Chapter 1 vocab Flashcards
What is an autocracy?
A form of government in which the power to make authoritative decisions and allocate resources is vested in one person
What does the term “absolute majority” mean?
50 percent plus one of all members or eligible voters
What is a democracy?
A form of government in which all the citizens have the opportunity to participate in the process of making authoritative decisions and allocating resources.
What is direct democracy?
A form of government in which ordinary citizens,rather than representatives, collectively make government decisions.
What is considered “Economic equality”?
The idea that each individual should receive the same amount of material goods, regardless of his or her contribution to society.
What is an “elitist”?
A term used to describe a society in which organized,influential minority interest dominate the political process
What does the term “empirical” refer to?
Questions and debates that can be answered by careful observation. Systematic empirical observation is the foundation of science and the scientific method
What does the term “equality of opportunity” mean?
The idea that every individual has the right to develop to the fullest extent of his or her abilities.
What does the term “ equality under the law” refer to?
The idea that the law is supposed to be applied impartially, without regard for the identity or status of the individual involved.
What does the term “false consensus” refer to?
The tendency of people to believe their views are normal or represent common sense and there-for are shared by most people.
What is a government?
The institution that has the authority to make binding decisions for all of society
What is “ideology”?
A consistent set of values,attitudes, and beliefs about the appropriate role of government in society.
What is an “initiative”?
An election in which ordinary citizens circulate a petition to put a proposed law on the ballot for the voters to approve.
What is a “liberal democracy”?
A representative democracy, such as Great Britain or the United States, that has a particular concern for individual liberty. The rule of law and a constitution constrain elected representatives and the will of the majority from using their power to take away the rights of the minorities.
What is “majority rule”?
The principle under which government follows the course of action proffered by most people.
What is “minority rights”?
The full rights of democratic citizenship held by any group numerically inferior to the majority. These fundamental democratic rights cannot be taken away-even if a majority wishes to do so-without breaking the promise of democracy.
What does the term “normative” refer to?
Theories or statements that seek to prescribe how things should be valued, what should be, what is good or just, and what is better or worse.
What is the “null hypothesis”?
A statement positing that there is no relationship between variables being observed. It is the opposite of the research hypothesis.
What is an “oligarchy”?
A form of government in which the power to make authoritative decisions and allocate resource is vested in a small group of people.
What does the term “partisanship” refer to?
A psychological attachment to a political party.
What does “pluralistic” mean?
It is a term used to describe a society in which power is widely distributed among diverse groups and interest.
What does “plurality” mean?
This is the largest percentage of a vote, when no one has the majority.
What is “political equality”?
The idea that individual preferences should be given equal weight
What is “political science”?
The systematic study of government, political institutions, processes, and behavior.
What is “politics”?
The process of making binding decisions about who gets what or whose values everyone is going to live by.
What does the term “popular sovereignty” refer to?
The idea that the highest political authority in a democracy is the will of the people.
What is a “referendum”?
An election in which a state legislature refers a proposed law to the voters for their approval.
What is a “representative democracy”?
Defined as a system of government where ordinary citizens do not make governmental decisions themselves but chose public officials -representatives of the people- to make decisions for them.
What is “science”?
A method of acquiring knowledge through the formulation of hypotheses that can be tested through empirical observation in order to make claims about how the world works and why.
What is a “simple majority”?
50 percent plus one of those participating or of those who vote
What is the concept of “social equality”?
The idea that people should be free of class or social barriers and discrimination.
What is “sovereignty”?
The legitimate authority in a government to wield coercive power to authoritatively allocate values.
What does the term “utility” refer to?
The amount of enjoyment an individual receives from a given situation or outcome
