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| critical thinking focused on deciding what can reasonably be believed and then using this information to act responsibily |
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| Ignorance of the facts is a fair gauge of deeper deficiencies |
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| the systematic study of government and politics |
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| What 3 tools does political science offer? |
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Definition
Reliable information about the US political system
Systematic generalizations about tendencies in American politics
Terms and concepts that precisely describe key aspects of politics |
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| The widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of its people about politics. |
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| The four core values of American political ideals |
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Definition
liberty
individualism
equality
self-government |
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| The principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the freedom and well-being of others. |
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| a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency |
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| the notion that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and thereby entitled to equal treatment under the law |
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| the principle that the people are the ultimate source of governing authority and should have a voice in their governing |
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| Are America's cultural beliefs idealistic? |
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| Yes. They hold out a promise of a government of high purpose, in which power is widely shared for the common good, and where individuals are free, independent and equal under the law. |
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politics are a conflict over "who gets what, when and how."
Harold Lasswell |
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| The means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs; determines whose values will prevail |
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| The ability of persons, groups or institutions to influence political developments |
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| What is basic to politics? |
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Definition
| Power. The distribution of power affects who wins and who loses when policy decisions are made. |
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| One that openly represses its political opponents, mostly through intimidation and prohibitions, but sometimes by brutalizing or imprisoning opposition leaders. |
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Term
| What 3 rules are designed to keep the US government in check? |
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Definition
democracy
constitutionalism
free market |
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| a form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives |
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| greek roots of the word democracy |
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Definition
demos - the people
kratis - to rule |
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Definition
political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority;
in America this is primarily through competition between the Republican and Democractic parties |
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| the preference of the special interest largely determines what government does |
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| Democracies more often operate as pluralistic systems than as majoritarian systems |
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| the recognized right of officials to exercise power |
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| th idea that there are lawful restrictions on government's power |
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| the use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests--a channel through which ordinary citizens exercise power |
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| If the accused is too poor to hire a lawyer, the government must provide one |
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| operates on private transactions; firms make their own production, distribution and pricing decisions |
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| The influence that firms have with government officials |
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| the power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals |
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Definition
| the decisions of government to pursue particular courses of action |
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