Goverment Ch. 1

Public policy

A choice that government makes in response to some issue on its agenda.

Democracy

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

Single-issue groups

Groups so concerned with one matter that their members cast their votes on the basis of that issue only.

Policymaking system

Institutions of government designed to respond to each other and to the priorities of the people by governmental action.

Policymaking institutions

Institutions such as Congress, the presidency, and courts established by the Constitution to make policy.

Linkage institutions

Institutions such as parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.

Government

Institutions that make public policy for a society.

Minority rights

Protecting the rights and freedoms of the minority in choosing among policy alternatives.

Policy impacts

The effects a policy has on people and problems.

Policy agenda

The list of subjects or problems to which people inside and outside government are paying serious attention at any given time.

Representation

The relationship between the leaders and the followers.

Political participation

The ways in which people get involved in politics.

Majority rule

Weighing the desires of the majority in choosing among policy alternatives

Policy gridlock

Where each interest uses its influence to thwart policies it opposes so that no coalition forms a majority to establish policy.

Elite and class theory

argues that society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite rules on the basis of its wealth.

Political culture

An overall set of values widely shared within a society.

Pluralist theory

Argues that there are many centers of influence in which groups compete with one another for control over public policy through bargaining and compromise.

Hyperpluralism

Argues that too many strong influential groups cripple the government's ability to make coherent policy by dividing government and its authority.

Political issue

Arises when people disagree about a problem or about public policy choices made to combat a problem.

Politics

Determines whom we select as our government leaders and what policies they pursue; in other words, who gets what, when, and how.