gov ch 1

47. What is social capital?

"the collective value of all 'social networks' [those whom people know] and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other"—accompanies

51. What is the legal minimum voting age in the United States?

18

42. What provision of the Constitution protects freedom of speech?

1st amendment

About what proportion of Americans report participating in some form of political action in the past year?

70%

21. What are common goods?

: goods that all people may use free of charge but that are of limited supply, such as fish in the sea or clean drinking water. Because everyone can use these goods, they must be protected so a few people do not take everything that is available and leave others with nothing.

38. Who is Robert Dahl?

A pluralist who argued that politicians seeking an "electoral payoff" are attentive to the concerns of politically active citizens and, through them, become acquainted with the needs of ordinary people. They will attempt to give people what they want in exchange for their votes.

11. What is democracy?

A system of self government bby the people, rule by the many.direct (majoritarian); or indirect (representational)

41. What are some examples of tradeoffs in American government?

Abortion and creating 35 ft distance for protestors in front of abortion clinics to protect women going in for abortions a lot of freeedom of speech examples

49. What forms does civic engagement take?

Activism, volunteering, information, writing representatives, taking part in local debates, voting

8. What concept is most closely associated with Adam Smith?

Adam Smith, a Scottish philosopher who was born nineteen years after Locke's death, believed that all people should be free to acquire property in any way that they wished. Instead of being controlled by government, business, and industry, Smith argued, people should be allowed to operate as they wish and keep the proceeds of their work. Competition would ensure that prices remained low and faulty goods disappeared from the market. In this way, businesses would reap profits, consumers would have their needs satisfied, and society as a whole would prosper.

22. What do governments do?

Besides providing stability and goods and services for all, government also creates a structure by which goods and services can be made available to the people. make laws to maintain order means for citizens to participate in government

What is partisanship?

Blindly following a party because youve voted for them in the past

How does civic engagement increase the power of ordinary citizens to influence government action?

Civic engagement can increase the power of ordinary people to influence government actions. Even those without money or connections to important people can influence the policies that affect their lives and change the direction taken by government. U.S. history is filled with examples of people actively challenging the power of elites, gaining rights for themselves, and protecting their interests.

50. What is Common Cause?

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

13. Do capitalism and democracy always go together? Why or why not?

Democracy and capitalism do not have to go hand in hand, however. Indeed, one might argue that a capitalist economic system might be bad for democracy in some respects. Although Smith theorized that capitalism would lead to prosperity for all, this has not necessarily been the case. Great gaps in wealth between the owners of major businesses, industries, and financial institutions and those who work for others in exchange for wages exist in many capitalist nations. In turn, great wealth may give a very small minority great influence over the government—a greater influence than that held by the majority of the population, which will be discussed later.

18. What are private goods?

Goods and services provided by the market that are profitable

33. What is pluralist theory?

In contrast to that perspective is the pluralist theory of government, which says that political power rests with competing interest groups who share influence in government. Pluralist theorists assume that citizens who want to get involved in the system do so because of the great number of access points to government. That is, the U.S. system, with several levels and branches, has many places where people and groups can engage the government.

23. How do people influence the actions of government in the United States?

In the United States, citizens play an important role in influencing what policies are pursued, what values the government chooses to support, what initiatives are granted funding, and who gets to make the final decisions. Political

58. Are younger voters more likely to identify as Republican, Democrat, or independent?

Independent

62. What is the difference between latent preferences and intense preferences?

Latent preferences are not deeply held and do not remain the same over time. They may not even represent a person's true feelings, since they may be formed on the spot when someone is asked a question about which he or she has no real opinion. Indeed, voting itself may reflect merely a latent preference because even people who do not feel strongly about a particular political candidate or issue vote. On the other hand, intense preferences are based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time. People with intense preferences tend to become more engaged in politics; they are more likely to donate time and money to campaigns or to attend political rallies. The more money that one has and the more highly educated one is, the more likely that he or she will form intense preferences and take political action.39

55. Are younger or older people more likely to report participation in some form of political activity?

Less Likely

32. What is elite theory?

Many Americans fear that a set of elite citizens is really in charge of government in the United States and that others have no influence. This belief is called the elite theory of government.

