Chapter 1- Understanding American Politics

Question 0

Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the government. American government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups. (Page 8)

Answer 0

Factions

Question 1

The system for implementing decisions made through the political process. (Page 6)

Answer 1

Government

Question 2

The division of government power across the judicial, executive, and legislative branches. (Page 8)

Answer 2

Separation of powers

Question 3

A system in which each branch of government has some power over the others. (Page 8)

Answer 3

Checks and balances

Question 4

The division of power across the local, state, and national levels of government. (Page 8)

Answer 4

Federalism

Question 5

Services or actions (such as protecting the environment) that, once provided to one person, become available to everyone. Government is typically needed to provide public goods because they will be under-produced by the free market.

Answer 5

Public goods

Question 6

A situation in which members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and reaping the benefits from those who do the work. (Page 8)

Answer 6

Collective action problem

Question 7

Benefits created by a public good that are shared by the primary consumer of the good and by society more generally. (Page 8)

Answer 7

Positive externalities

Question 8

The incentive to benefit from others work without making a contribution, which leads to individuals in a collective action situation to refuse to work together. (Page 9)

Answer 8

Free rider problem

Question 9

The process that determines what government does. (Page 10)

Answer 9

Politics

Question 10

An economic system based on competition among business without government interference. (Page 19)

Answer 10

Free market

Question 11

The autonomy of individuals to manage their own financial decisions without government interference. (Page 19)

Answer 11

Economic individualism

Question 12

Policies, generally favored by democratic politicians, that use taxation to attempt to create greater social equality. (Page 19)

Answer 12

Redistributive tax policies

Question 13

Political conflict in the United States between “red-state” Americans, who tend to have strong religious beliefs, and “blue-state” Americans, who tend to be more secular. (Page20).

Answer 13

Culture wars

Question 14

The idea that as different racial and ethnic groups come to America, they should assimilate into American culture, leaving their native languages,customs, and traditions behind. (Page 21)

Answer 14

Melting pot

Question 15

A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used to organize and evaluate the political world. (Page 22)

Answer 15

Ideology

Question 16

One side of the ideological spectrum defined by support for lower taxes, a free market, and a more limited government; generally associated with Republicans. (Page 22)

Answer 16

Conservative

Question 17

One side of the ideological spectrum defined by support for stronger government programs and more market regulation; generally associated with Democrats. (Page 22)

Answer 17

Liberal

Question 18

Those who prefer very limited government and therefore tend to be more conservative on issues such as welfare policy, environmental policy, and public support for education, but liberal on issues of personal liberty such as free speech, abortion, and the legalization of drugs. (Page 22)

Answer 18

Libertarians