AP Gov Chapter 1

Hyperpluralism

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. This is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism.

Elite and Class Theory

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of the governmental organization

Pluralist Theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Policymaking System

the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. people's interests, problems, and concers create political issues for government policymakers. these issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interests, problems, and concerns.

Government

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society

Politics

The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

Authority

The right to use power

Gross Domestic Product

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation

Democracy

A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.

Representation

A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.

Public Policy

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem

Bureaucrats

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials. The department and agencies of the U.S. government make up the federal bureacracy

Direct/Participatory Democracy

A political system in which all of most citizens participate directly by either holding office or making policy. The town meeting, in which citizens vote on major issues, is an example of participatory democracy.

Representative Democracy

A political system in which leaders and representatives acquire political power by means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote. This is the form of government used by nations that are called democratic.

Political Participation

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. Voting is the most common but not the only means of political participation in a democracy. Other means include protest and civil disobedience.

Elite

An identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource- such as money or political power

Political Issues

An issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.

Public Goods

Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share

Single-Issue Groups

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. These features distinguish them from traditional interest groups.

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law, public opinion, or constitution

Power

The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions.

Individualism

The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is the prominence of this belief in American political thought and practice.

Policymaking Institutions

The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. The U.S. Constitution established three policymaking institutions-the congress, the presidency, and the courts. Today, the power of the bureaucracy is so great that most political scientist consider it a fourth policy making institution

Policy Gridlock

a condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. the result is that nothing may get done.

Majority Rule

a fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. in a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected.

Minority Rights

a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument

Marxists

people who believe that those who control the economic system also control the political one

Policy Agenda

the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time

Linkage Institutions

the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. in the united states, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.