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Conflict
Politics often involves disagreement.
Process
The way decisions are made matters.
Ubiquity
Politics impacts all areas of life.
Why Do We Have a Government?
Government implements decisions through politics.
Order
Prevents chaos, ensuring safety and stability.
General Welfare
Solves big societal issues like poverty and national defense.
Separation of Powers
Divides power among three branches (judicial, executive, legislative) to prevent domination.
Checks and Balances
Each branch can limit the others.
Federalism
Power is shared across local, state, and national levels.
Public Goods
Services like national defense that everyone benefits from but aren’t provided by the free market.
Collective Action Problems
Issues where people benefit from cooperation but have incentives not to contribute (e.g., free rider problem).
Visible Roles
Police, military, IRS, FDA—government impacts daily life through law enforcement, regulation, and protection of rights.
Monarchy
Rule by one
Aristocracy
Rule by a few.
Polity
Rule by many.
Diversity
Different economic interests lead to political conflict.
Free Market
Core American value, promoting competition with little government interference.
Democrats
Favor higher taxes on the rich, more industry regulation, and fewer personal behavior regulations.
Republicans
Prefer lower taxes, minimal business regulation, and more personal behavior regulation.
Culture Wars
Conflicts between religious and secular Americans.
Hot-Button Issues
Family values, marriage, abortion, school prayer, gun control, immigration, religious displays.
Melting Pot
Assimilation into a common American culture.
Multiculturalism
Emphasizes diversity and opposes forced assimilation.
Ideology
A set of beliefs that shapes political views.
Conservatives
Favor tradition, lower taxes, free markets.
Liberals
Support social tolerance, stronger government programs.
Libertarians
Favor minimal government in all areas.
Democracy
Government by the people through elections and compromise.
Liberty
Core value focusing on freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
Equality
Equality of opportunity and political equality are key, though material equality is less emphasized.
Participatory Democracy
Citizens are directly involved in making choices about policy
Pluralist Democracy
Organized groups compete with others to influence policy and no single group dominates the political process
Elite Democracy
some citizens (such as the wealthy or better educated) have a disproportionate influence over government policy
Note 
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