Politics: Politics is the authoritative allocation of values for a society; who gets what, when and how, in a society.
Government: A permanent structure composed of decision makers who make society's rules about conflict resolution and the allocation of resources and who possess the power to enforce those rules.
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Authority: The features of a leader or institution that compel obedience, usually because of ascribed legitimacy. In most societies, government is the ultimate authority.
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Legitimacy: Status conferred by the people on the government's officials, acts, and institutions through their belief that the government's actions are an appropriate use of power by a legally constituted governmental authority following correct decision-making policies. These actions are regarded as rightful and entitled to compliance and obedience on the part of citizens.
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Origins of Democracy: The Athenian system of government is usually considered the model for direct democracy, because the citizens of that community debated and voted directly on all laws. It also featured a legislature composed of all of the citizens.
1. Representative democracy: Form of government in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws ans policies.
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Fundamental values of the American political culture.
1. Liberty: The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with freedom of other individuals in society.
2. Equality: A concept that all people are of equal worth.
3. Property: Anything that is subject to ownership. According to John Locke, the right to property is a natural right superior to human law.
Liberalism: A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.
Conservatism: A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.