PSC 101: Exam # 1
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1. Government: institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled
2. Politics: Conflict over the leadership, structure and policies of governments
3. Political Efficacy: The ability to influence government and politics
4. Citizenship: Informed and active membership in a political community
5. Autocracy: A form of government in which a single individual - a king, queen, or dictator - rules
6. Oligarchy: A form of government in which a small group - landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants -
controls most of the governing decisions
7. 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
8. Constitutional government: a system of rule on which formal and effective limits are placed on the
powers of the government.
9. 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
10. Totalitarian Government: a system of rule in which the government recognizes no limits on its power
and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it
11. Power: Influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies
12. Representative Democracy (Republic): A system of government in which the populace selects
representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
13. Direct Democracy: A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies
14. Pluralism: The 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
15. Political Culture: Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function.
American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality and democracy.
16. Liberty: Freedom from governmental control
17. Limited Government: A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined
and limited by a constitution
18. Laissez-faire capitalism: An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are
privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no governmental interference.
19. Equality of Opportunity: A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use
whatever talent and wealth they have to reach their full potential
20. Political Equality: the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one
vote"
1/5
, PSC 101: Exam # 1
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21. Popular Sovereignty: A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands
of the people.
22. Majority Rule, Minority Rights: The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences
of the majority of voters but protects the interests o the minority
23. Articles of Confederation: America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national
government until 1789
24. Confederation: A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers
expressly delegated to the national government.
25. Virginia Plan: A framework for Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation
in the national legislature based on the population of each state
26. New Jersey Plan: A framework for the constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal
state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
27. Great Compromise: The agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state
an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives.
28. Three-Fifths Comprimise: The agreement reached at the Constitutional convention of 1787 that stip-
ulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of
a person
29. Checks and Balances: Mechanisms through which each branch of the government is able to participate
in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congres-
sional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional
enactments.
30. Electoral college: The electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for
president and vice president.
31. Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791: they ensure certain tights and
liberties to the people
32. Separation of Powers: the division of governmental power among several institutions that must coop-
erate in decision making
33. Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central govern-
ment and regional governments
34. Expressed Powers: Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress and to the president
35. Elastic Clause: Enumerates the powers of Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and
proper" to carry them out
2/5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_1i99gq
1. Government: institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled
2. Politics: Conflict over the leadership, structure and policies of governments
3. Political Efficacy: The ability to influence government and politics
4. Citizenship: Informed and active membership in a political community
5. Autocracy: A form of government in which a single individual - a king, queen, or dictator - rules
6. Oligarchy: A form of government in which a small group - landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants -
controls most of the governing decisions
7. 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
8. Constitutional government: a system of rule on which formal and effective limits are placed on the
powers of the government.
9. 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
10. Totalitarian Government: a system of rule in which the government recognizes no limits on its power
and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it
11. Power: Influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies
12. Representative Democracy (Republic): A system of government in which the populace selects
representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
13. Direct Democracy: A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies
14. Pluralism: The 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
15. Political Culture: Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function.
American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality and democracy.
16. Liberty: Freedom from governmental control
17. Limited Government: A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined
and limited by a constitution
18. Laissez-faire capitalism: An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are
privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no governmental interference.
19. Equality of Opportunity: A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use
whatever talent and wealth they have to reach their full potential
20. Political Equality: the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one
vote"
1/5
, PSC 101: Exam # 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_1i99gq
21. Popular Sovereignty: A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands
of the people.
22. Majority Rule, Minority Rights: The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences
of the majority of voters but protects the interests o the minority
23. Articles of Confederation: America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national
government until 1789
24. Confederation: A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers
expressly delegated to the national government.
25. Virginia Plan: A framework for Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation
in the national legislature based on the population of each state
26. New Jersey Plan: A framework for the constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal
state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
27. Great Compromise: The agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state
an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives.
28. Three-Fifths Comprimise: The agreement reached at the Constitutional convention of 1787 that stip-
ulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of
a person
29. Checks and Balances: Mechanisms through which each branch of the government is able to participate
in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congres-
sional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional
enactments.
30. Electoral college: The electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for
president and vice president.
31. Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791: they ensure certain tights and
liberties to the people
32. Separation of Powers: the division of governmental power among several institutions that must coop-
erate in decision making
33. Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central govern-
ment and regional governments
34. Expressed Powers: Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress and to the president
35. Elastic Clause: Enumerates the powers of Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and
proper" to carry them out
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