AP Government: Week 2 Vocabulary

Popular Sovereignty

• The principle that the authority of the government derives from the consent of the governed; the people hold the ultimate power.

• A system where the government has absolute power over the people.

• The idea that the government should be run by a monarchy.

• A belief that the military should control the government.

Republicanism

• A form of government where a single ruler has absolute power.

• A system where the government is run by a monarchy.

• A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws; emphasizes individual liberty and civic virtue.

• A political ideology that advocates for a totalitarian regime.

Limited Government

• The idea that government should have unlimited power to control citizens.

• The belief that government should be completely abolished.

• The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens; government is not all-powerful.

• The concept that government should only focus on economic issues.

Separation of Powers

• A model of governance where all powers are concentrated in a single branch of government.

• A system where the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among separate branches of government to prevent any one group from gaining too much power.

• A governance model that allows for direct democracy without any separation of powers.

• A structure where the legislative branch has the authority to override judicial decisions.

Checks & Balances

• A system where one branch of government can control the others to ensure equality.

• A method to increase the power of the executive branch over the legislative branch.

• A system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit the powers of the other branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

• A process that allows citizens to vote on government decisions directly.

Politics

• The study of government systems and political behavior.

• The process of determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue; it produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

• A method of resolving conflicts through negotiation and compromise.

• The analysis of political ideologies and their impact on society.

Policymaking Institutions

• The branches of government responsible for creating laws and policies.

• The agencies that enforce laws and regulations.

• The organizations that conduct elections and referendums.

• The institutions that provide financial support to political campaigns.

Public Policy

• A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. It is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

• A set of laws that govern the behavior of citizens.

• A financial plan created by the government for economic growth.

• A public opinion poll conducted to gauge citizen satisfaction.

Political Participation

• All activities by which citizens attempt to influence political leaders and policies.

• Only voting in elections.

• Participation in political rallies and protests.

• Engaging in discussions about politics with friends.

Linkage Institutions

• The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.

• A type of government institution that enforces laws and regulations.

• Organizations that provide financial support to political candidates.

• The process by which laws are created and passed in a legislative body.