chapter 1 terms

those who were involved in establishing the U.S., whether at the time of the Decl of Indep. or the writing of the Constitution

theory that gov has only the authority accorded it by the consent of the governed.

system of gov. in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them either directly or indirectly through elected representatives

goal of democracy, whereby average people have control of the institutions of gov.

idea that a numerical majority of a group should hold the power to make decisions binding on the whole group; a simple majority

government by a mod or mass of people with no formal authority whatsoever

political value that cherishes freedom from an arbitrary exercise of power that constricts individual choice

political value in which the rule of law is followed and does not permit actions that infringe on the well-being of others

legal system with known rules that are enforced equally against all people

idea that the majority should not be able to take certain fundamental rights away from those in the minority

system of gov in which people set up an agree on the basic rules and procedures that will govern them

those who were involved in writing the constitution

natural rights that government cannot take away

form of democracy in which political power is exercised directly by citizens

form of democracy in which citizens elect public officials to make political decisions and formulate laws on their behalf

form of gov. in which power derives from citizens, but public officials make policy and govern according to existing law

defined by madison as any group that places its own interests above the aggregate interests of society

concern for one's own advantage and well-being

concern for the well-being of society and the nation as a whole

makes the laws

enforces the laws

interprets the laws

gov structure in which authority is divided among branches with each holding separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility

gov structure that authorizes each branch to share powers with the other branches, holding some control over the other branches

system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between nation and state governments

two political schools of thought or perspectives on what constituted good government

broad coalitions of interests organized to win elections in order to enact a commonly supported set of public policies

process by which people make decisions about who gets what, when and how

set of consistent political beliefs

individuals who have faith in gov. to improve people's lives, believing that private efforts are insufficient. in the social sphere, liberals usually support diverse lifestyles and tend to oppose and gov. action that seeks to shape personal choices

individuals who distrust gover, believing that private efforts are more like to improve people's lives. in the social sphere, they usually support traditional lifestyles and tend to believe gov can play a valuable role in shaping personal choices

individuals who are in the middle of the ideological spectrum and do not hold consistently strong views about whether gov should be involved in people's lives

those who generally believe that gov should refrain from acting to regulate either the economy or moral values

those who oppose concentrated wealth and adhere to traditional moral values

set of beliefs common to a group of people

set of beliefs holding that people, and not government are responsible for their own well-being

economic system in which businesses and key industries are privately owned and in which individuals acting on their own or with others, are free to create businesses

economic system in which the gov owns major industries

belief in human equality that disdains inherited titles of nobility and even inherited wealth

intentional actions of gov designed to achieve some goal

first stage in the policy-making process in which a problem in politics, the economy, or society is recognized as warranting gov. action

stage in the policy-making process in which a problem gets the attention of policy makers

group of citizens who share a common interest- a plitical opinion, religious or ideological belief, social goal, or economic characteristic-and try to influence public polocy to benefit themselves

participants in the policy-making system who each seek to influence the content and direction of legislation

stage of the policy-making process in which those with a stake in the policy area propose and develop solutions to the problem that has been identifies

stage in the policy-making process in which congress passes a law that authorizes a specific governmental response to a problem

stage in the policy-making process in which the executive branch develops the rules that will put a policy into action

stage in the policy-making process in which a policy is evaluated for its effectiveness and efficiency; if changes are needed, the issue is placed back on the policy agenda

small handful of decision makers who hold authority over a large set of issues

system of policy making in which competing interests hold authority over issues most important to them

system of policy making in which those with numerical majority hold authority

idea that gov. should implement laws and policies that reflect the wishes of the public and any changes in those wishes

idea that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and so must be equal in treatment under the law and have equal access to the decision-making process

system of gov in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual ruler

system of gov in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few, usually wealthy individuals

system of gov that assigns power to a single person who inherits that position and rules until death

goods or benefits provided by gov from which everyone benefits and from which no one can be excluded

goods or benefits provided by gov; most of the benefit falls to the individuals or families receiving them

idea of representation that says elected officials should do what they think best, even if the public disagrees, and elections allow the public to render a judgment on their decisions

idea of representation that says elected officials should do what the public wants and not exercise independent judgment

idea that holds people should have equal amounts of influence in the political system

expectation that citizens may not be discriminated against on account of race, gender, or national background, and that every citizen should have an equal chance to succeed in life

expectation that equality is achieved if results are comparable for all citizens regardless of race, gender, or national background, or that such groups are proportionally represented in measures of success in life

voluntary organizations that allow communities to flourish