usgov ch1+2 vocab

common goods

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

democracy

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

direct democracy

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

elite theory

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

government

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

ideology

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

intense preferences

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

latent preferences

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

majority rule

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

minority rights

protections for those who are not part of the majority

monarchy

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

oligarchy

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

partisanship

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

pluralist theory

claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people

political power

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

politics

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

private goods

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

public goods

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

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

social capital

connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them

toll good

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

totalitarianism

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

anti-federalists

those who did not support ratification of the constitution

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

bicameral legislature

a legislature with two houses (ex: us congress)

bill of rights

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

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

anti-federalists

those who did not support ratification of the constitution

bicameral legislature

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

confederation

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

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

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

federal system

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

federalists

those who supported ratification of the constitution

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

natural rights

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

new jersey plan

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

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

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

separation of powers

the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government

social contract

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

supremacy clause

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

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

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

unicameral legislature

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

veto

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

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