Lesson 1: Introduction to American Politics and Democracy

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The institution that makes and enforces public policies (laws)

Question 2

Politics

Answer 2

The process of deciding who gets the benefits in society and who is excluded from the benefits (“who gets what, when, where, and how”)

Question 3

Political Science

Answer 3

The study of politics

Question 4

Linkage Institutions

Answer 4

Structures within a society that connect the people to the government in order to influence public policy

Question 5

Linkage Institutions Examples

Answer 5

Elections, Political Parties, Interest Groups, Media

Question 6

Democracy

Answer 6

Rule by the people, people partake in elections to have a say in politics and government

Question 7

Direct Democracy

Answer 7

People voting directly on policies

Question 8

Direct Democracy Example

Answer 8

Town hall meeting

Question 9

Indirect Democracy

Answer 9

Citizens choose people to represent them and decide policy issues

Question 10

Which is more common? Indirect or Direct

Answer 10

Indirect

Question 11

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 11

Citizens are the source of power in a democratic government

Question 12

Limited Government

Answer 12

Government is not all powerful

Question 13

Rule of Law

Answer 13

No one is above the law

Question 14

Natural Rights

Answer 14

Universal laws that men are born with and are unalienable

Question 15

Social Contract

Answer 15

People give up absolute freedom to a government that is created by the people and govern with the consent of the people

Question 16

Who created the idea of a social contract?

Answer 16

John Locke

Question 17

Republicanism

Answer 17

Democracy allows people to participate in elections to vote for officials to govern on their behalf

Question 18

Majority Rules with Minority Protections

Answer 18

The will of the majority should prevail but those in the minority also have rights

Question 19

Political Efficacy

Answer 19

The belief that citizens have the ability to make positive change in society

Question 20

Participatory Democracy

Answer 20

Individual participation by most/all citizens that help policymakers create laws

Question 21

What does participatory democracy look like?

Answer 21

Voting for elected officials at the national/state level or voting directly on policy at the state level

Question 22

Elite Democracy

Answer 22

Power is concentrated in a “ruling class” of rich and educated individuals

Question 23

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 23

Idea that our democracy is characterized by many organized interest groups

Question 24

Hyperpluralism

Answer 24

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is ultimately weakened due to politician’s attempt to placate various groups, many of which represent conflicting interests

Question 25

Political Ideology

Answer 25

Set of beliefs regarding politics (how a person views the role of government in society)

Question 26

Political Spectrum

Answer 26

A method used by political scientists in order to provide a visual representation of a person's political views

Question 27

Liberal

Answer 27

Government should be active in making changes thought to be unfair

Question 28

Conservative

Answer 28

Traditional policies designed to preserve the status quo led by minimal involvement from the government

Question 29

Political Polarization

Answer 29

The process by which public opinion divides and goes to the extremes

Question 30

Authoritarianism

Answer 30

Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom

Question 31

Socialism

Answer 31

Goal of Government: Equality | Role of Government: Strong government control of economy

Question 32

Liberalism

Answer 32

Goal of Government: Equality of opportunity, protection of liberty Role of Government: Gov. action to promote equality and opportunity

Question 33

Conservatism

Answer 33

Goal of Government: Traditional Vales, stability, and economic freedom Role of Government: Gov support to maintain capitalism, few regulations

Question 34

Libertarianism

Answer 34

Goal of Government: Absolute economic & social freedom | Role of Government: No gov regulation of economy, or regulation of social issues