Government Chapter 1

American Political Culture

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

John Locke

17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property

Voltaire

French philosopher and writer whose works epitomize the Age of Enlightenment, often attacking injustice and intolerance, and advocating for people to be able to speak their mind, heavily contributing to the first amendment

Natural Rights

The idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.

The Decleration of Independence

A 1776 document stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Where did Democracy Originate?

Ancient Greece and Rome

Counter Power

A political power capable of challenging and potentially removing the power of another

Popular Sovereignity

The idea that political authority belongs to the people and that they should vote directly on issues

Republicanism

A system of government in which people elect representatives to speak for them rather than voting individually on every issue

The American Dream

The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success, however, the definition is often debated

Representative Government

A system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections

Inherent Powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

Tyranny

Cruel and oppressive government or rule

What did King George do, According to Jefferson?

Impose Taxes without Consent, Denying Trial by Jury, Abolishing the Free System of English Laws in Canada, and Arresting Americans overseas in Britain

Participatory Democratic Theory / Participatory Democracy

A concept that suggests that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Pluralist Theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies

Elitist Theory

A theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

What are the three Political Institutions, or Branches of Government?

The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch, and The Judicial Branch

Why do Political Institutions Exist?

To limit the complete control of the National government

Constitutional Republic

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

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence government decisions

Politics

Method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Inalienable Rights

Rights that the government cannot take away

Liberty

Freedom of choice

Civil Society Groups

An independent association that is outside the government's control

Partisanship

A strong loyalty to a specific political party

Thomas Hobbes

English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A man who believed that human beings are naturally good & free & can rely on their instincts, and that government should exist to protect the common good

Baron de Montesquieu

He believed that government should have separation of powers to cancel out complete control of one power