Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Institution
An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society
Politics
The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.
Government
The institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority within society.
Order
A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government.
Liberty
The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society.
Authority
The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience.
Legitimacy
Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority.
Totalitarian regime
A form of government that controls all aspects of the political an social life of a nation.
Authoritarianism
A type of a regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government’s control.
Aristocracy
Rule by the “best”; in reality, rule by an upper class.
Democracy
A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. Derived from Ancient Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (authority)
Direct Democracy
A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities.
Legislature
A government body primarily responsible for making laws.
Initiative
A procedures by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment
Referendum
An electoral device whereby legislature or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.
Recall
A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired.
Consent of the people
The idea that government and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.
Republic
A firm of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch.
Popular Sovereignty
The concept of government in which the ultimate political authority is based in the will of the people.
Democratic Republic
A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies.
Representative democracy
A rom of government on which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role.
Universal Suffrage
The right of all adults to vote for their representatives.
Majority
More than 50%
Majority Rule
A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies.
Limited government
The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks.
Majoritarianism
A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.
Elite Theory
A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest.
Pluralism
A theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decisions making is characterized by bargaining and compromise.
Political Culture
The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation.
Political Socialization.
The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. The family and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process.
Dominant Culture
The values, customs, and language established by a group or groups tat traditionally have controlled politics and government in a society.
Equality
As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth.
Property
Anything that is or may be subject to ownership. As conceive by John Locke, the right to property is a natural right superior to human law(laws made by government).
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets and also by free markets and freedom of contract.
Ideology
A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government.
Conservatism
A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the natural government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.
Liberalism
A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.
Socialism
A political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by employee cooperatives
Libertarianism
A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government.
Communism
A revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning
Fascism
A twentieth-century ideology - often totalitarian - that exalts the national collective united behind and absolute ruler. Fascism rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.
Hispanic
Someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish-speaking country. The term is used only in the US or other countries that receive immigrants - Spanish-speaking people in Spanish -speaking countries do not usually apply this term to themselves.
