Ch. 1 Political Landscape Flashcards
(26 cards)
government
the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society
politics
the process by which we select out governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue
democracy
a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences
political culture
an overall set of values widely shared within a society
majority rule
a fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority’s desire be respected
citizen
member of the political community to whom certain rights and obligations are attached
monarchy
government form, hereditary kings and queens govern
totalitarianism
economic system, government has complete control over economy
oligarchy
government form, control held by a group with similar traits (wealth, military position, achievement)
social contract
agreement between people and their government giving consent to be governed
social contract theory
John Locke’s theory, people are naturally free and equal to therefore must give consent to be governed
direct democracy
government form, citizens vote directly on every decision of the government
representative (Indirect) democracy
government form, citizens vote for representatives who will work on their behalf
republic
government form, power held by the people and those who they elect
personal liberty
the freedom from things and the freedom to do things
political culture
shared attitudes, beliefs, and values about how government should operate
popular consent
idea that government draws its power from those being governed
majority rule
a central premise of direct democracy, only policies that garner the majority of voters will be made into law
popular sovereignty
the right of the majority to govern themselves, i.e. if the government is performing poorly people have the power to change it
natural law
a doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason
civil society
society type, when citizens are allowed to organize and express their view publicly
political ideology
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
conservative
one who believes that a government is best when it governs least and that big gov infringes on rights
liberal
one who believes in extensive governmental involvement in the economy and the provision
