Chapter 15 - Politcal Groups And Systems Flashcards
Politics
Is the use of power to determine who gets what in society.
Power
The ability to control the behavior of others to, to make the decisions about their rights and privileges, and to see to it that people obey the rules.
Physical force
The use of physically restraining someone by force or hurting someone to have them comply with rules. Usually accomplishes little.
Latent force
The threat of force, is usually more powerful than force alone. (Like kidnappers)
Legitimate Power
Power that is accepted by the people in a society as being necessary and beneficial.
Authority
Power accepted as legitimate by those it affects.
Traditional authority
The leader of the group leads by tradition and custom. (Like a father that leads his family in some customs.
Charismatic Authority
Based on the personal attributes of the leader. When a person wins the respect and authority to lead.
Legal Authority
Based on a system of rules and regulations that determine how the society will be governed. In the U.S. It is congress and the constitution.
States
Societies with institutional government and laws as a means of political regulation, a military defense, and a way to finance activities.
City-States
A city and the surrounding area ruled independently of other areas.
Nation-State
Large territories ruled by a single political institution.
Structural Functional Theory of Leadership
Belief that the government must choose laws and regulations according to the dominant society. They must choose what is correct and will not impinge individual rights of the people.
Conflict Theory of leadership
Belief that people are drawn together to find resources. the people who have the Most resources create laws and regulations and hire people to protect their wealth and power. they support their economic interests. The majority of people follow because the wealthy have control of media that teaches the population.
Democracy
A power structure in which people govern themselves, either directly or through elected representatives.
Oligarchy
Government by a small elite group
Iron law of Oligarchy
In democratic societies, the inevitable rise of the few elite leaders who dominate power.
Citizen
Greek term - one who is considered a member of a state and who is entitled to the privileges and freedoms granted to members of the state.
Totalitarianism
A system of rule where the government has total control. the power to dictate the values, rules, ideology, and economic development of a society.
Political Parties
Groups of citizens formed with the express intent of gaining control of the political body of the state.
Power Elite
A small group of people who hold all the powerful positions and cooperate to maintain their positions.
Political Pluralism
A political system in which many diverse groups have a share of the power. (The U.S. Has many different political groups, social groups, religious groups that all pressure politics to protect their own interests therefore not one group can have absolute power because they all balance each other out.)
Political action committees
Organizations formed to raise money for a political campaign
Incumbents
The elected officials who already hold office and are trying to be reelected.
