Chapter One

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

the institutions and processes through which policies are made for a society

Question 2

Politics

Answer 2

the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue.

Question 3

Political Participation

Answer 3

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue.

Question 4

Single-issue Group

Answer 4

Groups with a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

Question 5

Policymaking System

Answer 5

The process by which political problems are communicated by the voters and acted upon by the government policymakers. Begins with people’s needs and expectations for govt action. When this confrontation occurs, they are trying to influence the government’s policy agenda.

Question 6

Linkage institutions

Answer 6

The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.

Question 7

Policy Agenda

Answer 7

The issues that attract serious attention of the public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given time.

Question 8

Policymaking Institutions

Answer 8

The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues.

Question 9

Democracy

Answer 9

A system of selection policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the publics preferences.

Question 10

Majority Rule

Answer 10

the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

Question 11

Minority Rights

Answer 11

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument.

Question 12

Pluralist Theory

Answer 12

emphasis that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its preferred policies.

Question 13

Elite and Class Theory

Answer 13

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Question 14

Hyperpluralism

Answer 14

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Question 15

Policy Gridlock

Answer 15

A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done.

Question 16

Individualism

Answer 16

The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the reasons for comparatively small scope of American government is the prominence on this belief in political thought and practice.