AP US GoPo - Chapter 1: Introducing Govt. in America

the institutions by which public policies are made for a society

goods/services, such as clean air and clean water, that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone

the process of determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue

ways in which citizens attempt to influence selection of politicians and policies

groups that have a narrow interest; numbers have uncompromising stance

the process by which policy comes into being and evolves. peoples interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for govt. policymakers

issues that attract serious attention of the public officials/ politicians

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

branches of govt. in charge of taking action on political issues

includes congress, presidency, the courts, and bureaucracy

a choice the govt. makes in response to a political issue

the effects a policy has on people/problems.

impacts are analyzed to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost

law passed by congress

decision made by president

opinion by supreme court or other court

legislative enactment of taxes and expenditures

agency adoption of regulation

a system of selecting policymakers and organizing govt. so that the policy represents and responds to the publics preferences

choosing among alternatives requires that the majority’s desire be respected

guarantees rights to those who do not belong to the majority

describes the relationship between the few leaders and many followers

policymaking is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group dominating

public interest generally prevails

theory that an upperclass elite holds the power and makes policies, regardless of formal govt. organization

theory that groups are so strong that the govt., which gives in to the groups, is thereby weakened

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

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

the sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year, in a nation