Chapter 1 Vocab

Question 0

Institution

Answer 0

An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society

Question 1

Politics

Answer 1

The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.

Question 2

Government

Answer 2

The institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority within society.

Question 3

Order

Answer 3

A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government.

Question 4

Liberty

Answer 4

The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society.

Question 5

Authority

Answer 5

The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience.

Question 6

Legitimacy

Answer 6

Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority.

Question 7

Totalitarian regime

Answer 7

A form of government that controls all aspects of the political an social life of a nation.

Question 8

Authoritarianism

Answer 8

A type of a regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government’s control.

Question 9

Aristocracy

Answer 9

Rule by the “best”; in reality, rule by an upper class.

Question 10

Democracy

Answer 10

A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. Derived from Ancient Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (authority)

Question 11

Direct Democracy

Answer 11

A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities.

Question 12

Legislature

Answer 12

A government body primarily responsible for making laws.

Question 13

Initiative

Answer 13

A procedures by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment

Question 14

Referendum

Answer 14

An electoral device whereby legislature or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.

Question 15

Recall

Answer 15

A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired.

Question 16

Consent of the people

Answer 16

The idea that government and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

Question 17

Republic

Answer 17

A firm of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch.

Question 18

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 18

The concept of government in which the ultimate political authority is based in the will of the people.

Question 19

Democratic Republic

Answer 19

A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies.

Question 20

Representative democracy

Answer 20

A rom of government on which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role.

Question 21

Universal Suffrage

Answer 21

The right of all adults to vote for their representatives.

Question 22

Majority

Answer 22

More than 50%

Question 23

Majority Rule

Answer 23

A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies.

Question 24

Limited government

Answer 24

The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks.

Question 25

Majoritarianism

Answer 25

A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.

Question 26

Elite Theory

Answer 26

A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest.

Question 27

Pluralism

Answer 27

A theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decisions making is characterized by bargaining and compromise.

Question 28

Political Culture

Answer 28

The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation.

Question 29

Political Socialization.

Answer 29

The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. The family and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process.

Question 30

Dominant Culture

Answer 30

The values, customs, and language established by a group or groups tat traditionally have controlled politics and government in a society.

Question 31

Equality

Answer 31

As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth.

Question 32

Property

Answer 32

Anything that is or may be subject to ownership. As conceive by John Locke, the right to property is a natural right superior to human law(laws made by government).

Question 33

Capitalism

Answer 33

An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets and also by free markets and freedom of contract.

Question 34

Ideology

Answer 34

A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government.

Question 35

Conservatism

Answer 35

A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the natural government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.

Question 36

Liberalism

Answer 36

A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.

Question 37

Socialism

Answer 37

A political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by employee cooperatives

Question 38

Libertarianism

Answer 38

A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government.

Question 39

Communism

Answer 39

A revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning

Question 40

Fascism

Answer 40

A twentieth-century ideology - often totalitarian - that exalts the national collective united behind and absolute ruler. Fascism rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.

Question 41

Hispanic

Answer 41

Someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish-speaking country. The term is used only in the US or other countries that receive immigrants - Spanish-speaking people in Spanish -speaking countries do not usually apply this term to themselves.