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Details Title: American Government Description: American Government Total Flash Cards: 30 Created: 01/17/2007 17:37:34	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Politics Definition The struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges. Term Institution Definition An ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society. Term Government Definition The institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges. It is unique because it has the ultimate authority within society. Term Order Definition A state of peace and security. Maintaining order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity is the oldest purpose of government. Term Authority Definition The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience. Term Legitimacy Definition Popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority. Term Totalitarian Regime Definition A form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation. Term Authoritarianism Definition A type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government’s control. Term Aristocracy Definition Rule by the “best”; in reality, rule by an upper class. Term Theocracy Definition A term derived from the Greek phrase meaning “rule by God” or “rule by the deity.” In a theocracy, the governing principles are rooted in religious precepts—there is no separation of church and state. Term Democracy Definition A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. Derived from the Greek words demos (“the people”) and kratos (“authority”). Term Direct Democracy Definition A system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; probably attained most easily in small political communities. Term Legislature Definition A governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws. Term Initiative Definition A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment. Term Referendum Definition An electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval. Term Recall Definition A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired. Term Republic Definition A form of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch. Term Popular Sovereignty Definition The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people. Term Democratic Republic Definition A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies. Term Representative Democracy Definition A form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies, but the monarchy may be retained in a ceremonial role. Term Majority Rule Definition A basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies. Term Limited Government Definition The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks. Term Political Culture Definition The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation. Term Political Socialization Definition The process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. The family and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process. Term Conservatism Definition A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change. Term Liberalism Definition A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change. Term Socialism Definition A political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by the government or by employee cooperatives. Term Libertarianism Definition A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government activities. Term Communism Definition A revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning. Term Fascism Definition A twentieth-century ideology—often totalitarian—that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler. Fascism rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.