Chapter 17: Government and Politics Flashcards
absolute monarchies
governments wherein a monarch has absolute or unmitigated power
anarchy
the absence of any organized government
authority
power that people accept because it comes from a source that is perceived as legitimate
charismatic authority
power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities
constitutional monarchies
national governments that recognize monarchs but require these figures to abide by the laws of a greater constitution
democracy
a form of government that provides all citizens with an equal voice or vote in determining state policy
dictatorship
a form of government in which a single person (or a very small group) wields complete and absolute authority over a government or populace after the dictator rises to power, usually through economic or military might
monarchy
a form of government in which a single person (a monarch) rules until that individual dies or abdicates the throne
oligarchy
a form of government in which power is held by a small, elite group
one person, one vote
a concept holding that each person’s vote should be counted equally
patrimonialism
a type of authority wherein military and administrative factions enforce the power of the master
politics
a means of studying a nation’s or group’s underlying social norms as values as evidenced through its political structure and practices
power
the ability to exercise one’s will over others
rational-legal authority
power that is legitimized by rules, regulations, and laws
representative democracy
a government wherein citizens elect officials to represent their interests
