C963-American Politics and US Constitution notes-comprehensive-2022

UNIT 1 Direct Democracy: a political system in which people govern themselves. - Promotes individualism and freedom to act as one choose instead of being controlled by government. Republic or Representative Democracy ...

UNIT 1 Direct Democracy: a political system in which people govern themselves. - Promotes individualism and freedom to act as one choose instead of being controlled by government. Republic or Representative Democracy - Government of the U.S. - The political power is in the hands of the people - The people elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people (voting) - Minority rights – protection for those who are not part of the majority (atheists cannot be imprisoned for their beliefs even though they only account for 7% of the population) Totalitarian: government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights (North Korea) Monarchy: one ruler holds the political power (Saudi Arabia, Southwest Asian kingdoms) Socialism: the means of generating wealth (factories, banks, large farms) are owned by the government. The government accumulates the wealth and distributes it to the citizens in the form of social programs (free healthcare, education, childcare) - Oligarchy: only members of a certain political party or can participate in government Private Goods: goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them. - People purchase what they need in the quantity they need it - Cell phones, cars, homes Public goods: goods provided by the government that anyone can use and that are free - National security and education and mail service Toll Good – a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price - Cable TV, private school Common Goods: goods that all people may use free of charge but that are limited supply - fish in the sea, clean drinking CONTINUED.....