Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America

Question 1

government

Answer 1

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society.

Question 2

public goods

Answer 2

Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share.

Question 3

politics

Answer 3

The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders persue.

Question 4

political participation

Answer 4

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they persue.

Question 5

single-issue groups

Answer 5

Groups that have a narrow intrest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

Question 6

policymkaing system

Answer 6

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

Question 7

linkage institutions

Answer 7

the political channerls through which people’s concerns become politcal issues on the policy agenda.

Question 8

policy agenda

Answer 8

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officicials and other people actually invloved in politics at any given point in time.

Question 9

policy issue

Answer 9

An issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.

Question 10

policymaking institutions

Answer 10

The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues.

Question 11

public policy

Answer 11

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

Question 12

democracy

Answer 12

A system of selection policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s prefences.

Question 13

majority rule

Answer 13

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory.

Question 14

minority rights

Answer 14

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees righs to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument.

Question 15

representation

Answer 15

A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and many followers.

Question 16

pluralist theory

Answer 16

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among grouups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Question 17

elite and class theory

Answer 17

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of government organization.

Question 18

hyperpluralism

Answer 18

A theory of governments and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Question 19

policy gridlock

Answer 19

A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to orm a majority and establish policy.

Question 20

gross domestic product

Answer 20

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a natin.

Question 21

individualism

Answer 21

The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government.