Introduction to government

• government is the term generally used to describe the formal institutions through which a land and its people are ruled 
• liberty - personal freedom and a government whose powers are limited by law 
• Ironically even a popular dependence on government has grown, the American public view of government has turned more sour 
• By 2013, only 19 percent of Americans reported trusting the government in Washington 
• from 75 percent in 1960 
• political efficacy - the belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does, that they can take action to make government listen to them 
• citizenship - informed and active membership in a political community 
• digital citizenship is the ability to participate in society online
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