Chapter 1

Individualism

A commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.

Democracy

A form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.

Party (partisan) polarization

Conflicts between political parties outlined by divisions on major issues.

Public policies

Decisions of government to pursue particular courses of action.

America's commitment to the principal of constitutionalism means that the majority has the power to decide any policy issue of its choosing.

False

American's political culture includes the idea of elitism- the notion that some people are inherently superior to others.

False

Cultural beliefs are based on wishful thinking and serve no useful purpose for society.

False

In a free-market system, the allocation of economic benefits and costs is determined primarily by interactions between a private party and government.

False

In the United States, as compared with most other democracies, corporations are relatively weak in terms of their political influence and control over what is happening in the workplace.

False

Most citizens are highly informed about politics.

False

Political thinking

Reflective thinking focused on deciding what can reasonably be believed and then using this information to make political judgments.

Free-market system

System by which firms are largely free to make their own production, distribution, and pricing decisions, and individuals depend largely on themselves for economic security.

Power

The ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.

Constitutionalism

The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government's power.

Corporate Power

The influence that firms have with policy makers.

Politics

The means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs.

Equality

The notion that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and thereby entitled to equal treatment under the law.

Public policy process

The political interactions that result in policies. 3 Stages: 1. Problem recognition 2. Policy formulation 3. Policy implementation.

Elitism

The power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals.

Liberty

The principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the freedom and well-being of others.

Self-government

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of governing authority and should have a voice in their governing.

Authority

The recognized right of officials to exercise power.

Political science

The systematic study of government and politics.

Legal action

The use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests. A channel through which ordinary citizens exercise power.

Political culture

The widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of a country's people about politics.

An obstacle to Majoritarianism is the fact that the general public pays little attention to most policy issues.

True

Authority can be defined as the recognized right of officials to make binding decisions.

True

Compared with citizens in European democracies, Americans are less willing to use government as a means of redistributing economic benefits from wealthier people to poorer people.

True

When people are able to control policy decisions and prevail in political conflicts they are said to have political power.

True

Majoritarianism

When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority.

Pluralism

When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the special interest groups.