32 Cards in this Set
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authority
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the ability to legitimately exercise power, such as the power to make and enforce laws.
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government
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the individuals and institutions that make society's rules and possess the power and authority to enforce those rules.
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institution
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an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
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politics
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the process of resolving conflicts over how society should use it's scarce resources and who should receive various benefits, such as public health care and higher education.
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power
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the ability to influence the behavior of others, usually through the use of force, persuasion, or rewards.
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public services
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essential services that individuals cannot provide for themselves such as building and maintaing roads, welfare programs, operating public schools, etc.
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social conflict
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Disagreements among people in a society over what the society's priorities should be.
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autocracy
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a form of government in which the power and authority of the government are in the hands of a single person.
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democracy
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a system of government in which the people have ultimate political authority.
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dictatorship
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a form of government in which absolute power is exercised by an individual or group whose power is not supported by tradition.
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direct democracy
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a system of government in which political decisions are made by the people themselves rather than by elected representatives. Practiced in some parts of ancient Greece.
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divine right theory
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the theory that a monarch's right to rule was derived directly from God rather than from the consent of the people.
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monarchy
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a form of autocracy in which a king, queen, emperor, etc. is the highest authority in the government (power usually obtained through inheritance).
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parliament
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the name of the national legislative body in countries governed by a parliamentary system such as Britain and Canada
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representative democracy
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a form of democracy in which the will of the majority is expressed through groups of individuals elected by the people to act as their representatives.
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republic
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a representative democracy in which there is no king or queen and the people are sovereign
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capitalism
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an economic system based on the private ownership of wealth-producing property, free markets, and freedom of contract.
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equality
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a concept that holds, at minimum, that all people are entitled to equal protection under the law.
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liberty
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the freedom of individuals to believe, act, and express themselves as they choose.
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limited government
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form of government based on the principle that the powers should be limited through written document or wide public understanding.
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natural rights
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rights that aren't bestowed by government but inherent within every man, woman, and child by virtue of that fact that he or she is a human being.
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political culture
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set of ideas, values, and attitudes about government and political process held by a community or nation.
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social contract
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voluntary agreement among individuals to create a government and give it power to secure mutual protection and welfare.
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Tea Party movement
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grassroots conservative movement that arose in 2009 after Obama became president. opposes big government, current levels of taxation, and rejects political compromise.
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conservatism
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set of political beliefs that include limited role for national government in helping individuals, opposes big government, as well as support for traditional values and lifestyles.
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conservative movement
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an ideological movement that arose in the 1950s/1960s and continues to shape conservative beliefs.
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ideology
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a system of political ideas that are rooted in religious or philosophical beliefs concerning human nature, society, and government
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liberalism
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set of political beliefs that include the advocacy of active government, including government intervention to improve the welfare of individuals and to protect civil rights.
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libertarianism
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belief that government should do as little as possible not only in the economic sphere but in regulating morality and personal behavior.
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moderates
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persons whose views fall in the middle of the political spectrum.
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progressivism
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alternative, more popular term for set of political beliefs aka liberalism.
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socialism
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political ideology that lies to the left of liberalism on the traditional political spectrum.
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Study Guide: Final Exam