Building Blocks and Foundational Ideas of U.S. Government VOCAB Flashcards
An informal list of issues and topics that the federal, state, and local governments will work to address
Policy Agenda
Course of action taken by federal, state, or local government to address an issue from the policy agenda
Public Policy
Having the skills and resources to influence others
Power
When an individual or group is using power in a legal way
Authority
When political authority is confirmed by an official constitution
Legitimacy
Power and responsibilities are shared by a central government and states
Federal System
Group of elected officials responsible for discussing and writing public policy for a central, state, or local government
Legislative Branch
an administrative group led by the POTUS, State Governor, or City Mayor to implement and execute laws from the legislature
Executive Branch
courts that must interpret situations that lack a clear answer, and are created by actions from the legislative and/or executive branches
Judicial Branch
informal balance between individual rights and public policy
Social Contract
citizens are having a direct voice in policy decisions
Participatory Democracy
a small selected few have control over the policy decisions
Elite Democracy
competition and interaction among many groups, such as voters, political parties, interest groups, media, etc. shape policy decisions
Pluralist Democracy
elections are used to select representatives to make official policy decisions
Republic
view that government action is dominated by capitalists
Class View of Power
view that government action is dominated by leaders that are NOT part of the government
Power Elite View
view that government action is dominated by appointed (non-elected) officials in the government
Bureaucratic View of Power
view that competition among all affected groups will shape government action
Pluralist View
argues that the other four views are correct, but official government action will be driven by morally impassioned elites
Creedal Passion View
government action where almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays a cost
Majoritarian Politics
government action where one small group benefits and a different small group pays a cost
Interest Group Politics
government action where one small group benefits and almost everybody pays a cost
Client Politics
Government action where almost everybody benefits and a small group pays a cost
Entrepreneurial Politics
Activists in or out of the government that can create a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests
Policy Entrepreneurs