44. Why are tradeoffs common in the U.S. Congress?

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives usually vote according to the concerns of people who live in their districts. Not only does this often pit the interests of people in different parts of the country against one another, but it also frequently favors the interests of certain groups of people over the interests of others within the same state

19. What are public goods?

Not charged, like education and national security

31. What sorts of governments are in Cuba, China, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea?

Oligarchy and totalitarianism

56. Why are younger Americans less likely to become involved in some form of traditional political organization?

Partisanship, dont feel like the topics are relevant to their lives

12. Why is representative democracy often associated with capitalism?

Representative government and capitalism developed together in the United States, and many Americans tend to equate democracy, a political system in which people govern themselves, with capitalism. In theory, a democratic government promotes individualism and the freedom to act as one chooses instead of being controlled, for good or bad, by government. Capitalism, in turn, relies on individualism. At the same time, successful capitalists prefer political systems over which they can exert at least some influence in order to maintain their liberty

15. What is socialism?

Socialism is an alternative economic system. In socialist societies, the means of generating wealth, such as factories, large farms, and banks, are owned by the government and not by private individuals. The government accumulates wealth and then redistributes it to citizens, primarily in the form of social programs that provide such things as free or inexpensive health care, education, and childcare. In socialist countries, the government also usually owns and controls utilities such as electricity, transportation systems like airlines and railroads, and telecommunications systems.

25. What is a representative democracy?

The government of the United States can best be described as a republic, or representative democracy. A democracy is a government in which political power—influence over institutions, leaders, and policies—rests in the hands of the people. In a representative democracy, however, the citizens do not govern directly. Instead, they elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people.

what is government

The institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled. The system of people, laws, and officials that define and control the country in which you live. describes the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that the society as a whole needs.

20. What are toll goods?

Toll goods are available to many people, and many people can make use of them, but only if they can pay the price. They occupy a middle ground between public and private goods. Ex. public school

40. What is the tradeoffs perspective?

Trying to balance the interests of both groups, kind of like compromise In the end, the interests of both the elite and the people likely influence government action, and compromises will often attempt to please them both. a form of comflict resolution

What was the significance of McCullen v. Coakley?

U.S. Supreme Court struck down the law that created a buffer zone between protestors and clinic entrances.

. What is The Power Elite?

a small group of wealthy and influential people at the top of society who hold the power and resources

what are goals of government

accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that the society as a whole needs. Among the goals that governments around the world seek to accomplish are economic prosperity for the nation, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens. seek to accomplish are economic prosperity for the nation, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens. Governments also provide benefits for their citizens. The type of benefits provided differ according to the country and their specific type of governmental system, but governments commonly provide such things as education, health care, and an infrastructure for transportation.

7. What political concepts are associated with John Locke?

all people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. From this came the idea that people should be free to consent to being governed.

why are forms of gov systems sometimes confused w economic systems

because certain types of political thought or governmental organization are closely related to or develop with certain types of economic systems. For example, the economic system of capitalism in Western Europe and North America developed at roughly the same time as ideas about democratic republics, self-government, and natural rights. At this time, the idea of liberty became an important concept.

what is "who governs"?

book written by dahl, who was one of the first to advance the pluralist theory, and argued that politicians seeking an "electoral payoff" are attentive to the concerns of politically active citizens and, through them, become acquainted with the needs of ordinary people. They will attempt to give people what they want in exchange for their votes.17

what economic system is often associated w democracy

capitalism

28. What is a direct democracy?

democracy, people participate directly in making government decisions.

. Are younger voters who do identify with a political party more likely to support the Democrats or Republicans?

democrats

61. What is ideology?

established beliefs and ideals that help shape political policy—of one of the major parties.

