CH 1 terms

Question 1

Anarchy

Answer 1

mass disorder and violence caused by a failure to agree on a common means of government; part of the human predicament cycle

Question 2

Aristocracy

Answer 2

rule based on distinguished or wise ancestors and heritage

Question 3

Autocracy

Answer 3

one of the four approaches to government; it sees people as children in need of the control provided by government

Question 4

Bill of Rights

Answer 4

the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, intended to protect individual and state rights; added to the constitution in response to anti-federalist concerns about the excessive power of the national government

Question 5

Classical Republicanism

Answer 5

one of the four approaches sot government; it sees human nature as mostly good but corruptible, so government should have restricted power and try to encourage virtuous behavior in its citizens

Question 6

Competing factions

Answer 6

groups that, in a state of anarchy, fight for supreme power and control; part of the human predicament cycle

Question 7

Divine Right of Kings

Answer 7

political theory that royal lines are established by God and that kings rule by divine decree

Question 8

European Enlightenment

Answer 8

seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophical movement that highlighted the capacity of human beings to discover truth through the exercise of reason. Some thinkers, such as Adam Smith, proposed self-interest, rather than greek or christian virtue, as the motivating force in human behavior

Question 9

freedom

Answer 9

greek freedom-the privilege of taking part in the political process; individual freedom–self sovereignty, autonomy, being in charge of one’s own life.

Question 10

good society

Answer 10

a reasonably stable and prosperous society without oppressive tyranny. usually includes peace, respect, vibrant, culture, and personal freedom to live as one chooses.

Question 11

Human Nature

Answer 11

the fundamental character of human beings that determines their behavior

Question 12

Human Predicament

Answer 12

the cycle from tyranny to revolution to anarchy to competing factions, arising out of government’s capacity to do great harm

Question 13

Liberalism

Answer 13

one of four approaches to government; it takes the most positive view of human nature and believes government is needed to protect good people from the corrupting influences of institutions.

Question 14

Libertarianism

Answer 14

one of four approaches to government; it sees individual freedom as the most important value and believes governments primary function should be to protect that freedom.

Question 15

Political legitimacy

Answer 15

justification, or sanction, for government beyond sheer necessity; legitimacy may be derived from right , wisdom, consent, etc.

Question 16

Revolution

Answer 16

an uprising to remove a tyrant form power; part of the human predicament cycle

Question 17

Social Compact

Answer 17

the concept of a group of autonomous individuals living in a state of nature, making a common agreement about the sort of political world they want to liv sin.

Question 18

Sovereignty

Answer 18

ultimate political power, having the final say.

Question 19

State of Nature

Answer 19

a hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government, where human beings live in complete freedom and general equality

Question 20

structure

Answer 20

rules, restrictions, and organizing systems designed to better harness virtue

Question 21

theocracy

Answer 21

divinely inspired rule, or rule by religion

Question 22

tyranny

Answer 22

absolute power centralized in a person of small group, resulting in oppression of ordinary people; part of the human predicament cycle

Question 23

virtues

Answer 23

greek virtue- (arete)-civic qualities including wisdom, courage, temperance(moderation), and justice, Christian virtue–inner qualities including meekness, patience, humility, long-suffering, compassion, love for neighbor