Vocab: U3 vocab 2

Linkage Institutions

Organizations or systems that connect people to their government, such as political parties, interest groups, media, and elections. They help convey public concerns to policymakers and disseminate government actions to the public.

Elections

A formal process in which citizens vote to choose their representatives or decide on specific policies, serving as a mechanism for democratic participation and accountability.

Political Parties

Groups of individuals with shared political beliefs and goals who organize to win elections, influence policy, and govern.

Interest Groups

Organizations of individuals or entities that seek to influence public policy and decision-making without running candidates for public office. They often advocate for specific causes or industries.

Journalism

The practice of gathering, assessing, and reporting news to the public, serving as a watchdog, information source, and linkage institution in a democracy.

Trade Union

An organization of workers formed to protect their rights, improve working conditions, and negotiate wages and benefits through collective bargaining.

Professional Association

An organization that represents the interests, standards, and qualifications of individuals in a specific profession, often advocating for policies affecting their field.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about the role of government, political values, and public policies, shaping how individuals or groups perceive political and social systems.

Public Policy

The laws, regulations, and actions implemented by a government to address public issues or achieve specific societal goals.

Individualism

A principle emphasizing the importance of individual rights, independence, and self-reliance, often associated with limited government intervention.

Welfare State

A government system in which the state assumes responsibility for providing social and economic protections, such as healthcare, education, and pensions, to its citizens.

Coercion

The use of force, threats, or pressure by a government or authority to compel behavior or maintain control.

Formal Political Participation

Involvement in official and institutionalized political activities, such as voting, running for office, or joining political parties.

Informal Political Participation

Engagement in non-institutionalized political activities, such as protests, petitions, or social media advocacy, to influence decision-making.

Transparency

The extent to which a government openly shares information about its decision-making processes, policies, and actions, allowing for accountability.

EC (Electoral Commission)

An independent body responsible for overseeing the fairness, legality, and administration of elections and referendums in a political system.

Neoliberalism

An economic and political ideology advocating for free markets, minimal government intervention in the economy, privatization, deregulation, and reduced social welfare programs.

Communism

A political and economic ideology that seeks a classless, stateless society where property and production are communally owned and wealth is distributed equally.

Socialism

A political and economic ideology advocating for public or collective ownership of the means of production and wealth redistribution to promote social equity.

Fascism

An authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, strong nationalism, suppression of dissent, and often militaristic or xenophobic policies.

Referendum

A direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue or policy, often used to gauge public opinion or make decisions on constitutional changes.