Understanding American Politics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core political concepts, governmental structures, and Madisonian principles from Chapter 1.

Ideologies

Cohesive sets of ideas and beliefs used to organize and evaluate the political world.

Politics

The process that we use to determine what the government is going to do, as well as any questions about who is going to get what, when, and how.

Free riders

Those who benefit from collective action without making a contribution.

Political factions

Groups of like-minded individuals, such as the National Organization of Women, the National Rifle Association, AARP, and the Democratic Party.

Popular sovereignty

The principle allowing for the will of the people, which the Founders balanced with individual liberty protections in the Constitution.

Checks and balances

A governmental design mechanism used to balance majority needs with protecting minority opinions and individual liberty to address James Madison's concerns.

Separation of powers

A key structural arrangement of the U.S. government set up alongside checks and balances and federalism to satisfy James Madison's concerns.

Federalism

A foundational structure of the U.S. government framework implemented to satisfy James Madison's concerns about unchecked power.