Unit 1- Understanding American Politics Flashcards
Democracy
Complicated policy decisions left to elected leaders, citizens monitor what they do and choose who they want
Nature of Politics
Politics is conflictual, political process matters, politics is everywhere
Government
The system for implementing decisions made through the political process
Constitution Preamble
“provide for the common defense” “insure domestic tranquility”
Factions
Groups of like-minded people who try o influence the government. American government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups
Separation of Powers
The division of government power across the judicial, executive, and legislative branches
Checks and Balances
A system in which each branch of government has some power over the others
Federalism
The division of power across the local, state, and national levels of government
Public Goods
Services or actions (such as protecting the environment) that, once provided to one person, becomes available to everyone. Government is typically needed to provide public goods because they will be under-provided by the free market
Free Rider Problem
The incentive to benefit from others’ work without making a contribution, which leads individuals in a collective action situation refuse to work together
Natural Rights
Rights everyone is born with
Popular Sovereignty
Power comes from the people
Social Contract
People allow the government to rule so there is order and society continues to function well. If the government does not provide enough, the people have the right to overthrow it
Consent of the Governed
The people agree and get to approve of who leads them
Limited Government
The government’s power is restricted to protect individual rights and liberty
Republicanism
Government officials are elected
Preamble of Declaration of Independence
Explains why it was written, assertion of individual rights, failure to protect gifts—overthrow, can’t change for small (transient) reasons
Grievances of Declaration of Independence
27 reasons for declaring independence; lack of self government and taxation
Politics is Conflictual
There is a lot of disagreement
Political Process Matters
Actions all deliberate from elected officials and bureaucrats; rules and procedures determine who has power
Politics are Everywhere
Influences everyone’s everyday lives
Participatory Democracy
Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society
Pluralist Democracy
Recognizes group-based activism by non-governmental interests striving fro impact on political decision making
Elite Democracy
Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society
Free Market
An economic system based on competition among business without government interfernece
Redistributive Tax Policies
Policies, generally favored by Democratic politicians, that use taxation to attempt to create social equality (for example, higher taxation of the rich to provide programs for the poor)
