Week 1 Vocabulary

Front 1

Conservative

Back 1

One who favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs.

Front 2

Democracy

Back 2

A system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or though elected representatives.

Front 3

Elite Theory

Back 3

The majority of political power and influence is held by a small number of individuals, groups, and industries.

Front 4

Government

Back 4

The formal vehicle through which policies are made and affairs of state are conducted.

Front 5

Hyper-Pluralistic Theory

Back 5

People who share interests form groups to advance their causes.

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Liberal

Back 6

One who favors greater government intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services.

Front 7

Linkage Institutions

Back 7

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

Front 8

Monarchy

Back 8

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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Nation

Back 9

A large aggregate of people united by a common descent, history, culture, or language inhabiting a particular country or territory.

Front 10

Natural Law

Back 10

Society should already be adhering to certain ethical principles which are reasonably understandable because they come from the natural needs of humans.

Front 11

Oligarchy

Back 11

A form of government in which the right to participate depends on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement.

Front 12

Parliamentary System

Back 12

A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.

Front 13

Pluralist Theory

Back 13

The theory that political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups.

Front 14

Policy Gridlock

Back 14

The larger number and diversity of interest groups coupled with the decentralized nature of government makes it easy to prevent policy formulation and implementation.

Front 15

Policy Making Cycle

Back 15

The cycle in which the development of a government policy is born. Identify the problem, react to the problem, create a solution to the problem, repeat.

Front 16

Political Culture

Back 16

Commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate.

Front 17

Political Ideology

Back 17

The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals.

Front 18

Politics

Back 18

The study of who gets what, when, and how--or how policy decisions are made.

Front 19

Popular Sovereignty

Back 19

The notion that the ultimate authority in society rests with the people.

Front 20

Positive Law

Back 20

Statutes that have been laid down by a legislature, court, or other human institution and which can take whatever form the authors want.

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Public Policy

Back 21

The course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem.

Front 22

Republic

Back 22

A government rooted in the consent of the governed; a representative or indirect democracy.

Front 23

State

Back 23

A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

Front 24

Statist

Back 24

One who believes in extensive government control of personal and economic liberties.

Front 25

Totalitarianism

Back 25

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.