AP U.S. Government Chapter 1

politics

the process of influencing the actions and policies of government

government

the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking

What group did the Boyd County GSA students contact?

ACLU

ACLU

American Civil Liberties Union

natural rights

life, liberty, and property…gov. can’t take these away

social contract

people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

American political culture

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

popular sovereignty

idea that the gov’s right to rule comes from the people

republicanism

gov’s authority comes from the people through their representatives

The Equal Access Act of 1984 (EAA)

protects the right of high school students to form groups

democracy

power held by the people

inalienable rights

rights that the gov. cannot take away

liberty

social, political, and economic freedoms

participatory democracy

widespread political participation is essential for success in democratic gov.

civil society groups

independent associations outside the governments control

AARP

American Association of Retired Persons

pluralist theory

emphasizes the role of groups in democracy

elitist theory

elites have too much power

political institutions

the structure of gov. including executive, legislative, and judiciary

constitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law

NRA

National Rifle Association

17th amendment

direct election of US senators

pre-17th amendment

state lawmakers selected senators

David Hume

Scottish piloshopher who believed in gov. restricting power for one person

Baron de Montesquieu

French piloshopher who believed in the separation of powers

Totalitarian gov

gov. tries to control over the lives of its citizens

Authoritarian gov

places power in the hands of an elite group or dictator

John Locke

English philosopher who preached Natural Rights

What group did the Christian Bible Study Club students contact?

National League Foundation

autocracy

gov. by a single person, non-elected individual