| Term | Definition |
|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Liberty | freedom from governmental control. |
| Limited government | a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. |
| 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 government interference. |
| Equality of opportunity | a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential. |
| Political equality | the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote. |
| Popular sovereignty | a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people. |
| Majority rule/minority rights | the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority. |
Combine with other sets
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