35. According to Mills, who controls the government?

few people, the power elite by a combination of business, military, and political elites.6 Most are highly educated, often graduating from prestigious universities

45. Who is Robert Putnam?

has argued that civic engagement is declining; although many Americans may report belonging to groups, these groups are usually large, impersonal ones with thousands of members. membership, including increased participation by women in the workforce, a decrease in the number of marriages and an increase in divorces, and the effect of technological developments, such as the internet, that separate people by allowing them to feel connected to others without having to spend time in their presence

10. What are the characteristics of capitalism?

individualism, limited government control and influence

What is the subject of the book Wealth of Nations?

industrial capitalism

60. Do young people tend to identify as liberal or conservative?

liberal

29. What is monarchy? What is an example of a monarchy today?

one ruler, usually a hereditary ruler, holds political power. Although the power of some monarchs is limited by law, and such kings and queens often rule along with an elected legislature that makes laws for the country, this is not always the case.Many southwest Asian kingdoms, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, have absolute monarchs whose power is unrestricted.

37. What evidence is there that an elite control American politics?

one-third of U.S. presidents have attended Ivy League schools, a much higher percentage than the rest of the U.S. population.8 All five of the most recent U.S. presidents attended Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Yale, or Columbia. Among members of the House of Representatives, 95 percent have a bachelor's degree, as do 100 percent of members of the Senate.9 Fewer than 40 percent of U.S. adults have even an associate's degree.10 The majority of the men and women in Congress also engaged in either state or local politics, were business people, or practiced law before being elected to Congress.11 Approximately 75 percent of both the Senate and the House of Representatives are male, and about 21 percent of members of Congress are people of color.12 The nation's laws are made primarily by well-educated white male professionals and businessmen. Currently, about 40 percent of the members of Congress are millionaires; twelve members hold over half of the Congress's collective net worth.13 As of 2009, approximately 38 percent of Congress sent their children to private schools. Overall, only 11 percent of the American population did so.14 Therefore, a Congress dominated by millionaires who send their children to private schools is more likely to believe that flat taxes are fair and that increased funding for public education is not a necessity. Their experience, however, does not reflect the experience of average Americans.

16. What is an oligarchy?

only members of a certain political party or ruling elite can participate in government. For example, in China, the government is run by members of the Chinese Communist Party.

46. What is civic engagement?

participation in government and politics

27. What is the concept of minority rights?

people cannot be deprived of certain rights even if an overwhelming number of people think that they should be. For example, let's say American society decided that atheists, people who do not believe that God exists, were evil and should be imprisoned or expelled from the country. Even though atheists only account for about 7 percent of the population, they would be protected due to minority rights.4 Even though the number of Americans who believe in God far outweighs the number who do not, the minority is still protected. Because decisions are made through majority rule, making your opinions known and voting for those men and women who make decisions that affect all of us are critical and influential forms of civic engagement in a representative democracy such as the United States.

53. What is civil disobedience?

protests and demonstrations

who was john locke

scholar of the social contract theory. wrote treatise of government. men make agreements (social contracts) with eachother. liberalism- government protext order. he originated the concepts of life, libery and property as enshrined in us constitution. believed we should give power to authority, if authority failts to protext, the people can justly break this contract. first to claim that government's power comes from the people they rule.

34. Who is C. Wright Mills?

supporter of elite theory. believed few people control the military, economy, and government. these few tend to know one another and make up the group "the power elite"

what is politics

the constant strive to resolve SOCIAL CONFLICT. the process of gaining and exercising control within a government for the purpose of setting and achieving particular goals, especially those related to the division of resources within a nation. Put more simply, politics is the process of who gets what and how. Politics involves choosing which values government will support and which it will not.

30. What is totalitarianism? What is an example of a totalitarian government today?

the government is more important than the citizens, and it controls all aspects of citizens' lives. Citizens' rights are limited, and the government does not allow political criticism or opposition. These forms of government are fairly rare. North Korea is an example of a totalitarian government.

26. What is majority rule?

the opinions of the majority of the people have more influence with government than those of the minority. If

24. What is political power?

—influence over institutions, leaders, and policies—rests