Chapter One- Principles Of Government Flashcards
Essential Features of a State (4)
- Population
- Territory
- Sovereignty
- Government
Purposes of Government (4)
- Maintain Social Order
- Provide Public Services
- Provide National Security
- Make Economic Decisions
How do governments derive their power? (2)
- Legitimacy (Consent of Governed)
- Ability to use coercive force
Government Systems (and definition) (2)
- Unitary: national government has all the power; may delegate to some states.
- Federal: power is divided between national and state governments.
The word “Federal”s two meanings
- Federal as in federalism. Power is divided between the nation and the states.
- Pertaining to a nation (country) rather than a state.
Constitution Definition
-A plan that provides the rules for government.
Constitutions Purposes (3)
- Describes country’s ideals.
- Establishes the structure of the government.
- Supreme law of the land.
(May be written or unwritten)
Constitutional Government Definition
- Limited government; constitution has the authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern. Not totalarian.
Constitutions… (3)
- Are always incomplete
- Usually have a preamble/ sets forth goals and purposes of government.
- Are divided into articles and sections.
Government Definition
- Institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens.
Politics Definition
- Effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government.
Special Interests Definition
- Groups with a particular agenda that try to influence politics.
Constitutional Law Definition
- Involves interpretation and application of the constitution, which is the “supreme law of the lands”.
Major types of Government (10)
- Autocracy
- Totalarian
- Dictatorship
- Absolute Monarchy
- Constitutional Monarchy
- Oligarchy Democracy
- Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Representational Democracy
- Republic
Characteristics of Democracy (4)
- Individual Liberty
- Majority Rule with Minority rights
- Free Elections
- Competing Political Parties
Conditions Necessary for Democracy (5)
- Active Citizen Participation
- Favorable Economy
- Widespread Education
- Strong Civil Society
- Social Consensus
Capitalism Definition
- An economic system in which freedom of choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises are emphasized.
Free Market Definition
- Means that the government places no limit on freedom of buyers and sellers to make economic decisions.
Laissez Faire Definition
- Means to “let alone” in French. The market would act as an “invisible hand” funding economic choices the best possible results.
What are the ECONOMIC differences between Socialism and Capitalism (2 each)
Socialism
- planned/command economy
- public ownership of means of production
Capitalism
- market economy
- private ownership
What are the POLITICAL differences between Socialism and Capitalism (3 each)
Socialism
- single party system
- repressive govt
- criticism and opposition not tolerated
Capitalism
- two party system
- individual freedoms
- right to criticize and oppose state
Democratic Socialism Definition
- Democratic political system with partly socialist economic system.
