American Government and Civic Engagement

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in American government and civic engagement.

Government

Maintains stability and provides essential services like education and policing.

Elite Theory

A theory that posits a small, wealthy group dominates policymaking.

Pluralism

A theory where many groups compete and influence government through organized interests.

Civic Engagement

Participation by individuals in political processes to inform leaders and strengthen communities.

Natural Rights

Ideology that emphasizes the rights to life, liberty, and property.

Federalism

The division of authority between national and state governments.

Bicameral Congress

A legislature consisting of two chambers, specifically the House and the Senate.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of a strong federal government who demanded a Bill of Rights.

Selective Incorporation

The legal doctrine that ensures states cannot make laws that infringe on the rights of American citizens.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment that provides no individual should be treated differently without valid justification.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice that aimed to end racial discrimination and gain equal rights.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals form their political beliefs and values.

Public Opinion

Combined beliefs and attitudes of the public that influence political decisions.

Voting Rights Act

Legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence government policy to achieve specific goals.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Public Policy

Government's broad strategy for addressing societal issues.

Pluralism

A theory where many groups compete and influence government through organized interests.

What are the key theories that explain power distribution in government, and how does civic engagement play a role?

Government maintains stability and provides essential services. Elite Theory suggests a small, wealthy group dominates policymaking, while Pluralism proposes many competing groups influence government through organized interests. Civic engagement is individual participation in political processes to inform leaders and strengthen communities.

How did foundational concepts and historical divisions shape the constitutional framework of the U.S. government?

The U.S. government was shaped by the ideology of Natural Rights (life, liberty, and property) and structured with Federalism (division of authority between national and state governments) and a Bicameral Congress (House and Senate). Anti-Federalists highlighted concerns against a strong federal government, demanding a Bill of Rights.

Explain how legal doctrines and major social movements have worked to ensure rights and equal protection for all American citizens.

Selective Incorporation is a legal doctrine ensuring states cannot infringe on citizens' rights. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prevents individuals from being treated differently without valid justification. The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for social justice to end racial discrimination and gain equal rights, supported by legislation like the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

Describe how individuals develop their political beliefs and how these beliefs, combined with organized efforts, impact government decisions.

Political Socialization is the process through which individuals form their political beliefs and values. Public Opinion represents the combined beliefs and attitudes of the public that influence political decisions, often mobilized by Interest Groups—organizations seeking to influence government policy to achieve specific goals.

What is the role of government institutions, particularly the bureaucracy, in developing and implementing public policy?

A Bureaucracy is a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. It is crucial in implementing Public Policy, which is the government's broad strategy for addressing societal issues.