Unit One Chapter One

Test 8/24/2023

Government

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society. Can be any government, not just America

Public Goods

Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share

Politics

The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics provides authoritative decisions about public issues

Political Participation

All the activities by which citizens attempt to influence the selection of political leaders and the policies they pursue. Voting is the most common means of political participation in democracy. Other means include protest and civil disobedience.

Single-Issue Groups

Groups that have a narrow interest, on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance

Policy Making Systems

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves. People’s interest, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interest, problems, and concerns.

Linkage Institutions

The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

The Policymaking System

People → Linkage Institutions → Policy Agenda → Policy making institutions → Policy →  People

Public Policy

A choice that the government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

Majority Rules

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy choosing among alternatives requires that majority desire be respected

Minority Rights

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantee rights to those who do not belong to majorities

Policy Gridlock

A condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year in a nation

Pluralistic theory

A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails

Elite and Class Theory

A theory of American democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization

Hyperrealism

A Theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives in to the many different groups, is thereby weakened.

Populism

Populism is a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against "the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment

Individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Legislative Branch

makes Laws

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

Judicial Branch

Judges the Laws