usgov ch1+2 vocab

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common goods

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47 Terms

1

common goods

goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply

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2

democracy

a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people

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3

direct democracy

a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

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4

elite theory

claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people

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5

government

the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals

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6

ideology

the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy

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7

intense preferences

beliefs and preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time

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8

latent preferences

beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time

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9

majority rule

a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole

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10

minority rights

protections for those who are not part of the majority

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11

monarchy

a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power

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12

oligarchy

a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power

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13

partisanship

strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party

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14

pluralist theory

claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people

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15

political power

influence over a government's institutions, leadership, or policies

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16

politics

the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue

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17

private goods

goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them

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18

public goods

goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge

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19

representative democracy

a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws

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20

social capital

connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them

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21

toll good

a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price to do so

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22

totalitarianism

a form of government where government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights

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23

anti-federalists

those who did not support ratification of the constitution

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24

articles of confederation

the first basis for the new nation’s govt; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states help together by a weak central govt

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25

bicameral legislature

a legislature with two houses (ex: us congress)

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26

bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the us constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties

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27

checks and balances

a system that allows one branch of govt to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of govt to work together

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28

anti-federalists

those who did not support ratification of the constitution

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29

bicameral legislature

a legislature with two houses, such as the u.s. congress

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30

confederation

a highly decentralized form of government; sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense

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31

declaration of independence

a document written in 1776 in which the american colonists proclaimed their independence from great britain and listed their grievances against the british king

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32

enumerated powers

the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the constitution (article i, section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs

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33

federal system

a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government

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34

federalists

those who supported ratification of the constitution

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35

great compromise

a compromise between the virginia plan and the new jersey plan that created a two house congress; representation based on population in the house of representatives and equal representation of states in the senate

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36

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by god; no government may take away

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37

new jersey plan

a plan that called for a one house national legislature; each state would receive one vote

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38

republic

a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by elected representatives

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39

reserved powers

any powers not prohibited by the constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government

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40

separation of powers

the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government

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41

social contract

an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights

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42

supremacy clause

the statement in article vi of the constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures

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43

the federalist papers

a collection of eighty-five essays written by alexander hamilton, james madison, and john jay in support of ratification of the constitution

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44

three-fifths compromise

a compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in congress

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45

unicameral legislature

a legislature with only one house, like the confederation congress or the legislature proposed by the new jersey plan

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46

veto

the power of the president to reject a law proposed by congress

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47

virginia plan

a plan for a two house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lower house

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