Chapter 1 Quiz Flashcards
Demolition derby
complete destruction of one’s opponent
Machiavellian
politicians who use cunning tricks and amoral tactics in the power struggle game
Walkout
players walk out of the game and refuse to return until the opposition agrees to give them something they want
Horse-trading
objective is to achieve a win-win situation(a compromise)
Institutions
organizations or set of rules that shape the behavior of groups; they have a social purpose and permanence in human affairs
State
a geographical area controlled by a single government
Nation
a group of people who share a common ethnic origin, culture, and language
Nation-states have four characteristics
- Territorial integrity (occupies a specific geographic territory, with internationally recognized borders)
- Stable population (people living permanently within their borders)
- Code of laws (ppl agree to live under a common legal system)
- National sovereignty (independent and self-governing)
Polity
the best qualified citizens, whether rich or poor, would dominate government
Aristotle classified government in 2 ways
- How many ppl are involved in governing(1 powerful ruler, a few upper-class aristocrats, or the mass of the common people)
- Motivation to make decisions (ideal rulers cared about common good corrupt ones were selfish)
Governments have two powers that are essential for providing protection and public goods.
- 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
- 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.)
2 characteristics of public goods:
- More than one person can consume them without reducing the amount available to others
- Once a public good is made available, all people have the right to use it
Purposes of government
maintaining public order, protecting life and property, and providing public goods
Formal authority
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
Coercion
the use of force
social contract theory
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.
divine right of kings
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.
mandate of heaven
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
How was the U.S. born?
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.
Public good
a product or service that is available for all people to consume, whether they pay for it or not
Legitimacy
the quality of being accepted as an authority, often applied to laws or those in power
Power
the ability to cause others to behave as they might not otherwise choose to do
Government
institutions and officials organized to establish and carry out public policy
Authority
the legal right or power to give orders and enforce rules
