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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Government |
the formal vehicle through which policies are made and affairs of state are conducted |
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Monarchy |
a form of government in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interest of all |
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Totalitarianism |
a form of government in which power resides in a leader who rules according to self-interest and without regard for individual rights and liberties |
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Oligarchy |
a form of government in which the right to participate depends on the possession of wealth, social status, military positions, or achievement |
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Democracy |
a system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through elected representatives |
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Direct Democracy |
a system of government in which members of the polity meet to discuss all policy and then agree to abide by majority rule |
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Indirect Democracy |
a system of government that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives who work on their behalf |
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Republic |
a government rooted in the consent of the governed; a representative or indirect democracy |
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Political Culture |
commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how governments should operate |
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Personal Liberty |
a key characteristic of U.S. democracy. Initially meaning freedom from governmental interference, today it includes demands for freedom to engage in a variety of practices without governmental interference or discrimination |
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Political Equality |
The principle that all citizens are the same in the eyes of the law |
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Popular Consent |
the principle that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed |
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Majority Rule |
the central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law |
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Popular Sovereignty |
the notion that the ultimate authority in society rests with the people |
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Natural Law |
a doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason |
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Political Ideology |
the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals |
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Conservative |
one who favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs |
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Social Conservative |
one who believes that the government should support and further traditional moral teachings |
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Liberal |
one who favors greater government intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services |
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Moderate |
a person who takes a relatively centrist or middle-of-the-road view on most political issues |
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Statist |
one who believes in extensive government control of personal and economic liberties |
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Libertarian |
one who believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties |
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Politics |
the study of who gets what, when, and how - or how policy decisions are made |
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American dream |
an American ideal of a happy, successful life, which often includes wealth, a house, a better life for one's children and, for some, the opportunity to grow up to be President |
