AP GOV CHAPTER 1 Flashcards
What is government?
Institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled.
What is politics?
Conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments.
What is autocracy?
A form of government in which a single individual (king, queen, dictator) rules.
What is oligarchy?
A form of government in which a small group controls most of the governing decisions.
What is democracy?
A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials.
What is constitutional government?
A system of rule in which there are formal and effective limits placed on the powers of a government.
What is authoritarian government?
A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions.
What is totalitarian government?
A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.
What is power in a political context?
Influence over a government’s leadership, organization, or policies.
What is representative democracy (republic)?
A system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making.
What is direct democracy?
A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.
What is pluralism?
The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation.
What is political knowledge?
Possessing information about the formal institutions of government, political actors, and political issues.
What does partisan mean?
One sided; partial to one group, idea, party or cause.
What does bipartisan mean?
Two sided; including members from two groups, factions or parties of people.
What is an elite?
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of valued resources, like money and power.
What is the power elite view?
View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government.
What is ideology?
A belief system.
What is anarchy?
A state or society without any government or law.
What is sovereignty?
Independent.
What is citizenship?
Informed and active membership in a political community.
What is digital citizenship?
Using the internet, social media, and other information technology to engage in society and government.
What is political efficacy?
The ability to influence government and politics.
What is political culture?
Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes on how the government should run; American political culture - the values of liberty, equality, and democracy.
What is liberty?
Freedom from governmental control.
What is limited government?
A principal of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
What is laissez-faire capitalism?
Economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with little or no government interference.
What is equality of opportunity?
A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential.
What is political equality?
The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of ‘one person, one vote.’
What is popular sovereignty?
A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people.
What is the principle of majority rule, minority rights?
The democratic principle a government follows the preferences of the majority voters but protects the interests of the minority.
