AP Gov Vocab Test 1

anarchism

opposes government in any form

capitalism

favors free enterprise with little government regulation of business

collectivism

group welfare is more important than individual rights and that a strong government is necessary for survival

communism

the government has complete control of the economy and owns all property

democracy

any government controlled by its people

elite class theory

upper class elite will always control government

government

institutions that make public policies for society

hyperpluralist theory

interest groups have become so strong that they are able to prevent the government from enacting rational public policy (gridlock)

individualism

people should not rely on government unless absolutely necessary

interest group

An organized group of individuals with shared beliefs that seeks to influence the government

laissez faire

economic doctrine that opposes any form of government intervention in business

linkage institution

something that links government and people

pluralism

politics is mainly a competition among groups

police power

authority of government to maintain order and safeguard citizens' health, morals, safety, and welfare

political ideology

a consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government

political socialization

the process by which a person forms his/her political views

politics

methods or tactics used to make policy

policy gridlock

A condition that occurs when no group or coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy

policy agenda

a list of issues that the government is working on

public good

benefit/service provided by the government to all citizens

public policy

a course of action taken by the government in response to some problem, issue, or situation

referendum

an election where people vote on a policy issue

republic

a type of democracy in which citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf

socialism

the central government plays a strong role in regulating existing private industry and directing the economy

totalitarianism

a political system where the government controls everything

elector

a person chose by his/her state to cast a vote for president in the electoral college

safe state

a state in which one of the presidential candidates has overwhelming support from the voters

swing/tossup state

a state where the winner of the upcoming presidential election cannot be safely predicted

exit polls

polls taken on Election Day in which respondents are asked which candidate they voted for

margin of error

the percentage by which a poll could be wrong

population

the group of people whose views the poll is intended to reflect

sample group

the group of people who respond to the poll

random sample group

a sample selected in a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

stratified sample group

a sample group that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population (gender, race, religion, income, etc.)