Chapter 1 Terms Flashcards
Politics
The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled
Power
The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with first person’s intentions.
Authority
The right to use power.
Legitimacy
Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.
Democracy
The rule of the many.
Direct or participatory democracy
A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
Representative democracy
A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.
Elite
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money, prestige, or expertise.
Class view
View that the government is dominated by capitalists.
Power elite view
View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government.
Bureaucratic view
View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
Pluralist view
View that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
Creedal passion view
View that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes.
Political agenda
Issues that people believe require governmental action.
Cost
A burden that people believe they must bare if a policy is adopted.
Benefit
A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
Majoritarian politics
A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.
Interest group politics
A policy in which one small group pays and another small group benefits.
Client politics
A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.
Log-rolling
A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for the support of his or hers.
Entrepreneurial politics
A policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays.
Policy entrepreneurs
Activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests.
Issue
A conflict, real or apparent, between the interests, ideas, or beliefs of different citizens.
