Chapter 1 - Political Landscape

Question 1

Citizen

Answer 1

Member of the political community to whom certain rights and obligations are attached

Question 2

Government

Answer 2

A collective of individuals and institutions, the formal vehicles through which policies are made and affairs of state are conducted

Question 3

Politics

Answer 3

The study of who gets what, when, and how–or how policy decisions are made

Question 4

Monarchy

Answer 4

A form of government in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interests of all

Question 5

Totalitarianism

Answer 5

An economic system in which the government has total control over the economy

Question 6

Oligarchy

Answer 6

A form of government in which the right to participate is conditioned on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement

Question 7

Democracy

Answer 7

System of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through their elected representatives

Question 8

Social contract

Answer 8

An agreement between the people and the government signifying their consent to be governed

Question 9

Social contract theory

Answer 9

The belief that people are free and equal by god-given right and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence

Question 10

Direct democracy

Answer 10

A system of government in which members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide by majority rule

Question 11

Indirect (representative) democracy

Answer 11

A system of government to give citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives will work on their behalf

Question 12

Republic

Answer 12

A government rooted in the consent of the governed; representative or indirect democracy

Question 13

Political culture

Answer 13

Commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

Question 14

Popular consent

Answer 14

The idea that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed

Question 15

Personal liberty

Answer 15

A key characteristic of United States democracy. Initially meaning freedom from governmental interference, today includes demands for freedom to engage in a variety of practices free from governmental discrimination

Question 16

Majority rule

Answer 16

Central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of majority of voters will be made into laws

Question 17

Popular sovereignty

Answer 17

The right of the majority to govern themselves

Question 18

Natural law

Answer 18

I doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason

Question 19

Civil society

Answer 19

Society created when citizens are allowed to organize and express their views publicly as they engage in an open debate about public policy

Question 20

Political ideology

Answer 20

The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals

Question 21

Conservative

Answer 21

One thought to believe that a government is best that governs least and that big government can only infringe on individual, personal, and economic rights

Question 22

Liberal

Answer 22

One considered to favor extensive governmental involvement in the economy and the provision of social services and to take an activist role in protecting the rights of women, the elderly, minorities, and the environment

Question 23

Libertarian

Answer 23

One who favors a free-market economy and no governmental interference in personal liberties

Question 24

American dream

Answer 24

An American ideal of a happy, successful life, which often includes wealth, a house, a better life for one’s children, and, for some, the ability to grow up to be president