AP Gov Chapter 1

government

the formal vehicle through which policies are made an affairs of state are conducted

monarchy

form of government in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interest of all

totalitarianism

form of government in which power resides in a leader who rules according to self interest and without regard for individual rights and liberties

oligarchy

form of government in which the right to participate depends on the possession of wealth, social status, military, position, or achievement

democracy

a system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through elected reps

direct democracy

a system of government in which members of the policy meet to discuss all policy discussion and agree to abide by majority rule

indirect democracy

a system of government that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for reps who work on their behalf

republic

a gov rooted in the consent to be governed, a rep or indirect democracy

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs and core values about how government should operate

personal liberty

initially meant freedom from governmental interference, but now it is freedom to engage in practices w/o interference on discrimination

political equality

principle that all citizens are the same in the eyes of the law

popular consent

principle that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed

majority rule

central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law

popular sovereignty

notion that the ultimate authority in society rests with people

natural law

doctrine that society should be governed certain ethical principles that are part of nature

political ideology

coherent set of values and beliefs about the purposes and scope of government held by groups and individuals

conservatives

one who favors limited gov intervention, particularly in economic affairs

social conservative

one who believes that gov should support and further tradition moral teachings

liberal

one who favors greater gov intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in provision of social services

moderates

a person who takes a relatively middle-of-the-road view on most political issues

statist

one who believes in extensive gov control of personal and economic liberties

libertarian

one who believes in limited gov interference in personal and economic liberties

politics

study of who gets what, when, and how- or how policy decisions are made

american dream

ideal of a happy, successful life, which often includes wealth, a house, a better life for oneś children, and opportunity to grow up to be president