Ch. 1 Introducing Government in American

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The instituitions and processes through which public policies are made for a society

Question 2

Public goods

Answer 2

Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share

Question 3

Politics

Answer 3

The procesess by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

Question 4

Polictical Participation

Answer 4

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue . Voting is the most common but not the only mean of political participation in a democracy. Other means include protest and cicil disobdience.

Question 5

Single-issue groups

Answer 5

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membershi from people new to politics. These features distinguish them from traditional interest groups.

Question 6

Policy-making system

Answer 6

The processes by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. Peopl’s interests, problem, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interest, problems, and concerns.

Question 7

linkage instituitions

Answer 7

The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, intersts groups, and the media.

Question 8

Policy agenda

Answer 8

The issues that attract serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point and time.

Question 9

Democracy

Answer 9

a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s prefrences.

Question 10

Majority rule

Answer 10

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority’s desire be respected.

Question 11

Minority rights

Answer 11

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion amd reasoned argument.

Question 12

Representation

Answer 12

A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.

Question 13

Pluralist theory

Answer 13

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Question 14

Elite and class theory

Answer 14

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental oraganization.

Question 15

Hyperpluralism

Answer 15

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that governmant is weakened. Hyperpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated,, or perverted form of pluralism.

Question 16

Policy gridlock

Answer 16

A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done.

Question 17

Gross domestic product

Answer 17

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation.

Question 18

Individualism

Answer 18

The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope pf American government is the prominence of this belief in American political thought and practice.