Political Thinking Flashcards
SOCIAL CONTRACT
An agreement between the people and the government that obligates both parties to act within the confines of the agreement.
DEMOCRACY
A form of government that gives governing power to the people, either through elected officials or direct voting.
CONSTITUTIONALISM
The rule that the government has limited power over its people; it gives the people certain liberties and rights.
CAPITALISM
An economic system in which the government interferes with the economy as little as possible. The principles of capitalism are free enterprise and self-reliance.
SELF-GOVERNMENT
The ideal that the people are the governing authority.
MAJORITARIANISM
The political theory that argues that the majority is the governing power.
PLURALISM
The political theory that argues that the activities of groups influence and control governing power.
ELITISM
The political theory that argues that an elite group of influential people is the governing power.
bureaucratic rule.
The political theory that argues that career government administrators are the governing power.
