Unit 1

Question 1

government

Answer 1

the institutes through which public policies are created for a certain society

Question 2

public goods

Answer 2

goods and services provided for the public (i.e. schools, highways)

Question 3

collective goods

Answer 3

public goods that by principle cannot be denied to anyone (i.e. clean air)

Question 4

politics

Answer 4

the process through which governmental leaders and the policies they push for are chosen

Question 5

political participation

Answer 5

the activities people take part in to influence what leaders are chosen and the policies they pursue (i.e. voting, protests)

Question 6

single-issue groups

Answer 6

groups concerned solely with a single issue; often unwilling to compromise and generally vote because of that one issue

Question 7

policymaking system

Answer 7

the process through which policy is made and evolves

Question 8

linkage institutions

Answer 8

the means through which concerns of the people are brought to the attention of policymakers and become issues on the policy agenda

Question 9

policy agenda

Answer 9

the issues that are prioritized (because of the public’s desires) by public officials at a certain time; the political issues that will lead to public policies or the discussion of the creation thereof

Question 10

political issue

Answer 10

issue caused by disagreement about a problem/how to fix it

Question 11

policymaking institutions

Answer 11

branches of government in charge of taking action on political issues; in America, Congress, the presidency, the courts, and according to some the bureaucracy are all policymaking institutions

Question 12

public policy

Answer 12

a decision made by a policymaking institution on a political issue

Question 13

policy impacts

Answer 13

effects a policy has on people/problems

Question 14

democracy

Answer 14

a system of government and choosing policymakers that is reliant on the preferences of the public

Question 15

majority rule

Answer 15

policies reflect the will of the majority of voters; the majority will more often be right than wrong

Question 16

minority rights

Answer 16

minorities have the same rights as majorities, including the right and opportunity to become the majority

Question 17

representation

Answer 17

“to make present once again;” the relationship between the few leaders and the general population; the desires of the people are reflected in the government

Question 18

pluralist theory

Answer 18

policymaking processes are open to the participation of all groups; no one group dominates all (no “majorities,” just coalitions of minorities)

Question 19

elite and class theory

Answer 19

the upper-class/wealthy elite hold all of the power and make policy (think corporations); government organization is disregarded

Question 20

hyperpluralism

Answer 20

groups are so strong that government is weakened; the gov. gives in to too many groups so policies are weak or never made; there are so many groups that a majority rarely if ever forms and policy gridlock is common

Question 21

policy gridlock

Answer 21

when interests conflict and no majority can form to establish a policy so nothing gets done

Question 22

political culture

Answer 22

the overall set of values widely shared within a society

Question 23

gross domestic product (gdp)

Answer 23

the total value of all of the goods and services produced annually in a certain place (gen. country)