Chapter 1

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The collection of public institutions in a nation that establish and enforce the rules by which the members of that nation must live.

Question 2

Politics

Answer 2

The way in which the institutions of government are organized to make laws, rules, and policies, and how those institutions are influenced

Question 3

Anarchy

Answer 3

A state of lawlessness and discord in the political system caused by lack of government

Question 4

Oligarchy

Answer 4

A form of government in which a small exclusive class, which may or may not attempt to rule on behalf of the people as a whole, holds supreme power

Question 5

Legitimacy

Answer 5

The extent to which the people afford the government the authority and right to exercise power.

Question 6

Social contract

Answer 6

From the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an agreement people make with one another to form a government in abide by it rules and laws, and in return, the government promises to protect the people’s rights and welfare and promote their best interests.

Question 7

Natural law

Answer 7

According to John Locke, The most fundamental type of law, which supersedes any law that is made by government. Citizens are born with certain natural rights (including life, liberty, and property) that derive from this law and that government cannot take away.

Question 8

Popular sovereignty

Answer 8

The idea that the ultimate source of power in the nation is held by the people. This was a philosophy of the framers of the constitution

Question 9

Direct democracy

Answer 9

System of government in which all citizens participate in making policy, rules, and governing decisions.

Question 10

Indirect democracy

Answer 10

A representative democracy or a republican form of Government, rest on the notion that consent of the governed is achieved through free, open, and regular elections of those who are given the responsibility of governing

Question 11

Popular culture

Answer 11

The values and beliefs about government, it’s purpose, and its operations and institutions that are widely held among citizens in a society: it defines the essence of how a society thinks politically and is transmitted from one generation to the next.

Question 12

What makes the United States of America’s political culture different?

Answer 12

The United States has no common ancestry and immigrants have had a profound influence on the core values that have become ingrained in the American political culture. Also, political philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke also significantly contributed to American political culture. Ideas still used today in The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Question 13

Majority rule

Answer 13

The notion that the will of the majority should guide decisions made by American government

Question 14

Minority rights

Answer 14

The minority enjoy certain rights and liberties that cannot be taken away by the government. These include the right to speak freely, to choose a religion, or to decide not to practice religion at all. These are protected by the United States bill of rights.

Question 15

Limited government

Answer 15

The value that promotes the idea that government power should be as restricted as possible.Checks and balances and separation of power

Question 16

Individualism

Answer 16

The value that individuals are primarily responsible for their own want in life and that promotes and rewards individual initiative and responsibility. This value underlies Americas reliance on a capitalist economy and free market system.

Question 17

Equal opportunity

Answer 17

The idea that the role of the government is to set the stage for individuals to achieve on their own, and that everyone should be given the same opportunity to achieve success. Many immigrants are attracted to the United States for the opportunities to achieve the individual success.