Unit 1A: American Government and Politics

Limited government

Governmental power is restricted or limited by law, usually in a written constitution.

Natural rights

The right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away.

Direct democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

Initiative

Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.

Referendum

Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.

Recall

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.

Representative democracy

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Majority rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Majority

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.

Plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Declaration of Independence

Formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.

Participatory democracy

A theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.

Pluralist theory (of democracy)

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process. Political power rests with competing interest groups so that no one group dominates political decisions.

Elite theory (of democracy)

A theory of democracy that the elites (wealthy, well-educated, influential) have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

Popular sovereignty

The idea that the government's right to rule comes from the people.

Republicanism

A system in which the government's authority (leaders who are elected for a specific period) comes from the people.

Social contract

A "contract" in which people allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government.

Government

The rules and institutions that make up the system of policymaking.

American political culture

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share.

Liberty

Social, political, and economic freedoms.

Civil society groups

Independent associations outside the government's control.

Political institutions

The structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

Constitutional republic

A democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law.

Autocracy

A type of government in which one person with unlimited power rules.