PSC 101: Chapter 1 American Political Culture

government

institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

politics

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

public goods

goods that are neither excludable nor rival in consumption

autocracy

form of government in which a single individual - a king, queen, or dictator - rules

oligarchy

form of government in which a small group - landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants - controls most of the governing decisions

democracy

system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through election of key public officials

constitutional government

system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

example: US

authoritarian government

system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may be restrained by the power of other social institutions

examples: some nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa

totalitarian government

system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

example: Joseph Stalin Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Present North Korea

John Locke

influenced America's founders in that government needs consent of the people

why did America's founders not favor democracy?

wanted to hold everything for the White middle and upper classes

political power

influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies

representative democracy

republic

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision-making

direct democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

pluralism

a theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation

what are citizens responsiblities?

uphold the Constitution, obey laws, pay taxes, serve on juries when called, informed about issues, and participate in the democratic process

political knowledge

information about the formal institutions of government, political actors, and political issues

citizenship

informed and active membership in a political community

political efficacy

belief that one can influence government and politics

new origins quota system

after WWI

limited how many immigrants could enter the country each year

hierarchy of admissions

- north Europeans received large quotas

- east and south Europeans received very small quotas

chinese exclusion act of 1882

outlawed the entry of Chinese laborers into the U.S.

plyler v doe 1982

ensured access to k-12 education for undocumented immigrants

1986 law on immigrants

undocumented immigrants have access to emergency medical care

the gilded age

1870s - 1890s; time period looked good on the outside, despite the corrupt politics & growing gap between the rich & poor

political culture

broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy

liberty

freedom from governmental control

limited government

principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are limited and defined by a constitution

laissez-faire capitalism

economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or not governmental interferance

equality of opportunity

widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

political equality

the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"

plessy v ferguson 1896

supreme court ruled that "separate but equal" facilities for Black and White people was constitutional

brown v board of education 1954

unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

overruled plessy v ferguson

popular sovereignty

a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

majority rules, minority rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

amendment I

limits on congress

amendment II, II, IV

limits on executive

amendments V, VI, VII, VIII

limits on courts

amendments IX, X

limits on national government

amendment XV

Made it unconstitutional to deprive people the right to vote based on race, color or previous conditions of servitude

**Former slaves the right to vote (Males Only)

amendment XIX

Women's right to vote