Chapter 1 Vocabulary Words | POLS 1101 - American Government, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Chapter 1 Vocabulary Words | POLS 1101 - American Government and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 checks and balances DEFINITION 1 a system in which each branch of government has some power over the others TERM 2 collective action problem DEFINITION 2 a situation in which the members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and reaping benefits from those who do the work TERM 3 conservative DEFINITION 3 one side of the ideological spectrum defined by support for lower taxes, a free market, and a more limited government; generally associated with Republicans TERM 4 culture wars DEFINITION 4 political conflict in the united states between "red-state" Americans who tend to have strong religious beliefs and "blue- state" Americans who tend to be more secular TERM 5 economic individualism DEFINITION 5 the autonomy of individuals to manage their own financial decisions without government interference TERM 6 factions DEFINITION 6 groups of like minded people who try to influence government. American government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups TERM 7 federalism DEFINITION 7 the division of power across the local, state and national levels of government TERM 8 free market DEFINITION 8 an economic system based on competition among businesses without government interference TERM 9 free rider problems DEFINITION 9 the incentive to benefit form others' work without making a contribution, which leads individuals in a collective action situation to refuse to work together TERM 10 government DEFINITION 10 the system for implementing decisions made through the political process