Chapter 1

Question 1

politics

Answer 1

the process of influencing the actions and policies of government

Question 2

natural rights

Answer 2

the right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away

Question 3

popular sovereignty

Answer 3

the idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people

Question 4

liberty

Answer 4

freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control. freedom from external or foreign rule; independence. freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice

Question 5

constitutional republic

Answer 5

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the constitution is the supreme law

Question 6

government

Answer 6

the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking

Question 7

thomas hobbes

Answer 7

english philosopher, man is evil, government is needed to protect the public, government should be all powerful and cannot be overthrown, power should not be shared and the executive branch is absolute

Question 8

republicanism

Answer 8

a system in which the government’s authority comes from the people

Question 9

participatory democracy

Answer 9

the theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Question 10

elitist theory

Answer 10

theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

Question 11

democracy

Answer 11

a system of government where power is held by the people

Question 12

democracy

Answer 12

a system of government where power is held by the people

Question 13

john locke

Answer 13

english philosopher, man is good, government is there to benefit the public, government should be conditional and can be overthrown, power should be shared between legislative and executive branches

Question 14

voltaire

Answer 14

french writer (Candide); believed social progress could be achieved through reason and that no authority—religious or political or otherwise—should be immune to challenge by reason; emphasized in his work the importance of tolerance, especially religious tolerance

Question 15

civil society groups

Answer 15

an independent association outside the government’s control

Question 16

political institutions

Answer 16

the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary

Question 17

rousseau

Answer 17

genevan philosopher, man is good and society is screwed up, government is needed to enforce the social contract, government should be arbitrary and can be overthrown, power should shared and direct (representatives are not needed)

Question 18

montesquieu

Answer 18

french philosopher, called the idea of dividing government power into three branches the “separation of powers”; he thought it most important to create separate branches of government with equal but different powers; that way, the government would avoid placing too much power with one individual or group of individuals