Glossary of Political Science and Economics Terms, Quizzes of Introduction to Sociology

Download Glossary of Political Science and Economics Terms and more Quizzes Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Affirmative Action DEFINITION 1 Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities. (p.363) TERM 2 Authority DEFINITION 2 Institutionalized power that is recognized by the people over whom it is exercised. (p.351) TERM 3 Capitalism DEFINITION 3 An economic system in which the means of production are held largely in private hand, and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits. (p.345) TERM 4 Charismatic Authority DEFINITION 4 Power made legitimate by a leader's exceptional personal or emotional appeal to his or her followers. (p.351) TERM 5 Communism DEFINITION 5 As an ideal type, an economic system under which all property is communally owned and no social distinctions are made on the basis of people's ability to produce. (p.347) TERM 6 Deindustrialization DEFINITION 6 The systematic, widespread withdrawal of investment in basic aspects of productivity, such as factories and plants. (p.362) TERM 7 Democracy DEFINITION 7 In a literal sense, government by the people. (p.353) TERM 8 Dictatorship DEFINITION 8 A government in which one person has nearly total power to make and enforce laws. (p.353) TERM 9 Downsizing DEFINITION 9 Reductions taken in a company's workforce as part of deindustrialization. (p.364) TERM 10 Economic System DEFINITION 10 The social institution through which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. (p.344) TERM 21 Oligarchy DEFINITION 21 A form of government in which a few individual rule. (p.353) TERM 22 Peace DEFINITION 22 The absence of war, or more broadly, a proactive effort to develop cooperative relations among nations. (p.359) TERM 23 Pluralist Model DEFINITION 23 A view of society in which many competing groups within the community have access to government, so that no single group is dominant. (p.358) TERM 24 Political System DEFINITION 24 The social institution that is founded on a recognized set of procedures for implementing and achieving society's goals. (p.344) TERM 25 Politics DEFINITION 25 In Harold Lasswell"s words, "who gets what, when. and how." (p.350) TERM 26 Power DEFINITION 26 The ability to exercise one's will over others. (p.350) TERM 27 Power Elite DEFINITION 27 A small group of military, industrial, and government leaders who control the fate of the United States. (p.357) TERM 28 Rational-Legal Authority DEFINITION 28 Power made legitimate by law. (p.351) TERM 29 Representative Democracy DEFINITION 29 A form of government in which certain individuals are selected to speak for the people. (p.353) TERM 30 Socialism DEFINITION 30 An economic system under which the means of production and distribution are collectively owned. (p.346) TERM 31 Terrorism DEFINITION 31 The use or threat of violence against random or symbolic targets in pursuit of political aims. (p.361) TERM 32 Totalitarianism DEFINITION 32 Virtually complete government control and surveillance over all aspects of a society's social and political life. (p.353) TERM 33 Traditional Authority DEFINITION 33 Legitimate power conferred by custom and accepted practice. (p.351)