AP Gov Vocab Set #1

Government

Organized institutions that create and enforce public policy, regulates a population

Five Functions of Government

1. Maintain national defense

2. Provide public goods/services

3. Preserve order

4. Socialize the young

5. Collect taxes

Politics

Who gets what, when and how?

Single-Issue Voters

people that vote based off of one issue (abortion, gun laws)

Policymaking System

problem —> linkage institution —> policy agenda —> policymaking institution —> policy created —> problem

Social Contract

people give up freedoms for protection of their natural rights, popular sovereignty, consent to laws of government

Thomas Hobbes

people are naturally selfish, they will take what they want, who will stop them? strong central monarchy (nasty, brutish, short)

John Locke

just because you’re free, doesn’t mean you have permission (natural rights given by god), came up with purpose of social contract

Baron Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker, supported the idea of separation of powers

Jean-Jacques Roussaeu

Believed humans are naturally good and free, can rely on their instincts, government should exist to protect common good, should be a democracy

American Political Culture

the set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share

Declaration of Independence

Justification of our rebellion and a statement of our principles of government, influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, intended audience was British parliament, includes preamble, ideology, grievances

Natural Rights

John Locke - Life, Liberty, Property

Thomas Jefferson - Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness

Popular Sovereignty

a government in which the people rule by their own consent

limited government

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Consent of the Governed

people are the source of any and all governmental power

Dahl’s Criteria

1. Effective participation (Efficacy)

2. Voting equality at the decisive stage

3. Enlightened understanding

4. Citizen control of the agenda

5. Inclusiveness