ch. 1

Question 1

Politics

Answer 1

the affairs of the cities, state, country

Question 2

power

Answer 2

the ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions

Question 3

authority

Answer 3

the right to use power

Question 4

formal authority

Answer 4

the power that is given to a leader by an organization

Question 5

legitimacy

Answer 5

what makes a law or constitution a source of right

Question 6

Bourgeoise

Answer 6

the capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production

Question 7

Proletariat

Answer 7

working or working class people

Question 8

cost

Answer 8

a burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is adopted

Question 9

benefit

Answer 9

a satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted

Question 10

Pork-barrel legislation

Answer 10

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Question 11

log-rolling

Answer 11

legislature supports proposals favored by another in return of support for his/hers.

Question 12

Views of James Madison and Patrick Henry regarding the proposed constitution?

Answer 12

Patrick Henry -believed powers bestowed on the federal government would be few and defined
James Madison -predicted immense increase in taxes and a growing federal government

Question 13

Know the original purpose of the constitutional convention and how the results differed from the purpose

Answer 13

They were there to discuss issues and perhaps make amendments but they ended up creating a whole new document.

Question 14

What is the tendency regarding issues when they become objects of government action?

Answer 14

The tendency is that if we let the government take over on certain issues, the gov will maintain control of helping with that issue and its unhealthy to give government too many responsibilities (reason is that people tend to be lazy)

Question 15

Distinguish views of Alexander Hamilton and George Mason , both as described in the text and as described in class discussion

Answer 15

Hamilton book said he thought the new government was too democratic, mr clay said he was in favor of a strong national government.
Mason said it was not democratic enough(book)- he wanted state power

Question 16

What is the primary source of legitimate political authority in the United States?

Answer 16

The constitution

Question 17

Aristotle’s definition of democracy?

Answer 17

Direct democracy- all or most citizens participate directly “rule of many”

Question 18

Distinguish between direct/participatory democracy and representative democracy with examples in text

Answer 18

Direct democracy- the greek city state

Representative democracy- the U.S.A.

Question 19

What are the two main arguments against direct democracy?

Answer 19

The first argument is that it is impractical. The second argument is that the public will make bad decisions based on fleeting passions and demagogues.

Question 20

Four factors that must exist for representative democracy to work?

Answer 20

Must be opportunity for leadership competition
individuals/parties must be able to run for office
Communications must be free
Voters must perceive that a meaningful choice exists

Question 21

Five views of how political power is distributed in America

Answer 21

Class view: dominated by capitalists
Power elite view: dominated by a few top leaders, most outside the government.
Bureaucratic view: dominated by appointed officials
Pluralist view: competition amazing all affected interests shaped public policy
Creedal passion view:morally impassioned elites drive important political changes

Question 22

Know the text’s two aspects of costs and benefits( perception vs. actual and the legitimacy of who benefits.)

Answer 22

Perception would be what the perceived cost is and the perceived benefit versus who is actually paying for the benefit and who receives it.
Actual is what that we are really spending on certain things and the actual costs are what it’s taking from each of us.

Question 23

Know the four types of politics as described in the text.

Answer 23

Majoritarian politics: policy in which almost all benefit and all pay
Interest group politics: policy where one small group benefits and one small group pays.
Client politics: policy where one small group benefits and all pay
Entrepreneurial politics: policy in which all benefit and one small group pays.

Question 24

Be familiar with the data presented on the current federal budget that was presented and discussed in class.

Answer 24

Mandatory spending is usually more than non mandatory and the budget is always less than we actually spend. Last year due to covid and stimulus, non mandatory was higher than mandatory spending

Question 25

Know what is meant by wide and narrow in relation to distribution/contribution

Answer 25

The cost and benefits may be widely distributed or narrowly concentrated

Question 26

How does the constitution reflect the Framers’ concerns about direct democracy?How did they feel about the “Will of the People”?

Answer 26

They didn’t agree with direct democracy, and didn’t want the average person to have too much power. They thought people would make bad decisions.

Question 27

Why is representative democracy referred to as the elitist theory of democracy?

Answer 27

It is because it doesn’t include all the people, just the leaders.

Question 28

Know the relationship between legitimacy and democracy in the United States

Answer 28

No governmental action is legitimate if that action isn’t in some sense democratic