AP Governments and Politics - Chapter 1

gross domestic product

the sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation

public goods

goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share

government

the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society

hyperpluralism

government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened - extreme versions of pluralism

public policy

a choice that government makes in response to a political issure

policy gridlock

a condition that occurs when no coalition is strong is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy - the results is that nothing can be done

majority rule

governance according to expressed preferences of the majority

single-issue groups

groups that have a narrow interests, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics

elite and class theory

government and politics contending that societies are divided among class lines and that an upper class elite rule without needs of government organization

policy making instructions

the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time

linkage institutions

the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

pluralist theory

government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies

minority rights

a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who don't belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument

policy agenda

the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time