Chapter 1: Americans and Their Political Values — Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on American government, citizenship, demographics, and political values.

Government

The formal institutions through which a land and its people are ruled; varies in structure, size, and how they operate.

Autocracy

Rule by a single individual; power concentrated in one person.

Oligarchy

Rule by a small group of elites who hold power.

Democracy

A system in which citizens play a significant role, usually by electing leaders.

Constitutional government

A government bounded by formal rules and limits, often codified in a constitution.

Authoritarian government

A government with fewer formal limits on power; authority concentrated in rulers or elites.

Totalitarian government

A government with no checks on its decisions and that eliminates challenges to its rule.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that ultimate political power rests with the people.

Representative democracy

Citizens elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf.

Direct democracy

Citizens vote directly on policies and decisions.

Pluralism

The idea that different groups and ideas compete for influence in government.

Citizenship

Informed and active membership in a political community; requires political knowledge and participation.

Political knowledge

Awareness and understanding of political issues to identify interests and know how to act.

Political efficacy

Belief that ordinary citizens can influence what government does; linked to participation and trust.

Digital citizenship

Participation and knowledge in politics facilitated by online information and platforms.

Immigration

The movement of people into the United States to live and work; shapes demographic change.

National Origins Quota System

Policy (1920s onward) designed to limit immigration from southern and eastern Europe.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Law (1882) prohibiting Chinese laborers from entering the United States (repealed in 1943).

Naturalization

The legal process by which a non-citizen becomes a citizen.

Foreign-born

People born outside the United States; a major source of demographic diversity.

Diversity

The presence of multiple racial, ethnic, and cultural groups within a population.

Two or more races

A multiracial identification; signals increasing racial category blending.

Liberty

Personal and economic freedom; closely linked to the idea of limited government.

Equality of opportunity

The belief that everyone should have a fair chance to use talents and reach potential.

American political values

Broad shared values of liberty, equality, and democracy that shape U.S. political culture.

Trust in government

The public's belief that the government is trustworthy; has declined since the 1960s and after 9/11.

Political participation

Ways citizens engage in politics, such as voting, volunteering, and influencing policy.