Chapter 15 - Politcal Groups And Systems

Question 1

Politics

Answer 1

Is the use of power to determine who gets what in society.

Question 2

Power

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Physical force

Answer 3

The use of physically restraining someone by force or hurting someone to have them comply with rules. Usually accomplishes little.

Question 4

Latent force

Answer 4

The threat of force, is usually more powerful than force alone. (Like kidnappers)

Question 5

Legitimate Power

Answer 5

Power that is accepted by the people in a society as being necessary and beneficial.

Question 6

Authority

Answer 6

Power accepted as legitimate by those it affects.

Question 7

Traditional authority

Answer 7

The leader of the group leads by tradition and custom. (Like a father that leads his family in some customs.

Question 8

Charismatic Authority

Answer 8

Based on the personal attributes of the leader. When a person wins the respect and authority to lead.

Question 9

Legal Authority

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

States

Answer 10

Societies with institutional government and laws as a means of political regulation, a military defense, and a way to finance activities.

Question 11

City-States

Answer 11

A city and the surrounding area ruled independently of other areas.

Question 12

Nation-State

Answer 12

Large territories ruled by a single political institution.

Question 13

Structural Functional Theory of Leadership

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Conflict Theory of leadership

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Democracy

Answer 15

A power structure in which people govern themselves, either directly or through elected representatives.

Question 16

Oligarchy

Answer 16

Government by a small elite group

Question 17

Iron law of Oligarchy

Answer 17

In democratic societies, the inevitable rise of the few elite leaders who dominate power.

Question 18

Citizen

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Totalitarianism

Answer 19

A system of rule where the government has total control. the power to dictate the values, rules, ideology, and economic development of a society.

Question 20

Political Parties

Answer 20

Groups of citizens formed with the express intent of gaining control of the political body of the state.

Question 21

Power Elite

Answer 21

A small group of people who hold all the powerful positions and cooperate to maintain their positions.

Question 22

Political Pluralism

Answer 22

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.)

Question 23

Political action committees

Answer 23

Organizations formed to raise money for a political campaign

Question 24

Incumbents

Answer 24

The elected officials who already hold office and are trying to be reelected.

Question 25

Lobbies

Answer 25

Are organizations of people who wish to influence the political process on specific issues. (Parties like large corporations that give money to politicians in order for the politicians to pass laws that are in favor of the lobby or to oppose laws that are not in favor.)

Question 26

Referenda

Answer 26

Questions on a ballot to be decided by the electorate (person voting).