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Authoritarian government - A form of government in which those in power openly repress their opponents in order to stay in power.

Authority - The recognized right of officials to exercise power as a result of the positions they hold.

Constitutionalism - The idea that there are lawful limits on the power of government.

Corporate power - The power that corporations exercise in their effort to influence government and maintain control of the workplace.

Critical thinking - Reflective thinking focused on deciding what can reasonably be believed and then using this information to make judgments.

Democracy - A form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.

Elitism - The notion that wealthy and well-connected individuals exercise power over certain areas of public policy.

Equality - The notion that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and are thereby entitled to equal treatment under the law.

Free-market system - An economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible. Free enterprise and self-reliance are the collective and individual principles that underpin free markets.

Individualism - The idea that people should take the initiative, be self-sufficient, and accumulate the material advantages necessary for their well-being.

Liberty - The principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights and freedoms of others.

Majoritarianism - The idea that the majority prevails not only in elections but also in determining policy.

Party (partisan) polarization - The condition in which opinions and actions in response to political issues and situations divide substantially along political party lines.

Pluralism - A theory of American politics that holds that society’s interests are substantially represented through the activities of groups.

Political science - The systematic study of government and politics.

Politics - The process through which a society settles its conflicts.

Power - The ability of persons or institutions to control policy.

Public policies - Decisions by government to pursue particular courses of action.

Self-government - The principle that the people are the ultimate source and proper beneficiary of governing authority, in practice, a government based on majority rule.