UNIT 1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
1. Define the term “government.”
2. What are the two fundamental questions about governing that serve as themes throughout the textbook?
1.
2.
3. List the five functions all governments have in common.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4. Define the term “politics.”
5. Give examples of the “who,” “what,” “when,” and “how” of politics.
6. How and why do people become involved in politics?
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
7. Draw a diagram of how a policy system works.
8. List the four key linkage institutions in a democratic society.
1.
2.
3.
4.
9. Define the term “policy agenda.”
10. How does a government’s policy agenda change?
11. List the four major policy-making institutions in the United States.
1.
2.
3.
4.
12. Define the term “policy impacts.”
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
13. Define the term “democracy” as used in the text.
14. List the five cornerstones of an ideal democracy, according to Robert Dahl.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
15. Explain what is meant by majority rule and minority rights.
16. Make a table comparing pluralist, elite and class, and hyperpluralist theories according to who holds the power
and how policy is made.
THEORY
Who Holds Power
How Policy is Made
Pluralist
Elite/Class
Hyperpluralist
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
17. List the major challenges facing American democracy.
1.
2.
3.
4.
18. How does the scope of American government compare to the scope of government in other countries?
19. How has American individualism affected the scope of American government?
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
KEY TERMS
1. government
2. public goods
3. politics
4. political participation
5. single-issue groups
6. policy agenda
7. public policy
8. policymaking system
9. political issue
10. linkage institutions
11. policymaking institutions
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
12. democracy
13. traditional democratic theory
14. majority rule
15. minority rights
16. representation
17. pluralist theory
18. elite and class theory
19. hyperpluralism
20. policy gridlock
21. gross domestic product
22. liberals
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide
23. conservatives
24. individualism
Unit 1- Chapter 1 Study Guide