vocab u1

Conservative ideology

A political view that supports free enterprise & traditional social values

Liberal ideology

Belief that the government should protect citizens' individual freedoms, civil rights, equality, & promote social programs

Demography

Statistical characteristics of a population

Elite democracy

A theory that the wealthy have more influence

Individualism

Belief that people should be self-reliant, free from state control, & responsible for their own success/failure

Limited Government

A government with constrained powers, usually by a constitution

Natrual rights

Locke's idea that people are entitled to life, liberty, & property

Participatory democracy

A theory emphasizing broad citizen involvement in government

Pluralist democracy

A theory emphasizing group-based activism; groups compete & often balance each other out

Political ideology

An individual's set of beliefs about the role of government

Political Socialization

The process by which an individual develops his/her political beliefs

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the right to rule comes from the people

Reapportionment

Redistributing legislative seats according to the population so each district has roughly the same population size

Republic

A form of government where people elect representatives to carry out their interests

Rule of Law

The idea that everyone, including government officials, is subject to well-defined laws that are not arbitrary

Social Contract

An agreement between people, who give up some freedom, in exchange for protection from the government