AP American Government and Politics Chapter 1 Quiz

Government

The institutions through which public policies are made and carried out

Direct Democracy

Every citizen votes directly for laws (greece)

Representative Democracy:

Citizens vote for people to represent them and make laws (rome) - republic

Oligarchy

Government is ruled by a small group

Autocracy

Sing ruler with unlimited power; absolute monarchy (king or Queen), dictatorship

Three Basic Functions that Must Be Accomplished by Every Government

1. Make Policies. 2. Enforce Policies. 3. Settle disputes regarding the policies.

Politics

The struggle over who gets what, when, where, and how

The Participatory Model

Stresses the ability of the induvial action to impact the political system. Ex. voting, protest, and jury duty.

Referendum

Citizens can vote for laws

Recall

Twenty states that allow citizens to remove Governors early.

The Pluralist Model

Stresses the ability of group/cooperative action to impact the political system. Ex. Joining political parties, joining an interest group.

What happens when there is little cooperation in the Pluralism model?

Hyper-pluralism results and gridlock occurs

The Elite Model

Stresses the ability of an extreme minority of American society, often the most educated and most wealthy, have the ability to substantially impact the political system. Ex. Elon Musk

Enlightenment

Thinking of things critically instead of using religion

Political Culture

Shared attitudes, beliefs, values, and ethics that influence our thoughts on how the government should operate

Natural Rights

People possess rights that government cannot take away (ex. life, liberty, and property.)

Popular Sovereignty

Government's power comes from the people (popular consent)

Republicanism

Rulers supposed to serve in the best interests of the people

Individualism

Belief that life condition is the product of your own hard work

Distrust of Government

Citizens are skeptical of the intentions of government and its officials. (Ex. Vietnam, Nixon and Watergate)

American Exceptionalism

The belief that Americans are different and live the correct way. (With diving blessing) (Ex. Manifest Destiny, Imperialism, the Cold War)

Political Ideology

Values, principles, and beliefs shared by smaller groups

Political Spectrum

A model that highlights the range of people's political spectrum

Conservative

More economic freedom = Less government involvement

Less personal freedom = More government involvement

Liberal

Less economic freedom = More government involvement

More personal freedom = Less government involvement

Libertarian

Greater economic freedom = Less government involvement

Greater personal freedom = Less government involvement

Positives of Political Ideology

Helps people make political decisions

Negatives of Political Ideology

Increases political polarization (division)

Political Socialization

The process by which an individual acquires their political thoughts & beliefs

Most Influential Forces of Political Socialization

Family, media, peers