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| John Locke's Two Treatises of Government (1689) argues: |
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Natural Rights
Social Contract |
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| Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent of governments, which include life, liberty, and property. (idea central to philosopher John Locke) |
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| processes and institutions by which the public policies of a society are made |
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| the process through which government leaders are selected and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues. |
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| What fraction of an American citizen's money is used to pay taxes? |
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| 1/3 or one out of every three dollars |
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| Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often find members in people new to politics. |
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| political channels through which people's concerns and problems become issues on the policy agenda. These include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media. |
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| Policymaking institutions |
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| branches of government given the responsibility of taking action on political issues (Congress, President, and Courts according to the Constitution) |
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| a system of choosing policymakers and of organizing government so that policy matches the public's preferences. |
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| a principle of traditional democratic theory that states that in a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the opinion of the majority be respected |
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| a principle of the traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument |
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| theory of government and politics that focuses on politics being mainly a competition among groups, each one competing for inclusion of its own preferred policies |
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| theory of government and politics that holds the belief that society is divided into classes and that the upper-class/elite will rule, regardless of government organization |
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| a theory of government and politics that believes that groups are so strong in government, and contend so much, that they ultimately weaken government |
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| a condition that arises when no group is strong enough to become a majority and establish policy. Often the result is a lack of accomplishing anything. |
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| the sum of the value of all goods and services produced in a nation |
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| Declaration of Independence |
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| the document approved by representatives of the American colonies (1776) that cited specific grievances against the British monarch and declared American independence |
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| the idea that a government gets its power from the people it governs |
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| the idea that restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of its citizens |
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| Jefferson's American Creed |
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| It is self evident that all men were "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights," including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. |
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