AP Government Ch. 1

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 in regard to some problem.

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 majorities rights 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.

traditional democratic theory

A theory about how a democratic government makes its decisions. According to Robert Dahl, its cornerstones are equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, final control over the agenda and inclusion.

hyperpluralism

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

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 governmental organization.

individualism

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

policymaking institutions

The branches of goverment charged with taking action on political issues. The US Constitution established three-- Congress, the presidency, and the courts. Today, the bureaucracy is considered a fourth due to its power and influence.

linkage institutions

The channels or access points through which issues and people's policy references get on the government's policy agenda. (elections, parties, interest groups)

policy impacts

The effects a policy has on people and problems. Impacts are analyzed to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost.

policymaking system

The process by which political problems are communicated by the voters and acted upon by the government policymakers. Begins with people's needs and expectations for govt action. When this confrontation occurs, they are trying to influence the government's policy agenda.

GDP

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

elite

The upper class in a society that utilizes wealth for political power. They control policies because they control institutions, according to some theories.

democracy

a system of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents the public's preferences

political participation

all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders of the policies they pursue. (voting, protest, civil disobedience.)

political issue

an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and a public policy choice.

policy agenda

According to John Kingdon, "the list of subjects or problems to which government officials, and people outside of government closely associated with those officials, are paying some serious attention to at any given time,"

pluralist theory

emphasis that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its preferred policies.

public goods

goods, such as clean water and air, 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.

government

the institutions and processes through which policies are made for a society

politics

who gets what, when and how