Chapter 1 Vocabulary Flashcards
(20 cards)
Government
The institutions and processes through which public policies are made
Public Goods
Goods, such a clean air and clean water that everyone msut share
Politics
The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies the leaders pursue
Political Participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of leaders and policies.
Single Issue Groups
Groups with a narrow intrest
Policymaking System
The process that political problems are communicated by the voters and the government policymakers
Linkage Institutions
The channels or access points where peoples policy preferences get on the governments policy agenda
Policy agenda
The issues that attract public officials
Political Issue
An issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and a public policy choice
Policymaking Institutions
The branches of government charged with taking action of political issues
Public Policy
A choice that the governments make in response to a political issue
Democracy
A system of selecting policymakers and organizing the government
Majority Rule
A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alernatives requires that the majorities desire be respected
Minority Rights
A principle of traditional democratic theory that allows minorities to join majorities through persuasion
Representation
A basic principle that describes the relationship between few leaders and many followers
Plurist Theory
Emphasizes that politics are mainly competition amongst groups
Elite & Class Theory
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines
Hyperpluralism
A theory of governmentand policies contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened
Gross Domestic Product
The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation
Individualism
The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government
