Unit 1 Flashcards
(23 cards)
government
the institutes through which public policies are created for a certain society
public goods
goods and services provided for the public (i.e. schools, highways)
collective goods
public goods that by principle cannot be denied to anyone (i.e. clean air)
politics
the process through which governmental leaders and the policies they push for are chosen
political participation
the activities people take part in to influence what leaders are chosen and the policies they pursue (i.e. voting, protests)
single-issue groups
groups concerned solely with a single issue; often unwilling to compromise and generally vote because of that one issue
policymaking system
the process through which policy is made and evolves
linkage institutions
the means through which concerns of the people are brought to the attention of policymakers and become issues on the policy agenda
policy agenda
the issues that are prioritized (because of the public’s desires) by public officials at a certain time; the political issues that will lead to public policies or the discussion of the creation thereof
political issue
issue caused by disagreement about a problem/how to fix it
policymaking institutions
branches of government in charge of taking action on political issues; in America, Congress, the presidency, the courts, and according to some the bureaucracy are all policymaking institutions
public policy
a decision made by a policymaking institution on a political issue
policy impacts
effects a policy has on people/problems
democracy
a system of government and choosing policymakers that is reliant on the preferences of the public
majority rule
policies reflect the will of the majority of voters; the majority will more often be right than wrong
minority rights
minorities have the same rights as majorities, including the right and opportunity to become the majority
representation
“to make present once again;” the relationship between the few leaders and the general population; the desires of the people are reflected in the government
pluralist theory
policymaking processes are open to the participation of all groups; no one group dominates all (no “majorities,” just coalitions of minorities)
elite and class theory
the upper-class/wealthy elite hold all of the power and make policy (think corporations); government organization is disregarded
hyperpluralism
groups are so strong that government is weakened; the gov. gives in to too many groups so policies are weak or never made; there are so many groups that a majority rarely if ever forms and policy gridlock is common
policy gridlock
when interests conflict and no majority can form to establish a policy so nothing gets done
political culture
the overall set of values widely shared within a society
gross domestic product (gdp)
the total value of all of the goods and services produced annually in a certain place (gen. country)
