PSC 121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Social Democracy, Equal Opportunity, Social Equality
7 Sep 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
American exceptionalism: the belief that the us is a unique nation, different from every other. Seven big ideas: liberty, self-rule, individualism, limited gov"t, the american dream, equality, and faith. Americans rarely agree on what the ideas mean. The land of the free : means that the government will protect your life, liberty, and property from the coercion of others in order to permit you to pursue the goals you define for yourself. The two sides of liberty: negative liberty (freedom is the absence of constraints), positive liberty (the freedom to pursue one"s goals) Libertarians are strong proponents of negative liberty, oppose most forms of gov"t action, call for small gov"t that leaves people alone. The idea of freedom is always changing. Self-rule: the idea that legitimate government flows from the people. Democracy: a government in which citizens rule directly and make gov"t decisions for themselves. Referendum: an election in which citizens vote directly on an issue.
