ap gov u1

natural rights

rights that aren’t dependent on laws, customs, or beliefs, but instead are inherent to humanity; idea created by john locke

social contract

an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled or between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. humankind surrenders most extreme rights to self-preservation so they can enter a commonwealth to protect natural rights.

popular sovereignty

if all members of the commonwealth are equal in natural rights, then all retain power. government is created by and subject to the will of the people. decisions are made about actions of the state via consent of the governed.

republicanism

the consent of the governed is expressed via regular elections appointing representatives by the electorate

republic

a form of government in which people elect representatives to act on their behalf.

liberty

freedom from arbitrary government control & the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economics rights and privileges

individualism

a social or cultural tradition, ideology, or personal outlook that emphasizes the individual and his or her rights, independence, and relationships with other individuals. in ethical and political theory, the view that individuals have intrinsic value. implies that the unique values, desires, and perspectives of individuals should also be valued. often manifests itself as an approach to life that emphasizes the essential right to be oneself and to seek fulfillment of one’s own needs and desires.

pluralism

as a political philosophy is the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body, which is seen to permit the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions, and lifestyles.

constitutionalism

the idea that government can and should be legally limited in its powers, and that its authority or legitimacy depends on it observing these limitations.

majority rule

a political principle providing that a majority usually constituted by fifty percent plus one of an organized group will have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole.

tyranny of the majority

a situation that can result from a system of majority rule, wherein the majority group places its own interests above the interests of a minority group without consideration for the welfare or rights of the minority.

tyranny of the minority

a system in which a particularly extreme and motivated fraction of the populace can wield outsized power in the face of a majority which is either too indifferent or too scared to oppose it.