Chapter 1 - Introducing Government in America

Question 0

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

Answer 0

Public goods

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Government

Question 2

The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. It produces authoritative decisions about public issues

Answer 2

Politics

Question 3

The ways in which people get involved in politics. All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. Voting is the most common means of this.

Answer 3

Political participation

Question 4

Groups that are so concerned with one issue that members cast their votes on the basis of that issue only, ignoring a politician’s stand on everything else. They have a narrow interest and dislike compromise.
Ex. Abortion

Answer 4

Single-issue groups

Question 5

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. The way our government responds to the priorities of its people

Answer 5

Policy making system

Question 6

The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.
Examples: elections, political parties, interest groups, media

Answer 6

Linkage institutions

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Policy agenda

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Political issue

Question 9

The branches of government charged with taking actions on political issues. The 3 institutions are: Congress, the presidency, and the courts. Bureaucracy can be considered a 4th institution because of the power it holds.

Answer 9

Policy making institutions

Question 10

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem

Answer 10

Public policy

Question 11

A means of selecting policy makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences

Answer 11

Democracy

Question 12

In choosing among alternatives, the will of over half the voters should be followed

Answer 12

Majority rule

Question 13

A principle that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument

Answer 13

Minority rights

Question 14

The relationship between the few leaders and the many followers

Answer 14

Representation

Question 15

Groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts

Answer 15

Pluralist theory

Question 16

Societies are divided among class lines and that an upper class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties if governmental organization

Answer 16

Elite and class theory

Question 17

Groups are so strong that government is weakened. The influence of many groups cripples government’s ability to make policy

Answer 17

Hyperpluralism

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Policy gridlock

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Gross domestic product

Question 20

A belief that individual problems can be solved by individual, not governmental, solutions

Answer 20

Individualism

Question 21

The effects of a policy on people and society’s problems

Answer 21

Policy impacts

Question 22

A set of principles which specify how a democratic government makes its decisions including equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, citizen control of the agenda, inclusion, majority rule, minority rights, and representation

Answer 22

Traditional democratic theory