Unit 1: chapter 1 vocab Flashcards
politics
the process of influencing the actions and policies of a government
government
the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking
democracy
a system of government in which power is held by the people
natural rights (inalienable rights)
the right to life, liberty, and pursitue of happiness, which government cannot take away
*rights your born with
social contract
people allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society
American poltical culture
the set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share
popular sovereignty
the governments right to rule comes from the people
republicanism
a system in which the government’s authority comes from the people
*part of the American Political Culture
liberty
social, political, and economical freedoms
partcipatory democracy
theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government
widespread participation in government
pularist democracy
a theory of democracy that empathizes the role of groups in the policymaking process
*power in numbers
elitist theory
a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process
*those with most economic power control the government
political institutions
the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judicary
constitutional republic
democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law
*we elect people to vote in our favor (faster than 300mil voting)
civil society groups
independent associations outside the government’s control
