Ch 1-3 Definitions Flashcards
Government
The legitimate use of force – including firearms, imprisonment, and execution – within specified geographical boundaries to control human behavior
Maintaining Order
Establishing the rule of law to preserve life and protect property
Established Order
The ruling group – monarchy, aristocracy, or political party
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes’ conception of life in the cruel state of nature led him to view government primarily as a means of guaranteeing peoples survival
John Locke
Believed that the basic objective of government is the protection of life, liberty, and property
Liberalism
The believe that states should leave individuals free to follow their pursuits
Communism
A political system in which ownership of all land and productive facilities are in the hands of the people and all goods are shared equally. Production and distribution is controlled by government
Providing Public Goods
Taxation of citizens to raise money for public goods that benefit all citizens but are unlikely to be produced voluntarily at by the citizens
Public Goods
Benefits and services available to everyone, such as education, sanitation and parks
Promoting Equality
Poverty amid it plenty led the expanded role of government to provide medical care, education, and guaranteed income
Three objectives pursued by government
1) maintain order
2) provide public goods
3) promote equality
Three values pursued by government
1) order
2) freedom
3) equality
Five concepts that deal with fundamental issues of government goals and processes
• concepts that identify the values pursued
1) freedom 2) order 3) equality
• concepts that describe models of democratic government
1) majoritarian democracy 2) pluralist democracy
Freedom
The absence of constraints on behavior
Social Order
Established patterns of authority and society and traditional models of behavior, the excepted way of doing things – dress, behavior, acceptable media etc.…
Political Equality
Equality in political decision-making: one vote per person with all of votes counted equally
Social Equality
Equality and wealth, education and status
Equality of Opportunity
The idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to success in life
Equality of Outcome
The concept of that society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved
American Dilemmas
- Original dilemma- freedom vs. order
* Modern dilemma- freedom vs. equality
Totalitarianism
A political philosophy that advocates unlimited power for the government to enable it to control all sectors of society – business, labor, education, religion, sports, arts.
Socialism
A form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in regulating existing private industry and directing the economy. Allows for some private ownership of productive capacity.
Anarchism
A political philosophy of that opposes government in any form
Democratic Socialism
A socialist government that guarantees civil (speech and religious freedoms)
Capitalism
System of government that favors free enterprise without government regulation
Libertarianism
Opposes all government action except what is necessary to protect life and property
Liberals
See a positive role for government for helping the disadvantaged and support government spending on social programs – education, wildlife protection, public transportation, etc.…
Conservatives
Favor smaller government budgets, and if you were government programs, or against regulation of business, and legislation of working at conditions and wage rates. Supports free enterprise. Promote order but not equality
Communitarians
Favor government activities that promote the quality and social order
Rights
The benefits of governments to which every citizen is entitled
Autocracy
Power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual
Oligarchy
Power to govern is concentrated in the hands of a few people
Democracy
A system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either directly or indirectly
E-government
Online communication channels that enable citizens to easily obtain information from government and facilitate the expression of opinion to government officials
Majoritarian model of democracy
Majority rule and responsiveness. Government decisions are tied to the desires of the majority of the citizens. Values participation at by the people in general
Pluralist model of democracy
Mass public opinion to organized groups of citizens. Government by people operating through a competing interest groups pressing their interests on the government. Values participation by the people and groups. Divided authority, decentralization, open access. Gives minorities a chance to rule
Interest Groups
Organized groups of individuals that seek to influence public policy. Also known as a lobby
Elite Theory
The view that a small group of people actually make most of the important government decisions through wealth
Democratization
A process of transition when a country attempts to move from authoritarian to democratic government
Majoritarianism
Citizens control their government, knowledgeable about government and politics, participate in political process, make rational decisions voting for elected representatives.
Pluralism
Predicated on interest group competition. Three basic concepts: 1) Decentralization – government broken into competing departments and agencies 2) divided authority – government diverse enough to handle competition of interest groups in appropriate department. 3) Open access – government is open to allow for competition of groups within its department/agencies (lobbying)
Declaration of Independence
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document that proclaims the right of the colonies to separate from Great Britain
Social Contract Theory
The belief that the people agree to set up the rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove rollers who act against those purposes
Republic
A government without a monarch. A government rooted in the content of the governed, whose power is exercised by the elected representatives responsible to the girlfriend
Confederation
A loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified manners
Articles of Confederation
The compact among the 13 original states that established the first government of the United States
Virginia Plan
A set of proposals for a new government, submitted to the constitutional convention of 1787: included separation of the government into three branches, division of the legislature into two houses, and proportional representation in the legislature
Popular Sovereignty
Means that the people should have the power to rule
Legislative Branch
The lawmaking branch of government
Executive Branch
The law enforcing branch of the government
Judicial Branch
The law interpreting branch of government
New Jersey Plan
Submitted by the head of the New Jersey delegation to the Constitutional convention of 1787, a set of nine resolutions that would have, in effect, preserve the articles of confederation by amending them rather than replacing them. (See notes for central ideas)
Great Compromise
Submitted by the Connecticut delegation also known as the Connecticut Compromise-
A plan calling for a bicameral legislature which the House of Representatives would be apportioned according to population and the states would be represented equally in the Senate
Electoral College
A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for president and Vice President
Republicanism
A form of government in which power resides in the people and exercised by elected representatives
Federalism
The division of power between a central government and regional governments where the powers of national government and the state are clearly defined
Separation of Powers
Assignment of lawmaking, law enforcing, and law interpreting functions two separate branches of government
Checks and Balances
A government structure that gives each branch some scrutiny of control over the other, preventing the exclusive exercise of certain powers by anyone of the three branches.
Enumerated Powers
The powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution
Necessary and Proper Clause
The last clause in section 8 of article 1 of the constitution (the elastic clause). Gives Congress the means to execute it’s enumerated powers. This clause is the basis of our congresses implied powers.
Implied Powers
Those powers that Congress needs to execute it’s numerate it powers
Judicial Review
The power to invalidate congressional and presidential acts because they violate the Constitution
Supremacy Clause
A clause in article 6 of the constitution that asserts that national law take precedence over state and local laws when they conflict
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Anti-federalist
Opposed to the Constitution and strong government control. Wanted to keep the Articles of Confederation
The Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the constitution. Prevents the national government from tampering with fundamental rights and civil liberties and emphasizes the limited character of national power
Amendments 1–10
1) Freedom of religion, speech, and the press
2) The right to bear arms
3) The housing of soldiers
4) protection from unreasonable search and seizures
5) protection of rights to life, liberty and property
6) Rights of accused persons in criminal cases
7) Rights in civil cases
8) excessive bail, find, and punishment forbidden
9) other rights kept by the people
10) undelegated powers kept by the states and the people
