PS Midterm Flashcards
Representative Democracy
A gov’t run by elected officials who represent the interests of their constituents
Direct Democracy
A gov’t in which citizens themselves vote on all legislation
American political culture emphasizes the vales of:
Liberty, equality & democracy
Pluralism is a theory that says:
All interests in society should be free to compete for influence over gov’tal decisions
Laissez-faire capitalism is a theory that says:
The means of economic production should be privately owned and operated without interference from the gov’t
“Majority rule, minority rights”
The democratic principle that gov’t should follow the preferences of the majority while also protecting the rights of those in the minority
Constitutional gov’t
A system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the gov’t
Ideologies are sets of beliefs and ideas about politics and society that shape people’s perspectives of gov’t. The two major contending political ideologies in America are:
Liberals & Conservatives
The national origins quota system implemented by the Emergency Quota Act (1921) was abolished by the ______, which led to increasing immigration and diversity in the USA
Immigration & Naturalization Act (1965)
Political Science
The systematic study of gov’t and politics
Americans’ trust in their gov’t between 1958 & 2013
Increased immediately after the attacks on Sept 11, 2001 but continued to decline thereafter
Political efficacy is the belief that:
Citizens can influence what gov’t does
Popular sovereignty
A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people
Equality of opportunity
A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Political equality
The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principles of “one person, one vote”
