Chapter 1: Civic Engagement Terms

Question 1

Common goods

Answer 1

goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply

Question 2

Democracy

Answer 2

a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people

Question 3

Direct Democracy

Answer 3

a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them

Question 4

elite theory

Answer 4

claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people

Question 5

government

Answer 5

the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals

Question 6

ideology

Answer 6

the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy

Question 7

intense preferences

Answer 7

beliefs and preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time

Question 8

latent preferences

Answer 8

beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time

Question 9

majority rule

Answer 9

a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole

Question 10

minority rights

Answer 10

protections for those who are not part of the majority

Question 11

monarchy

Answer 11

a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power

Question 12

oligarchy

Answer 12

a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power

Question 13

partisanship

Answer 13

strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party

Question 14

pluralist theory

Answer 14

claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people

Question 15

political power

Answer 15

influence over a government’s institutions, leadership, or policies

Question 16

politics

Answer 16

the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue

Question 17

private goods

Answer 17

goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them

Question 18

public goods

Answer 18

goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge

Question 19

representative democracy

Answer 19

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

Question 20

social capital

Answer 20

connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them

Question 21

toll good

Answer 21

a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price to do so

Question 22

totalitarianism

Answer 22

a form of government where government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights