Chapter 1: Introduction to Government Flashcards
Government
Institution that makes/creates public policy in a society
Economics
Study of Scarcity
Democracy
system of selection policy makers who represents and responds to the publics preferences
Anarchy
State of disorder due to absence of authority
State
Politically bound area controlled by established government that has authority over internal affairs and foreign policy
Nation
large number of people who see themselves as a community whom they are loyal to (usually share culture, region, etc)
Oligarchy
small group of people in control of the government (ex: small group of wealthy people in charge)
Authoritarianism
enforcement of strict obedience to authority at expense of personal freedom
Totalitarianism
government where rulers have total unchecked control of the nation
constitution
the way in which a government is organized
Confederacy
group of people joined together for common purpose
Evolution theory
State began from family and extended family
Forced theory
People needed to cooperate to survive (build walls etc)
Divine Right Theory
Certain people chosen by god
Social Contract theory
States exist to protect and serve the people, without government life would be harsh
Duties of National government
-collect taxes
-provide national defense
-establish currency
-post office/roads
-create lower courts
-declare war
-print money
-make treaties/conduct foreign policy
-interstate/international trade
-patent laws
-supreme court
-punish counterfeit
-naturalization rules
Difference between monarchy and democracy
Monarchy has a single ruler with absolute authority where citizens have little to no say versus a democracy where the majority rules, people vote for representatives, power/rights to the people, no totalitarianism or authoritarianism
Advantages of a Federal System of Government
-separation of powers
-protect individual rights
-local governments handle smaller issues better
-suits large country with large population
Disadvantages of Federal System of Government
-state government can resist national
-economic/racial inequality
-smaller units may lack money/resources
-national unity difficult to maintain
Examples of checks and balances
- congress can impeach president
-president can veto laws
-president can nominate supreme court justices
-supreme court can declare laws unconstitutional
-supreme court can declare president’s action unconstitutional
-congress can impeach justices
John Locke’s definition of a social contract
Government was created through consent of the people to be ruled by the majority
