Senior Year! > AP Gov: Chapter 1 > Flashcards

AP Gov: Chapter 1 Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

Politics

A

The process of resolving conflict & deciding
“who gets what, when,& how”

  • The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges.
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2
Q

Government

A

The preeminent institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits & privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority in society.

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3
Q

Institution

A

An ongoing organization that preforms certain functions for society.

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4
Q

Why is government nessacary?

A

To provide public goods & services that all citizens need but cannot reasonably provide themselves.

  • National security & defense
  • Rule of law
  • Courts = the justice system
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5
Q

Divine Right of Kings

A

A political & religious doctrine that asserts a monarch’s legitimacy is conferred directly by God &, as such, a king is not subject to any earthly authority, including his people & church.

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6
Q

Social Contract

A

A theory of politics that asserts that individuals form political communities by a process of mutual consent, giving up a measure of their individual liberty in order to gain the protection of gov.

  • Hobbes: without gov humans would have to fight over necessities
  • Locke: all humans have internal code of conduct, basic survival granted
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7
Q

Political Culture

A

The set of ideas, values, & ways of thinking about gov & politics that is shared by all citizens.

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8
Q

Political Socialization

A

The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes & form opinions about social issues.

  • Family & education are important
  • National culture
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9
Q

Liberty

A

The freedom of individuals to act, think, and believe according to their own will, free from oppressive restrictions imposed by government authority.

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10
Q

Order

A

A state of peace & security.

  • Maintain order by protecting members of society from violence & criminal activity is the oldest purpose of gov.
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11
Q

Rule of Law

A

The principle that all indivduals & instituions including the gov, are accountable to & subject to the law, which is fair, public, & eqaully enforced.

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12
Q

Individualism

A

Asserts that one of the primary functions of gov is to enable individual’s opportunities for personal fulfillment & development.

  • Value individual over verdict
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13
Q

Equality

A

As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth

  • Enlightenment philosophers did not define all individuals as full persons, the 3/5 & married women (ex.)
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14
Q

Property

A

Anything that is or may be subject to ownership.

  • John Locke said that this is a natural right to human law.
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15
Q

Capitalism

A

An economic system where private individuals or businesses own the means of production & operate them for profit in a free market driven by supply & demand.

  • Factories & resources
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16
Q

Eminent Domain

A

A power in the 5th Amendment that allows gov to take private property for public use under the condition that just compensation is offered to the landowner.

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17
Q

Totalitarian Regime

A

A form of gov that controls all aspects of the political & social life of a nation.

  • Ex. North Korea, has “military first” policy
  • An extreme form of authoritarianism
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18
Q

Authoritarianism

A

A type of regime in which only the gov is fully controlled by the ruler

  • Social & economic institutions exist that are not under the gov’s control
  • Ex. China, ruled by a single party
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19
Q

Aristocracy

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A

Rule by “the best”; in reality, ruled by the upper class

20
Q

Oligarchy

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A

Rule by the few in their own interests

21
Q

Democracy

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A

System of gov where political authority is vested in the people.

22
Q

Anarchy

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A

The absence of any form of gov or political authority.

23
Q

Direct Democracy

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A

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

24
Q

Legislature

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A

A gov primarily responsible for the making of laws

  • Needs a high level of participation form every citizen
25
Initiative
A procedural by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
26
Referendum
An electrical device where by the legislature or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.
27
Recall
A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired - Technology has played a huge role in elections, social media - Security concerns
28
Limits of Direct Democracy
The practical challenges of large-scale citizen participation, the risk of poorly informed or emotionally driven decisions, the potential for mob rule, and logistical hurdles like organizing votes on complex issues. - Abuse of the rights of minority groups - Madison had fears
29
Republic
A form of gov in which sovereignty rest with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch.
30
Democratic Rupublic
A republic in which reps are elected by the pole make & enforce laws & policies.
31
Representative Democracy
A form of gov in which rep is elected by the people make & enforce laws & policies; may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role.
32
Universal suffrage
The right to all adults to vote for their reps.
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Majority
More than 50%
34
Majority Rule
Basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials & determine policies.
35
Limited Government
The principle that the powers of gov should be limited, usually by institutional checks. - Prevent political decisions based on the ambitions of individuals in gov rather than on constitutional priciples
36
Majoritarianism
A political theory holding that in a democracy, the gov ought to DO WHAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANT.
37
Elite Theory
A perspective holding that society is ruled by a SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE POWER TO FURTHER THEIR SELF-INTERESTS
38
Pluralism
A theory that views politics as a conflict among intreasts groups.
39
Ideology
A comprehensive set of beliefs about that nature of people & about the rule of institution or gov.
40
Socialism
A political theory based on a strong support for economic & social equality. - Socialist envisioned society where major business were taken over by the gov or NY employee cooperatives - Parties & movements bug, role in US politics = minor - Break power of the rich
41
Libertatianism
A political ideology based on a skepticism or opposition toward almost all gov activities - Strong support for property rights - Oppose regulation of the economy & redistribution of income - Support laissez-faire capitalism - Oppose gov attempts to regulate personal behavior & promote moral values
42
Liberalism
A set of beliefs that include the advocacy for positive gov action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, & tolerance for political & social change.
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Converatism
A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national gov in helping individuals, support for traditional values & lifestyles, & a cautious response to change - Traditional values, individual behavior & importantance of the family.
44
Demographic change in a Democratic Republic
- US has become more middle-aged, low birth rate, increase in number of old citzens - Soical secutiy & Medicare - More ethnic - The labor force remains steady - Younger is taking over which will effect gov desicions & money
45
Ethnic change
- More ethnic diveristy - Hispanic: the federal government's official classification, used primarily by the Census Bureau, for people whose origins are from Spanish-speaking countries. - Latino: refers to people living in the United States who trace their origins to Latin America, including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
46
Globalization
- Produce & marketing products around the world - Challenge = no single gov can regulate global corporations - Global conflict
47
The Technology Revolution
- New technology = how we communicate - New boundaries & connect the previously unconnected - More compete, connect, & collaboration
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