This document introduces key concepts about government and politics in America. It defines government as the institutions that make public policies, and politics as the process of selecting leaders and policies. It also outlines the policymaking system and institutions like political parties, interest groups, the branches of government, and bureaucracies that are involved. Democratic theory and theories about the U.S. system like pluralism and elite theory are presented. The document concludes with a definition of political culture and aspects of American culture.