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20 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

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

Democracy

A theory of American democracy contending that upper class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization.

Elitism

All of the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common example of this in a democracy is voting.

Political participation

Basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.

Representation

Branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. The constitution created three of these.

Policymaking institutions

Choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

Public policy

Condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done.

Policy gridlock

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

Policy impacts

Fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected.

Majority rule

Issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

Policy agenda

Overall set of values widely shared within a society.

Political culture

Process by which policy comes into being and evolves. People's interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interests, problems, and concerns.

Policymaking system

Process of determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue.

Politics

Something that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.

Political issue

The institutions through which public policies are made for a society.

Government

The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the U.S., linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Linkage institutions

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

Gross domestic product

Theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives in to many groups, is thereby weakened.

Hyperpluralism

Theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails.

Pluralism

Theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.

Minority rights