American Government Chapter 1

government

the system by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits to society

Politics

the process of gaining or exercising control within a government by people with shared goals for society

Democracy

government by citizens; often associated with capitalism

Capitalism

economic system where the means of production are controlled by private individuals/businesses

Socialism

advocates public/government control over the means of production

Oligarchy

government controlled by a small class of political and economic elites

Private goods

excludable and rivalrous goods (cars, homes)

Toll goods

excludable but non-rivalrous goods (cable TC, turnpikes)

Public goods

non-excludable but rivalrous goods (fish, fresh water)

Public goods

non-excludable and non-rivalrous goods (public education, national security)

Representative democracy

citizens elect representatives who govern on their behalf

Direct democracy

citizens participate directly in government decisions

Absolute monarchy

a single, usually hereditary ruler holds political power

Totalitarianism

the state controls virtually every aspect of citizens’s lives

Elite theory

a small group of elites controls power; other citizens have little influence

Pluralist theory

competing interest groups influence government and hold power

Tradeoffs perspective

competing interests (elitist or pluralist) produce policy through tradeoffs/compromises

Social capital

the collective value of social networks and their willingness to work together toward a common goal

Civic engagement

participation in government/community life (voting, protesting, volunteering, etc.)l vital to a healthy republic

What are the two dimensions used to classify goods?

excludable vs. non-excludable; rivalrous vs. non-rivalrous

What check do representative democracies often place on citizen power?

protections for minority rights

How do modern monarchies often limit the monarch’s power?

through representative bodies like a parliament

What real-world example illustrates direct democracy?

New England town meetings

What example illustrates elitism/pluralism at the local level?

Ritchie Torres and James Vacca on the NYC council

How has civic engagement changed over time?

from small local groups to larger national organizations with smaller individual roles

What percentage of Americans engaged in political action during the 2008 election?

about two-thirds

Besides age what two factors strongly influence civic engagement?

wealth and education

What are examples of individual civic engagement?

voting, staying informed, and donating to campaigns, contacting representatives

What are examples of group civic engagement?

campaign work, volunteering, voter registration drives, protests, boycotts

On the world map of governments, which countries are examples of oligarchy?

China, Vietnam, and Cuba