Chapter One Flashcards
common goods
goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply
democracy
form of govt where political powers rests in the hands of the people
direct democracy
form of govt where people participate directly in making govt decisions(no representatives)
elite theory
claims political power rests in the hands of a small elite group of people
government
means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals
ideology
the beliefs and ideals that help shape political opinion/policy
intense preferences
beliefs/preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time
latent preferences
belief/preference ppl not deeply committed to and that change over time
majority rule
fundamental principle of democracy; majority make the decisions that will apply to the whole
minority rights
protections for those who are not part of the majority
monarchy
form of govt where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power
oligarchy
form of govt where a handful of elite society members hold political power
partisanship
strong support/blind allegiance for a particular political party
pluralist theory
claims political powers rests in the hands of groups of people
political power
influence over a governments institutions, leadership/policies
politics
process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue
private goods
goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them
public goods
goods provided by govt that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge
representative democracy
form of govt where voters elect representatives to make decisions/pass laws on behalf of all the people/no direct voting
social capital
connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them
toll good
good available to many people but it is used only by those who can pay the price to do so
totalitarianism
govt is all powerful/ citizens have no rights