Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

the system for making and implementing public policy made for a society

Question 2

What basic functions do national governments perform?

Answer 2

• maintain a national defense
• provide public services
• preserve order
• socializing the young
• collect taxes

Question 3

What are the different categories to govern a society?

Answer 3

• rule by one - taking or inheriting absolute power (e.g. monarchy, dictatorship)
• rule by the few - military takes over a country (e.g. oligarchy)
• rule by the many - most common government (e.g. republic)

Question 4

Politics

Answer 4

the process that determines what government does

attitudes, actions, beliefs (how people act and make decisions)

Question 5

What topics factor into disagreements in American politics?

Answer 5

• economic interests
• cultural values
• ideology
• race and ethnicity

Question 6

What does the census project? What impact does this have on politics?

Answer 6

• the U.S. will become a minority majority country
• since different ethnic groups have different political beliefs, there will be more competition in politics as minorities increase

Question 7

Democracy

Answer 7

a system of selecting policymakes and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences

Question 8

What are the main components of a democracy?

Answer 8

• equality in voting
• effective participation
• enlightened understanding
• citizen control of the agenda
• inclusion
• majority rule
• minority rights

Question 9

Majority Rule

Answer 9

policies made should reflect the will of over half of the voters

Question 10

Minority Rights

Answer 10

guarantees rights to those who do not belong to the majority