AP Us Government and Politics vocab quiz

politics

the process of influencing the actions and policies of a government

government

the rules and institutions that makeup the system of policy making within a country

democracy

a system of government where power is held by the people

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away

social contract

people allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functional sociey

American political culture

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

popular sovereignty

the idea that the governments right to rule comes from the people

republicanism

a system in which governments authority comes from the people

inalienable rights

rights the government cannot take away

liberty

social, political, and economic freedoms

participatory democracy

a theory that widespread political participation is essential Democratic government

Civil society groups

independent associations outside the governments control

pluralist theory

a theory of democracy that emphasizes the rule of groups in the policymaking process

elitist theory

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

political institutions

the structure of government including the executive, legislature, and judiciary

constitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representative in which the constitution is the supreme law