Chapter 1 The Democratic Republic (Govt)

Front 1

Which of the following is an example of a direct democracy?

Back 1

New England Town Meetings

Front 2

Popular sovereignty is:

Back 2

The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people

Front 3

___is one of our most prized liberties, because democracy could not endure with out it.

Back 3

Freedom of speech

Front 4

The institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocates benefits and privileges is known as:

Back 4

Government

Front 5

Totalitarianism means:

Back 5

The Government controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation

Front 6

The right and power of a government to enforce its decisions and compel obedience is known as:

Back 6

Authority

Front 7

Oldest purpose of government is:

Back 7

Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activities

Front 8

The political groups that people organize into:

Back 8

Usually are intended to influence the system and affect changes in public policy

Front 9

Majoritarianism

Back 9

The government should do what the majority of the people want

Front 10

The theory that politics involves conflict among interest groups using bargaining and compromise is know as:

Back 10

Pluralism

Front 11

Anarchy

Back 11

The absence of any form of government or political authority.

Front 12

Aristocracy

Back 12

Rule by the "best", in reality, rule by an upper class

Front 13

Authoritarianism

Back 13

A type of regime in which only the government is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government's control

Front 14

Capitalism

Back 14

An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract

Front 15

Communism

Back 15

A revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning

Front 16

Constant of People

Back 16

The idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the constant of the governed

Front 17

Conservatism

Back 17

A set of belief that includes a limited vote for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change

Front 18

Democracy

Back 18

A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. Derived from the Greek word "demos" -- the people; and "kratos" -- authority

Front 19

Democratic Republic

Back 19

A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies

Front 20

Direct Democracy

Back 20

A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities

Front 21

Dominant Culture

Back 21

The values, customs, and language established by the group or groups that traditionally have controlled politics and government in a society

Front 22

Elite Theory

Back 22

A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further self-interest

Front 23

Eminent Domain

Back 23

A power set forth in the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution that allows government to take private property for public use under the condition that just compensation is offered to the landowner

Front 24

Equality

Back 24

As a political value; all people are of equal worth

Front 25

Fascism

Back 25

A 20th century ideology often totalitarian that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler. Fascism rejects liberal individualism values action over rational deliberation and glorifies war

Front 26

Hispanic

Back 26

Someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish speaking country (other than Spain). The term is used only in the US or other countries that receive immigrants. Spanish speaking countries do not normally apply the term to themselves

Front 27

Ideology

Back 27

A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government

Front 28

Initiative

Back 28

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment

Front 29

Institution

Back 29

An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society

Front 30

Legislature

Back 30

A governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws

Front 31

Legitimacy

Back 31

Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority

Front 32

Liberalism

Back 32

A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of an individual, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change

Front 33

Libertarianism

Back 33

A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government activities

Front 34

Liberty

Back 34

The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society

Front 35

Limited Government

Back 35

The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually be institutional checks

Front 36

Majority

Back 36

More than 50%

Front 37

Majority rule

Back 37

A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies

Front 38

Oligarchy

Back 38

Rule by few in their own interest

Front 39

Order

Back 39

A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government

Front 40

Political Culture

Back 40

The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation

Front 41

Political Socialization

Back 41

The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. Families and educational systems are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process

Front 42

Politics

Back 42

The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges

Front 43

Property

Back 43

Anything that is or maybe subject to ownership. As conceived by the political philosopher John Locke, the right to property is a natural right superior to human law. (Laws made by government)

Front 44

Recall

Back 44

A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from the state office before his/her term had expired

Front 45

Referendum

Back 45

An electoral device where by legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval

Front 46

Representative Democracy

Back 46

A form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role

Front 47

Republic

Back 47

A form of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, as opposed to a King or Monarch

Front 48

Socialism

Back 48

A political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major business were taken over by the government or by an employee

Front 49

Universal Suffrage

Back 49

The right of all adults to vote for their representative

Front 50

Politics is the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.
T_F

Back 50

True

Front 51

Governments oldest purpose is:

Back 51

Maintaining Order

Front 52

The New England town meeting is an example of direct democracy.
T_F

Back 52

True

Front 53

According to the Framers of the Constitution, direct democracy was:

Back 53

Dangerous, because of the likelihood that it would lead to mob rule

Front 54

____is the view that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest.

Back 54

Elite Theory

Front 55

Pluralism:

Back 55

is a theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups involving bargaining and compromise.

Front 56

The dominant culture in the United States is characterized by:

Back 56

individualism and private property

Front 57

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S government:

Back 57

emphasized security over liberty.

Front 58

In terms of political ideology, ______ oppose governmental regulation of personal behavior and the economy as well as attempts to promote moral values to redistribute income

Back 58

libertarians

Front 59

According to the most recent data, people from ____ are the largest percentage of immigrants into the United States.

Back 59

Mexico

Front 60

The Declaration of Independence:

Back 60

identified the colonist' reasons for wanting independence from Britain

Front 61

President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and President George W. Bush's decision to allow a foreign company to operate several American ports are examples of the exercise of:

Back 61

inherent powers

Front 62

The _____ prohibits the creation of a state-supported religion.

Back 62

establishment clause

Front 63

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967:

Back 63

prohibits age discrimination against people without a valid occupational reason

Front 64

Push polls:

Back 64

give misleading information in order to persuade respondents to vote against a candidate

Front 65

Interest groups attain reputation for being powerful through their willingness to formally link themselves to a specific party.
T_F

Back 65

False

Front 66

Recently, cultural issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, have:

Back 66

increased in importance in defining the differences between the parties.

Front 67

When no presidential candidate gets a majority of the vote in the Electoral College:

Back 67

the election is decided by the U.S House of Representatives.

Front 68

To win elections today, candidates seek to capture all of the votes of their party's supporters, majority of the independent voters, and a few votes from supporters of the other party.
T_F

Back 68

True

Front 69

Broadcast radio and television have full First Amendment protections.
T_F

Back 69

False

Front 70

The allocation of seats to each state in the U.S House of Representatives after each census is known as:

Back 70

reapportionment

Front 71

To be elected president, a candidate must receive:

Back 71

a majority of the electoral college vote

Front 72

The ____ is based on the selection and promotion of government employees on the basis of examinations

Back 72

merit system

Front 73

The Supreme Court reviews less than one-half of 1 percent of the total number of cases that are decided each year.
T_F

Back 73

True

Front 74

All of the following steps EXCEPT ____ are part of the policy making process.

Back 74

policy adjustment

Front 75

Recessions:

Back 75

occur when the economy shrinks for at least six months

Front 76

American isolationism came to an end with the bombing of the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
T_F

Back 76

True

Front 77

The first woman governor to win re-election (in 1932) was:

Back 77

Ma Ferguson

Front 78

The constitution of 1876 provided for all of the following, EXCEPT:

Back 78

a powerful chief executive

Front 79

The publication that contains rules, regulations, and notices of Texas state agencies is the:

Back 79

Texas Register

Front 80

A broad-based coalition with the primary purpose of winning elections is a(n):

Back 80

political party

Front 81

Special elections in Texas are held for all of the following purposes, EXCEPT:

Back 81

confirming a governor's appointment

Front 82

A role of the Texas governor NOT based on the constitution is that of:

Back 82

chief of party

Front 83

Probably the most controversial issue with regard to judges in Texas is that of:

Back 83

campaign financing

Front 84

Publicly financed schools in Texas which are exempt from most state regulations are:

Back 84

charter schools

Front 85

The most numerous form of local governmental in Texas and the U.S. is:

Back 85

special district