PSC 101 UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026
◉ Politics.
Answer: conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of
governments
◉ Political Efficacy.
Answer: the ability to influence government and politics
◉ Citizenship.
Answer: informed and active membership in a political communtiy
◉ Autocracy.
Answer: single individual rules
◉ Oligarchy.
Answer: small group controls most governing decisions
◉ Democracy.
Answer: citizens elect key public officials to play part in
governmental process
,◉ Constitutional Government.
Answer: formal and effective limits are placed on goverment
◉ Authoritarian Government.
Answer: government has no formal, only social limits
◉ Totalitarian Government.
Answer: no formal or social limits
◉ Power.
Answer: influence over a government's leadership, organization, or
policies
◉ Representative Democracy (Republic).
Answer: populace selects representatives
◉ Direct Democracy.
Answer: citizens vote directly on laws and policies
◉ Pluralism.
,Answer: theory that all interests should be free to compete for
influence in government, resulting in compromise and moderation
◉ Political Culture.
Answer: broadly shared values
◉ Liberty.
Answer: freedom from governmental control
◉ Limited Government.
Answer: principal of constitutional government
◉ Laissez-Faire Capitalism.
Answer: means of production and distribution are privately owned
and operated for profit
◉ Equality of Opportunity.
Answer: all people should have freedom to use whatever talents and
wealth to reach fullest potential
◉ Political Equality.
Answer: the right to participate in politics equally
, ◉ Popular Sovereignty.
Answer: principle of democracy in which authority ultimately rests
in the hands of the people
◉ Majority Rule, Minority Rights.
Answer: democratic principle that government follows preference of
majority, but protects interests of the minority
◉ Articles of Confederation.
Answer: America's first written constitution
◉ Confederation.
Answer: system of government where states retain sovereign
authority except for a few powers given to national government
◉ Virginia Plan.
Answer: led to creation of House
◉ New Jersey Plan.
Answer: led to creation of Senate
GUIDE 2026
◉ Politics.
Answer: conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of
governments
◉ Political Efficacy.
Answer: the ability to influence government and politics
◉ Citizenship.
Answer: informed and active membership in a political communtiy
◉ Autocracy.
Answer: single individual rules
◉ Oligarchy.
Answer: small group controls most governing decisions
◉ Democracy.
Answer: citizens elect key public officials to play part in
governmental process
,◉ Constitutional Government.
Answer: formal and effective limits are placed on goverment
◉ Authoritarian Government.
Answer: government has no formal, only social limits
◉ Totalitarian Government.
Answer: no formal or social limits
◉ Power.
Answer: influence over a government's leadership, organization, or
policies
◉ Representative Democracy (Republic).
Answer: populace selects representatives
◉ Direct Democracy.
Answer: citizens vote directly on laws and policies
◉ Pluralism.
,Answer: theory that all interests should be free to compete for
influence in government, resulting in compromise and moderation
◉ Political Culture.
Answer: broadly shared values
◉ Liberty.
Answer: freedom from governmental control
◉ Limited Government.
Answer: principal of constitutional government
◉ Laissez-Faire Capitalism.
Answer: means of production and distribution are privately owned
and operated for profit
◉ Equality of Opportunity.
Answer: all people should have freedom to use whatever talents and
wealth to reach fullest potential
◉ Political Equality.
Answer: the right to participate in politics equally
, ◉ Popular Sovereignty.
Answer: principle of democracy in which authority ultimately rests
in the hands of the people
◉ Majority Rule, Minority Rights.
Answer: democratic principle that government follows preference of
majority, but protects interests of the minority
◉ Articles of Confederation.
Answer: America's first written constitution
◉ Confederation.
Answer: system of government where states retain sovereign
authority except for a few powers given to national government
◉ Virginia Plan.
Answer: led to creation of House
◉ New Jersey Plan.
Answer: led to creation of Senate
