Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America

Freedom from government control

The belief that people can and should get ahead on their own.

Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs.

support for the concerns of ordinary people

the belief that all people should have equal political, economic, social, and civil rights

A measurement of the total goods and services produced within a country.

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

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

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

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

A 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.

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

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.

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

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

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

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

congress, presidency, courts, and the bureaucracy

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

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

the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

The 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.

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue.

The process determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

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

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

A government protects its national sovereignty, usually by maintaining armed forces.

schools, roads, transportations- through taxes.

Maintaining order / restoring order

Government politically socializing the young / instilling knowledge, values, customs, and national pride.