AP Gov: Vocab week 1

Government

formal or informal institutions, people and process to create conduct and public policy

Politics

method of maintaining, managing and gaining control of government

public policy

the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain a legit authority and control over society

democracy

a system where by the people rule either directly or by elected representation

Direct democracy

citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues

Representative democracy

Citizens choose officials or representatives who make decisions on public policy

participatory democracy

Government depends on the consent of the governed often referred to as traditional democratic government because it emphasizes citizen participation

pluralist theory

interest groups compete in political arena with each other promoting its own privacy preferences through organized efforts

elite theory

a small group of people identified by wealth or political power who rule in self intrest

bureaucratic theory

the hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of government allow bureaucrats to bold the real power over public policy proposed by max weber