Chapter 1 Flashcards
Politics
the process of influencing the actions and policies of government
Government
the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking
Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens
-Bridget Mergens wanted to start Christian Bible Study club
Democracy
a system of government where power is held by the people
John Locke
english enlightenment philosopher and political thinker who believed in government based upon natural rights of the people (life, liberty, and property) the will of the governed
Social Contract
people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society
American Political Culture
a set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share
Declaration of Independence
-Wrote by Thomas Jefferson
Popular Sovereignty
the idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people
Republicanism
a system in which the government’s authority comes from the people
Inalienable Rights
rights the government cannot take away
Liberty
social, political, and economic freedoms
Participatory Democracy
a theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government
Civil Society Groups
independent associations outside the government’s control
Pluralist Theory
a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role in groups in the policymaking
Elitist Theory
a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process
Political Institutions
the structure of government, including the executive, legislative, and judiciary
Constitutional Republic
a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law
