Chapter 1 Foundations of Democracy Flashcards
Citizen activists share what common attribute?
the government listens to people like them.
People who do not believe they can make an influence do not try to be involved
Definition of Politics
The process of deciding who gets benefits in society and who does not.
Why is politics so much different now?
Technology and world events
How has specifically technology affected politics?
- Leaders have another form to communicate with constituents
- New form for voters to get info from.
Helps conduct elections/provide services for residents.
Definition of Efficacy
Citizen’s belief that they have the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government listens to people like them.
Has efficacy increased or decreased over the years?
DECREASED (only 20% say they trust the gov. most/all the time.
How is efficacy expressed?
Voter turnout
How has technology influenced younger voters?
Younger voters are becoming more politically active through forms in the internet.
Engaged Citizens are…
- knowledgeable about public issues
- actively communicate with policy-makers and others
- press gov. officials to carry out people’s will
- advocate for own self-interest/interest of others
- hold public officials accountable for their decisions and actions.
- increased efficacy
- social and phycological benefits gained
- Communities and the nation also benefit.
Definition of Civic Engagement
Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.
Ex: individual voluntarism, organizational involvement, efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem, etc.
-EXTREMELY BROAD TERM
Definition of Political engagement
Citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through political means.
Ex: boycotting/buycotting
Definition of Gevernment
An institution that creates and implements policy and laws that guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens.
Naturalization
The process of becoming a citizen (immigration)
Key functions of U.S. gov
- protect sovereign territory and citizenry and to provide national defense
- Preserve order and stability
- Establish and maintain a legal system
- provide services
- raise and spend money
- socialize new generations.
Definition of legitimacy
a quality conferred on government by citizens who believe that its exercise of power is right and proper.
Definition of public goods
Goods whose benefits cannot be limited and that are available to all.
Monarchy
- a member of a royal family has absolute authority over a territory and its government.
- Usually inherited
- Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies where the monarch plays a ceremonial role.
Oligarchy
- An elite few hold power
- Some are dictatorships (small group supports a dictator)
Democracy
- Supreme power of governance lies in hands of citizens.
- U.S. and other democracies are usually REPUBLICS where citizens elect leader to represent their views.
What type of gov. does U.S. have?
REPUBLIC
Tolitarianism
- Control every aspect of citizens’ lives.
- Citizens enjoy little to no freedoms
- State is tool of the dictator
- Center on particular ideology, religion, or personality.
Authroitarianism
- Strong gov. power checked by other forces within society.
- Citizens enjoy some rights but those rights are often not protected by the gov.
Constitutionalism
-Structured by law, and provides for a limited gov.
-Can be democracies or monarchies
WE HAVE THIS
Limited gov. Definition
A government that is restricted in what it can do so that the rights of the people are protected.
