Chapter 1 Definitions Flashcards
Political Partcipation
All the activites by which citzens attempt to influence the selection of political leaders and the poilices they pursue. Voting the most common means of political participation in democoracy. Other means include contacting public officials, protest and civil disobedience.
Linkage institutions
The political channels through which peoples concerns become political issues on the policy agenda in the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and in the media.
Policymaking Institutions
The branches of goverment charged with taking action on political issues. The U.S constitution established three policymaking institutions - congress, the presidency and the courts. Today, the power of the bureaucracy is so great that many political scientists consider it a fourth policymaking institution
Democoracy
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.
Majority Rule
A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democoracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majoity’s desire be respected.
Minority Rights
A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities
Representation
A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers
Pluralism
A theory of American democoracy emphasizing that the policymaking processes is open to the participation of all groups with shared interests with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that, as a result, public interest generally prevails.
Elitism
A theory of American democorocy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization
Hyperpluralism
A theory of American Democracy contends that interest groups are so strong that the government, which gives in to the many different groups, is thereby weakened.
Policy gridlock
A condition that occurs when intrests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a mojorty and establish policy, so nothing gets done
Laissez- Faire
free markets and limited goverment
Populism
a political philospy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites
Egalitarianism
United States v. Lopez shifted power away from the federal government, saying that only state governments had the authority to regulate gun control.
John Locke
all persons are endowed with natural rights to life, liberty, and property and that rulers who fail to protect those rights may be removed by the people
