Americans & Their Political Values

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes (Chapter 01).

Government

Institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled.

Politics

Conflicts and struggles over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments.

Public goods

Goods that citizens all need but probably cannot provide adequately for themselves; examples include defense, public order, stable currency, enforcement of contracts, property rights, and economic security.

Autocracy

A form of government in which a single individual rules.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group controls most of the governing decisions.

Democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through elections.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people.

Constitutional government

A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government.

Authoritarian government

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may be restrained by the power of other social institutions.

Totalitarian government

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.

Rule of law

The principle that no one is above the law and that the law applies equally to all institutions and people.

Direct democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.

Representative democracy (republic)

A system of government in which the populace selects representatives who play a significant role in governmental decision-making.

Democracy Index

A ranking of countries based on electoral processes, political culture, civil liberties, political participation, and functioning of government; categories include Full Democracies, Flawed Democracies, Hybrid regimes, and Authoritarian regimes.

Full democracy

A category in the Democracy Index indicating strong political rights and civil liberties.

Flawed democracy

A democracy with noticeable weaknesses in governance or civil liberties; the United States was classified as such in 2016.

Hybrid regime

A regime with mixed democratic and authoritarian features.

Authoritarian regime

A regime with limited political rights and civil liberties, sustained by centralized power.

Pluralism

The theory that all interests are free to compete for influence in government, leading to compromise and moderation.

Citizenship

Membership in a political community that confers legal rights and carries participation responsibilities; a key ingredient is political knowledge.

Political knowledge

Knowledge of the rules, processes, and principles governing political institutions and how to assess interests.

Disinformation

False information spread intentionally to reach a political goal; problematic for democracy.

Political power

Influence over a government’s leadership, organization, or policies.

Political efficacy

The belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does.

Liberty

Freedom from governmental control; includes personal freedom and economic freedom.

Limited government

A principle of constitutional government where powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Economic freedom

A free-market system with minimal government interference and protection of private property.

Equality

Principles of equal rights and opportunities; includes equality of opportunity and political equality.

Equality of opportunity

The idea that everyone should have the freedom to develop their talents and wealth.

Political equality

The right for all people to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of 'one person, one vote'.

One person, one vote

The principle that each vote should have equal weight in elections.

Justice

The quality of being fair; impartial decision-making and fair processes.

Social justice

The just allocation of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society; used to advocate for reform (e.g., disability, environmental, criminal justice movements).

Gilded Age

A period of great wealth for a small elite and rising inequality in the late 19th century.

New Gilded Age

A contemporary term describing widening income and wealth inequality since the 1960s.

Immigration

Movement of people into the United States from other countries.

Lawful permanent resident status

A status (green card) that allows a noncitizen to live and work permanently in the United States.

Undocumented immigrant

A person living in the United States without legal authorization.

Protestant

A major Christian tradition; about a third of Americans in 2021.

Catholic

A major Christian denomination; about 22% of Americans in 2021.

Jewish

A religious group comprising about 2% of Americans.

Mormon

A Christian denomination (Latter-day Saints).

Religiously unaffiliated

Americans with no church affiliation (approximately 21% in 2021).

Aging population

A demographic with a growing share of people aged 65 and older.

Urbanization

The increasing share of the population living in urban areas (about 80%).

Race

A socially constructed category used to classify people by physical characteristics and ancestry.

Ethnicity

A social category based on shared culture, language, or origin.

Foreign-born

People born outside the United States.

Diversity

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