AP Gov Buzzwords - Unit One Flashcards
(27 cards)
natural law
a doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are a part of nature and can be understood as reason
social contract theory
the theory that individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms in exchange for protection of their remaining rights
personal liberty
freedom to engage in a variety of practices without governmental interferences or discrimination
power
the ability of one person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions
authority
the right to use power, which is conferred by election, appointment, law or constitution
legitimacy
in the US it is the concept of democracy and the constitution
monarchy
a form of government in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interest of all
democracy
a system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through elected representatives
direct democracy
a system of government in which members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide by majority rule
participatory democracy
citizens participate directly in governing process
representative democracy
acquisition of power by leaders who compete for votes via elections. Often used when direct democracy is impractical in terms of time and energy
majority rule
the premise in direct democracy that only policies that garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law
oligarchy
a form of government in which the right ot participate depends on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement
republic
a government rooted in the consent of the governed; a representative or indirect democracy
elitist therory
representative democracy, where originally the elite represented the poor
Marxist
one who believes that the economy should be determined by the dominant social class
statist
one who believes in extensive government control of personal and economic liberties
pluralist
the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body, which permits peaceful coexistence of different interests. (political moderates)
political culture
commonly shared attitudes, beliefs and core values about how government should operate
civic duty
individuals and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern
political ideology
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups of individuals
conservative
one who favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs
social conservative
one who believes that the goverment should support and further traditional moral teachings
liberal
one who favors greater government intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services
