Unit 1 Flashcards
American political culture
Set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share
political issues
Issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it
politics
Process of influencing actions and policy of a government
government
institutions that make up a system of policymaking w/in a country
democracy
political system; supreme power lies in the people
natural rights
idea; all humans have God given rights
inalienable rights
idea; all humans have rights the government can’t take away
social contract
agreement between the people and their gov signifying their consent to be governed
policy agenda
issues on the political sphere
public policy
laws
popular sovereignty
idea; political authority belongs to the people
republicanism
form of government; representatives are elected by the people to make decisions in gov
liberty
freedom of choice
participatory gov
theory in democracy; citizens should actively/directly control all aspects of their lives through government
civil society groups
independent associations outside the gov’s control
pluralist theory
theory; groups of people advance policymaking by trying to advance their goals
elitist theory
theory; power is disproportionately given to the other class
hyperpluralism
theory; too many groups fighting against each other creates gridlock
political institutions
political institutions
structures of a political system that carry out the work of governing
constitutional republic
form of gov; people elect representatives to uphold a foundational doc
constitution
foundational document; written plan of government
republic
form of government; in which citizens choose their representative by voting
articles of confederation
first constitution in the US; highlighted need for a stronger central gov
unicameral
one house legislature
bicameral
two house legislature
Shay’s rebellion
1786-1787; Daniel Shays led a rebellion in Massachusetts protesting mortgage foreclosures; highlighted the need for a strong central gov
constitutional convention
convention of delegates to change the Articles of Confederation
Virginia Plan
plan Madison proposed; bicameral, w/ representation based on population; 3 branches w/ lower house directly voted by the people