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Authoritarian Government
a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions
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Autocracy
a form of government in which a single individual—a king, queen, or dictator—rules
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Citizenship
informed and active membership in a political community
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Constitutional Government
a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government
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Democracy
a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials
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Direct Democracy
a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies
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Equality of opportunity
a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
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Government
institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled
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Laissez-faire capitalism
an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference
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Liberty
freedom from governmental control.
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Limited government
a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution
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Majority rule
minority rights
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Oligarchy
a form of government in which a small group—landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants—controls most of the governing decisions
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Pluralism
the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation
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Political culture
broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy
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Political efficacy
the ability to influence government and politics
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Political equality
the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"
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Politics
conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments
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Popular soverignty
a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people
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Power
influence over a government’s leadership, organization, or policies
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Representative democracy/republic
a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
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Totalitarian Government
a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it
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