Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of government?
Government is the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits to society.
What are politics?
The process of gaining and exercising control within a government to set and achieve specific goals.
What are private goods?
Goods provided by private businesses that can be purchased and consumed by individuals, such as food and clothing.
What are public goods?
Goods provided by the government that are available to all without direct charge, such as national defense and public education.
What are toll goods?
Goods that are available to many people but only if they pay, like private schools or toll roads.
What are common goods?
Resources like clean air or fish in the sea that are free but limited in supply.
What is a democracy?
A political system where power lies with the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
What is a representative democracy?
A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.
What is an oligarchy?
A form of government where power rests with a small, elite group of individuals.
What is totalitarianism?
A system where the government has unlimited power and controls nearly every aspect of citizens’ lives.
What is elite theory?
The idea that a small, wealthy, and powerful elite controls government policy and decision-making
What is pluralist theory?
The belief that political power is distributed among diverse and competing interest groups.
What is the tradeoffs perspective?
The view that policy is shaped by compromises between competing interests and priorities.
What is civic engagement?
Actions that connect citizens to government, such as voting, protesting, or participating in public meetings.
What is social capital?
The value of social networks and the inclinations they create to work cooperatively.
What is majority rule?
The principle that the opinion of the majority of the people has more influence in decisions.
What are minority rights?
Protections for those not in the majority to ensure they are not unfairly treated or excluded.
What is capitalism?
An economic system where businesses are privately owned and operate for profit, often aligned with democracy.
What is socialism?
An economic system where the government owns and controls major industries, redistributing wealth to provide public services.
What is direct democracy?
A system where citizens vote on laws and policies directly, without intermediaries.
What is a referendum?
A direct vote by citizens on a particular issue or policy.
What is majority rule with minority rights?
A system ensuring that while decisions are made by the majority, the fundamental rights of minorities are protected.
What is sustainability in the context of government?
The effort to regulate and preserve common goods for future generations, such as controlling overfishing or pollution.
Latent Preference
Beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time
Intense Preferences
Beliefs and preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time.
Ideology
The beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy
Representative Democracy
A form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws.
