chapter 1 politics Flashcards
ABSOLUTE FREEDOMS
basis of a democratic society
good governments guarantee these freedoms
COLLECTIVE ACTION
Aims and needs of a society can only be achieved entirely or in part through government funding
POLITICS
Activity of making shared public descions and the means by which we create and modify our political and legal structures as well deciding on specific laws and public policies
GOVERNMENT
is a general term that covers political and legal structures and the roles and powers that we give to those structures
ROLES OF GOVERNMENT
Made of security, settling disputes, infrastructure, recent growth in functions, economic management, redistribution of incomes
SECURITY
improve public safety and provide a level of internal and external security that individuals cannot achieve alone
SETTLING DISPUTES
provides avenues of dispute settlement
development of criminal and civil law and the operation of courts and other public dispute settlement institutions remains a central role of government
INFASTRUCTURE
governments provide some economic infrastructure especially goods that cannot be provided by the private goods market e.g. lighthouse
RECENT GROWTH IN FUNCTIONS
Government built new transport and communication networks because of the economy growing rapidly
ECONOMIC MANAGMENT
Increased scope of government activity came increases in taxation and much higher levels of public expenditure
REDISTRUBUTION OF INCOME
Governments have been providing free or low cost services such as schools and hospitals government action can improve the standard of living of low to middle income earners
LEGSLATIVE FUNCTION
task of creating and modifying the laws of a society.
STATUTES
Made by parliament
DELEGATED LEGISLATION
Statutes give authority for others e.g. counsel
JUDGE-MADE LAW
judgements over time of courts and interpretations of statutes of statutes that modify their meaning
