Chapter 1: The American System Flashcards
bureaucratic view
View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
class view
View that the government is dominated by capitalists.
democracy
The rule of the many.
direct (participatory) democracy
A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
elite
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money or power.
legitimacy
Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.
pluralist view
The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
power
The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions.
power elite view
View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside government.
representative democracy
A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.
authority
The right to use power.
