rights away from the minority.

Moderates

Individuals in the middle of the ideological spectrum with no consistently strong views.

Monarchy

System of government where power is assigned to a single person who inherits the position.

Natural Rights

Rights that every individual has and that government cannot take away.

Oligarchy

System of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few.

Order

Political value where the rule of law is followed to protect the well-being of others.

Party Identification

Psychological attachment to a political party.

Pluralist

Political arrangement where power is spread across groups and individuals.

Political Culture

Shared way of thinking about community and government.

Political Equality

Idea that people should have equal influence in the political system.

Political Ideology

Set of coherent political beliefs about the scope of government.

Political Parties

Broad coalitions of interests organized to win elections and enact public policies.

Politics

Process by which people make decisions about resource allocation.

Populists

Those who oppose concentrated wealth and adhere to traditional moral values.

Power Elite

Small group of decision-makers holding authority over many issues.

Private Goods

Benefits provided by government that primarily benefit individuals or companies.

Public Goods

Benefits provided by government from which everyone can benefit.

Public Policy

Intentional actions of government designed to achieve a goal.

Representative Democracy

Form of democracy where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

Republic

Form of government where power derives from citizens, but officials govern according to law.

Responsiveness

Idea that government should reflect the wishes of the public.

Rule of Law

Legal system with known rules enforced equally against all people.

Self-Government

Rule by the people.

Self-Interest

Concern for one’s own advantage and well-being.

Separation of Powers

Government structure where authority is divided among branches with independent powers.

Social Contract

Theory that government has authority only by the consent of the governed.

Socialism

Economic system where the government owns major industries.