Chapter 1 Quiz

Question 1

Demolition derby

Answer 1

complete destruction of one’s opponent

Question 2

Machiavellian

Answer 2

politicians who use cunning tricks and amoral tactics in the power struggle game

Question 3

Walkout

Answer 3

players walk out of the game and refuse to return until the opposition agrees to give them something they want

Question 4

Horse-trading

Answer 4

objective is to achieve a win-win situation(a compromise)

Question 5

Institutions

Answer 5

organizations or set of rules that shape the behavior of groups; they have a social purpose and permanence in human affairs

Question 6

State

Answer 6

a geographical area controlled by a single government

Question 7

Nation

Answer 7

a group of people who share a common ethnic origin, culture, and language

Question 8

Nation-states have four characteristics

Answer 8

1. Territorial integrity (occupies a specific geographic territory, with internationally recognized borders)
2. Stable population (people living permanently within their borders)
3. Code of laws (ppl agree to live under a common legal system)
4. National sovereignty (independent and self-governing)

Question 9

Polity

Answer 9

the best qualified citizens, whether rich or poor, would dominate government

Question 10

Aristotle classified government in 2 ways

Answer 10

1. How many ppl are involved in governing(1 powerful ruler, a few upper-class aristocrats, or the mass of the common people)
2. Motivation to make decisions (ideal rulers cared about common good corrupt ones were selfish)

Question 11

Governments have two powers that are essential for providing protection and public goods.

Answer 11

1. Means of coercion: the various ways gov can use it’s power to force citizens to behave in certain ways(one type of power) ex) police, court, prison or involuntary services required of citizens ex) military draft, jury duty
2. Means of collecting revenue (All governments need money to provide security and pay for public goods. They get this money from the people they govern. Ancient empires collected tribute(payments), from smaller states they controlled. Through taxation the Qin dynasty acquired the resources it needed to build the great wall.)

Question 12

2 characteristics of public goods:

Answer 12

1. More than one person can consume them without reducing the amount available to others
2. Once a public good is made available, all people have the right to use it

Question 13

Purposes of government

Answer 13

maintaining public order, protecting life and property, and providing public goods

Question 14

Formal authority

Answer 14

power that has been defined in some legal or other official way (ppl with formal authority have the legal right to use power. The source of their authority may be a constitution, contract, or other legal document

Question 15

Coercion

Answer 15

the use of force

Question 16

social contract theory

Answer 16

popularized by English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke which said the legitimacy of a government stems from an unwritten contract between the ruler and the ruled. People agree to obey the ruler in exchange for the ruler’s promise to protect their rights and refusing to do so would remove the ruler from their power.

Question 17

divine right of kings

Answer 17

Similar to Chinese mandate of heaven but this said European monarchs represented god on earth. They don’t have to answer to the people for their actions.

Question 18

mandate of heaven

Answer 18

a doctrine of legitimacy that said the ruler was the son of heaven and has authority over all under heaven. But if the ruler failed to rule well, the mandate of heaven would pass to someone else

Question 19

How was the U.S. born?

Answer 19

The U.S. was born from rebellion of authority against the British which the declaration of independence supported. Many lost faith in government itself which is still true to this day.

Question 20

Public good

Answer 20

a product or service that is available for all people to consume, whether they pay for it or not

Question 21

Legitimacy

Answer 21

the quality of being accepted as an authority, often applied to laws or those in power

Question 22

Power

Answer 22

the ability to cause others to behave as they might not otherwise choose to do

Question 23

Government

Answer 23

institutions and officials organized to establish and carry out public policy

Question 24

Authority

Answer 24

the legal right or power to give orders and enforce rules