ap gov: unit 1

pluralism

a system or idea where people of different races, religions, beliefs, and cultures live together peacefully in the same society

natural rights

universal, fundamental, and inalienable freedoms that belong to all people simply for being human

social contract

an unwritten agreement where people give up some of their absolute freedom to a government or authority

popular sovereignty

all government power comes from the consent of its people

limited government

power of leaders is restricted by law and cannot be absolute

separation of powers

a system that divides government duties into distinct branches; in the U.S., consists of legislative, executive, judicial branch

checks and balances

a system that stops any one part of a government or group from getting too much power; divides power into separate parts. Each part has ways to limit the power of the other parts

federalism

a system of government where power is divided between a central national government and individual regional governments

republicanism

political ideology and theory of government where power belongs to the people; citizens exercise this power by electing representatives to make laws

representative democracy

system of government where citizens vote to elect officials. These officials make laws, run the government, and vote on policies on behalf of the people, rather than citizens voting directly on every law

participatory democracy

model of governance where citizens have an active, direct role in political decision-making and policy formation; istead of only voting in elections, individuals engage directly in shaping the rules and budgets that affect their daily lives

pluralist democracy

power is spread across many diverse groups rather than held by a single group or a strict majority. In this system, organizations like labor unions, business associations, and advocacy networks compete and bargain to influence public policy

elite democracy

a model of representative government where a small, wealthy, and educated group of people holds primary political power and makes major policy decisions; limited participation

pluralism

many political parties and ideas share power and join in the democratic process