American Political Processes
Terms
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- Libertarian
- one who favors minimal government and maximum individual freedom.
- Political efficacy
- the ability to influence government and politics.
- Citizenship
- informed and active membership in a political community.
- Autocracy
- a form of government in which a single individual - a king, queen, or dictator - rules
- Oligarchy
- a form of government in which a small group landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions.
- Democracy
- a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials.
- Constitutional government
- a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government.
- Authoritarian government
- a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions.
- Totalitarian government
- a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.
- Politics
- conflict over the leadership, structure and policies of governments.
- Power
- influence over a government’s leadership, organization or policies.
- Representative democracy/republic
- a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making.
- Direct democracy
- a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.
- Pluralism
- theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation.
- Direct action politics
- a form of politics, such as civil disobedience or revolutionary action, that takes place outside formal channels.