AP Government Chapter 1: The Study of American Government Vocabulary Terms

Issue

A conflict, real or apparent, between the interests, ideas, or beliefs of different citizens.

Politics

The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled.

Power

The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions.

Authority

The right to use power.

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law or by state or national constitution.

Democracy

The rule of the many.

Direct or Participatory Democracy

A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.

Representative Democracy

A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.

Elite

Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money, prestige, or expertise.

Class View

View that the government is dominated by capitalists.

Power Elite View

View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government.

Bureaucratic View

View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.

Pluralistic View

View that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

Creedal Passion View

View that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes.

Political Agenda

Issues that people believe require government action.

Cost

A burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is adopted.

Benefit

A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.

Majoritarian Politics

A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.

Interest Group Politics

A policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays.

Client Politics

A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.

Pork-Barrel Legislation

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.

Log-Rolling

A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers.

Entrepreneurial Politics

A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays.

Policy Entrepreneurs

Activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests.