PSC 121 Chapter 1 (Exam 1 Study) – Flashcards
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democracy
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rule by the people
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oligarchy
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rule by the few
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monarchy
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rule by the one
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direct democracy
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the people actually meet and vote on all decisions
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representative democracy
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a system in which the people select representatives to act on their behalf
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3 benchmarks of democracy
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popular sovereignty, political equality, political liberty
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popular sovereignty
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people are the ultimate source of government authority
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6 conditions for popular sovereignty
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gov. policies reflect the wishes of the people, gov. leaders are selected in competitive elections, elections are fair and free, people participate in the political process, high-quality information is available, and the majority rules
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political equality
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each person carries the same weight in voting and other political decision-making
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political liberty
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people have basic freedoms - freedoms of speech, religion, press, and assembly & association
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social contract
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the idea that the government is the result of an agreement among people to form one, and that people have the right to create an entirely new government if the terms of the contract have been violated by the existing one
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liberal democracy
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representative democracy characterized by popular sovereignty, liberty, and political equality
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3 objections to democracy
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majority tyranny, people are irrational and incompetent, actual minorities (ethnic, religious, etc.) may not be heard
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4 political influencer categories
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structure, political linkage, government, and government action
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structural factors
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enduring features of American life that play key roles in determining what issues become important in politics and government; includes the economy, political culture, and the international system
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political linkage factors
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transmit the wants and demands of the people to government officials; includes public opinion, political parties, interest groups, the media, and elections
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government factors
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all public officials and institutions that have formal, legal responsibilities for making public policy for the United States
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government action factors
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what the government does; includes making laws, issuing rules and regulations, waging war, settling civil disputes, etc.
