Unit 1- Understanding American Politics

Question 1

Democracy

Answer 1

Complicated policy decisions left to elected leaders, citizens monitor what they do and choose who they want

Question 2

Nature of Politics

Answer 2

Politics is conflictual, political process matters, politics is everywhere

Question 3

Government

Answer 3

The system for implementing decisions made through the political process

Question 4

Constitution Preamble

Answer 4

“provide for the common defense” “insure domestic tranquility”

Question 5

Factions

Answer 5

Groups of like-minded people who try o influence the government. American government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups

Question 6

Separation of Powers

Answer 6

The division of government power across the judicial, executive, and legislative branches

Question 7

Checks and Balances

Answer 7

A system in which each branch of government has some power over the others

Question 8

Federalism

Answer 8

The division of power across the local, state, and national levels of government

Question 9

Public Goods

Answer 9

Services or actions (such as protecting the environment) that, once provided to one person, becomes available to everyone. Government is typically needed to provide public goods because they will be under-provided by the free market

Question 10

Free Rider Problem

Answer 10

The incentive to benefit from others’ work without making a contribution, which leads individuals in a collective action situation refuse to work together

Question 11

Natural Rights

Answer 11

Rights everyone is born with

Question 12

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 12

Power comes from the people

Question 13

Social Contract

Answer 13

People allow the government to rule so there is order and society continues to function well. If the government does not provide enough, the people have the right to overthrow it

Question 14

Consent of the Governed

Answer 14

The people agree and get to approve of who leads them

Question 15

Limited Government

Answer 15

The government’s power is restricted to protect individual rights and liberty

Question 16

Republicanism

Answer 16

Government officials are elected

Question 17

Preamble of Declaration of Independence

Answer 17

Explains why it was written, assertion of individual rights, failure to protect gifts—overthrow, can’t change for small (transient) reasons

Question 18

Grievances of Declaration of Independence

Answer 18

27 reasons for declaring independence; lack of self government and taxation

Question 19

Politics is Conflictual

Answer 19

There is a lot of disagreement

Question 20

Political Process Matters

Answer 20

Actions all deliberate from elected officials and bureaucrats; rules and procedures determine who has power

Question 21

Politics are Everywhere

Answer 21

Influences everyone’s everyday lives

Question 22

Participatory Democracy

Answer 22

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

Question 23

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 23

Recognizes group-based activism by non-governmental interests striving fro impact on political decision making

Question 24

Elite Democracy

Answer 24

Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society

Question 25

Free Market

Answer 25

An economic system based on competition among business without government interfernece

Question 26

Redistributive Tax Policies

Answer 26

Policies, generally favored by Democratic politicians, that use taxation to attempt to create social equality (for example, higher taxation of the rich to provide programs for the poor)