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Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America Government The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society. Public Goods Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share Politics The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Produces authoritative decisions about public issues Political Participation All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. For example, voting, civil disobedience, and protest. Single-Issue Groups Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. Policymaking System The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. People’s interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interests, problems and concerns. Linkage Institutions The political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. E.g. elections, political parties, interest groups, media. Policy Agenda The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time. Political Issue Arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it. Policymaking Institutions The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. The U.S. Constitution established three – the Congress, Presidency, and Courts. Public Policy A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem. Democracy A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences. Majority Rule Minority Rights Those who do not belong to majorities may join them through persuasion and reasoned argument. Representation Relationship between few leaders and many followers. Pluralist Theory A theory emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. Elite and Class Theory A theory of government and politics contending that societities are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule regardless of the formal niceties of government organization. Hyperpluralism A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Policy Gridlock A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done. Gross Domestic Product The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation. Individualism The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the primary reasons for the comparatively Small scope of American government is the prominence of this Belief in American political thought and practice.