AP Gov: Chapter 1 Dictionary

Checks and balances

rules intended to prevent one person/group from having to much power

Collective action problems

a situation in which people would work better together but fail to do so because of conflicting interests

Conservative

not liking change

Democracy

a type of gov in which power is held by elected representatives who are voted by the people

Elite Democracy

elite individuals should have power because they make better decisions

Factions

people who have slightly different ideas from the main group

Federalism

a gov that gives power to a central authority (one person)

Free market

economic system with small amount of gov control, prices decided by level of demand

Ideology

a set of beliefs or principles that one political system is based

Liberal

allowing for many different types of beliefs or behaviors

Norms

an accepted standard or a way of behaving that most people agree with

Participatory Democracy

everyone is involved inclusive but messy

Pluralist Democracy

different groups have representation

Public goods

a good or service that everyone has access to

Representative Democracy

citizens elect individuals to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf

Separation of Powers

a government which divides governmental authority into different branches (legislative, executive, and juidicial) to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful