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the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or privileges


an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society


the institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges


the ultimate authority in society


a state of peace and security


oldest purpose of the government = to protect members of society from violence and criminal activity


the greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in society


The right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience



Totalitarian Regime

a form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation


a type of regime in which only the government is fully controlled by the ruler, but social and economic institutions exist without the government's control.


rule by the "best" aka rich upper-class people


a system of government in which political authority is vested in the people

Direct Democracy

a system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives; attained most easily in small political communities


a governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws


a procedure by which voters can propose a law or constitutional amendments





Consent of the People

the idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed


a form of government in which sovereignty rests with the people as opposed to a king or monarch

Popular Sovereignty

the concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people

Democratic Republic

a republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies

Representative Democracy

a republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies (Democratic Republic), but the monarchy can remain in a ceremonial role

Universal Suffrage

the right of all adults to vote


more than 50%

Majority Rule

a basic principle of democracy asserting that the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select officials and determine policies

Limited Government

the principle that the powers of the government should be limited, usually by institutional checks


a theory saying that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want

Elite Theory

a theory saying that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest


a theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups who make decisions based on bargaining and compromise

Political Socialization

the process through which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. Ex: Family and the Education System

Dominant Culture



as a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth


anything that is or may be subject to ownership


the natural right superior to laws made by the government


an economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract

Eminent Domain

a power set forth in the 5th Amendment that allows the government to take private property for public use under the condition that compensation is offered to the landowner






a set of beliefs that included the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tollerance for political and social change


a political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality


people who traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by the government or by employee cooperatives


a political ideology based on skepticisms or opposition toward almost all government activities


a revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning


a 20th century ideology (often totalitarian) that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler


a ideology that rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war


someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish-speaking country other than Spain

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