component 1 definitions Flashcards
power
capacity/ability A to control B
(do something they would not do of free choice)
[make and implement decisions affecting population/certain groups]
Authority
rightful power
[limits defined by law/constitution]
legitimacy
Right to rule
[power excersised in rightful/justified/accepted manner] can fluctuate
theocracy
ruled by religion
-vatican
-islamic republic of iran
-“north korea”
aristocracy
ruled by the “best”
meritocracy
ruled by the “best qualified”
name the 5 key features of democracy?
-electoral process + pluralism
-civil liberties
-fubctioning govt
-political participation
-political culture
democracy
all citizens equally entitled to participate in societies decisions about policys
universal suffrage
right of ALL adults to vote (however adulthood is defined)
political participation
-examples
involvement of citizens in politics
[voting/party membership/pressure groups]
consent
assent/permission
[implies agreement to be governed/ruled]
direct democracy
direct,immediate,continuous participation by citizens in tasks of govt.
[no distinction govt:ppl]
representative democracy
limited and indirect form of democ.
[elect reps who speak for and act on behalf of public]
general election
full parliamentary election [650 seats available]
robert a dahls 5 metbods of judging a democracy
participation
voting equality
understanding
agenda setting
universal
main governing body in athenian democracy
Ekklesia (assembly)
section of athenian democracy that did the hands on running of the state
the Boule (council)
the “legal” section of athenian democracy
the dikasteria (popular courts)
in representative democracy popular participation is
indirect
limited
mediated
participation crisis
lack of interest by significant no. citizens in processes to influence govt and shape policies
[BIG issue for democracy-undermines legitimacy of elected institutions]
good friday agreement
ended 30yrs of “troubles” between republicans and loyalists
-devolution settlment [established new govt. and par. in NI-power shared between both sides]
trade unions
group employees join together to maintain/improve conditions of their empolyment
direct action
political action in the form of protest
[force change w/o going though traditional channels (ie govt.)
civil disobedience
justified law breaking [create more just and fair society]
democratic defecit
flaw in democratic process wherin decisions made by ppl who lack legitimacy
constitution
set of rules/principles for conduct of govt. and policies in a state
initiative
gives ppl power to propose a new law/constitutional ammendment and then vote on it
recall election
allows voting public to trigger special election to remove their elected rep before their end in office
constituency
area whos voters elect an MP [650 in UK]
bi-election
take place when seat in house of comms becomes empty between elections
franchise/suffrage
righto to vote in public elections
