AP Gov Chapter 1 Flashcards

Key Concepts in Government and Politics

• Democracy: System for selecting policymakers and organizing government to reflect and respond to public preferences.
• Government: Institutions and processes that create public policies for society as a whole.
• Hyperpluralism: Theory stating that the strength of various groups weakens government effectiveness.

Mechanics of Political Process

• Linkage Institutions: Channels through which public issues and preferences are conveyed to the government agenda.
• Minority Rights: Principle ensuring protection of rights for non-majority groups, allowing them to potentially persuade the majority.
• Policy Agenda: Set of issues gaining significant attention from officials and political participants.

Policymaking Structures

• Policymaking Institutions: Branches of government (Congress, presidency, courts) responsible for addressing political issues; bureaucracy considered a fourth institution.
• Political Issue: Arises from disagreements about a problem and corresponding public policy.

Foundations of Politics

• Politics: The process of electing leaders and shaping their pursued policies, leading to authoritative decisions on public matters.
• Public Policy: Government's response to political issues, taking action concerning specific problems.

Dynamics of Policy Formation

• Policymaking System: Process where public problems are expressed by voters and addressed by policymakers, starting with public needs and expectations.
• Policy Gridlock: Situation where no coalition can form a majority, preventing the establishment of policy and resulting in inaction.

Citizen Engagement and Resources

• Political Participation: Activities through which citizens influence political leader selections and policy decisions, primarily through voting.
• Public Goods: Resources (e.g., clean air, clean water) that are universally available and must be shared by all.

Principles of Representation and Participation

• Representation: Principle highlighting the relationship between a small group of leaders and the larger citizenry.
• Single-issue Groups: Organizations focused on specific interests, often resistant to compromise, attracting politically inexperienced members.

Theories of Governance

• Elite/Class Theory: Contends society is class-divided, with an upper-class elite holding power, overriding formal governmental structures.
• Pluralist Theory: Highlights politics as a competition among groups vying for their preferred policies.

Economic and Ideological Context

• Gross Domestic Product: Total value of all goods and services produced within a nation, serving as a measure of economic activity.
• Individualism: Belief in limited government intervention in personal affairs, significantly influencing the scope of American governance.
• Majority Rule: Core democratic principle asserting that decisions must respect the majority's preferences in elections.