government Flashcards
1
Q
autocracy
A
- government in which one person has all the power (i.e. dictatorship, monarchy)
- unchecked power
- citizens have less/no say
2
Q
dictatorship
A
- one leader has absolute control over citizens’ lives
- dictator controls constitution (if there is one)
- other branches do what the dictator tells them, have no real power, and don’t represent citizens
3
Q
monarchy
A
- king or queen rules the country
- typically through family line
- constitutional monarchy (more so modern): monarch acts as a figurehead and participates in ceremonial roles
- absolute (traditional) monarchy: monarch has unlimited power over state and gov’t
4
Q
democracy
A
citizens hold political power (i.e. direct democracy, representative democracy)
5
Q
direct democracy
A
- citizens are directly involved in governing (lawmaking, acting as judges)
- no representatives
- historically Athens used this BUT modern countries are too large
6
Q
representative democracy
A
- citizens elect leaders to represent their right and interest in government
- elected officials do governing
- citizens hold power through voting
(i. e. parliament, congress)
7
Q
oligarchy
A
- small group of people hold power (or few people control country)
- usually means only a certain group has political rights (social class, political party, or race)
- junta = small group of ppl, usually military officers, who rule a country after taking it over by force; often what rises to power after a military coup; operates much like a dictatorship (just shared power)
8
Q
theocracy
A
- government that recognizes God or divine being as the ultimate authority
- religious law is used to settle disputes
- can also be a democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, or any other kind of government
- found in countries where population is strongly religious
(i. e. Iran recognizes Islamic law, but citizens vote to elect their leaders)
9
Q
anarchy
A
- nobody is in control or everyone is
- could be used to describe human existence before any governments developed
- anarchists believe that people should be allowed to freely associate together without being subject to a government or nation
- no countries have an anarchy
10
Q
political spectrum
A
a classification of different political ideologies from left wing to right wing and everything in between
11
Q
capitalism
A
- private citizens control the economy
- privately owned production and businesses
- no gov’t intervention (i.e. free markets)
- goods produced for trade according to the market
- authoritarian right side
- Boris Yeltsin, Adam Smith
- Western nations (UK, US, etc.)
12
Q
liberalism
A
- freedom, equality, and opportunity
- individual rights
- civil liberties
- democracy
- free enterprise
- umbrella for political views including socialism & conservatism
- John Locke
- England
13
Q
conservatism
A
- traditional values!! opposition to change
- free enterprise
- private ownership
- right/middle wing
- Edmund Burke
- U.S.
14
Q
fascism
A
- combination of communism and capitalism
- privately owned industry supervised by gov’t
- exclusion of certain group(s), often thru violence
- rejection of ppls rights
- extreme right wing
- Adolf Hitler - Germany
- Mussolini - Italy
15
Q
socialism
A
property SHOULD be owned by the community
- industrial production is communally owned and managed by gov’t
- for production instead of profit
- just distribution of wealth – individuals get equal shares of economic resources
- left side of spectrum; near liberalism and communism
- Karl Marx
- Europe
16
Q
communism
A
- classless society
- everyone gets what they need
- for-profit enterprise
- public ownership of property, industry, agriculture, and natural recourses
- property and economic recourses owned and controlled by state
- extreme left wing
- Joseph Stalin
- North Korea
17
Q
libertarianism
A
- advocates free will, individual rights, and voluntary cooperation
- property rights
- private ownership
- gov’t limited to defending citizens
- opposed to gov’t coercion
- right of spectrum but left wing implied in social issues
- Lao-Tzu
- England
18
Q
South Africa
A
- Oligarchy during apartheid (but now democracy) – based on race
- white minority as leaders
- black majority and other ethnic groups were not represented in gov’t
- political power given based on race solely
19
Q
Zimbabwe
A
- Robert Mugabe
- military dictatorship
- established one party rule
- converted from democracy to one party dictatorship
- elected thru election
20
Q
Argentina
A
- Juan Peron
- dictatorship
- limited constitutional liberties, tried to make new constitution to permit his reelection, controlled political life thru armed forces
- part of coup, then left and returned, winning thru election
21
Q
Soviet Union
A
- Joseph Stalin
- dictatorship
- gained popularity then came to power and silenced/killed everyone who opposed him
- seized power after Lenin’s death and killed competition
22
Q
UK
A
- Queen Elizabeth II
- (constitutional) monarchy
- head of commonwealth
- parliament does governing, royal family/monarch is ceremonial figurehead
- hereditary power thru family line
23
Q
Jordan
A
- Abdullah II
- (traditional) monarchy
- committed to ruling peacefully by maintaining good international relationships
- assumed power after death of father
24
Q
Malaysia
A
- Sultan of Pahang
- (constitutional) monarchy
- commander in chief of military, head of Islam in Malaysia
- last leader renounced throne
- 9 sultans trade/rotate power thru vote between them
- prime minister and governing body does day to day governing
25
Mexico
- democracy
- 3 branches (executive, legislative, judicial) that check and balance one another
- power to people thru voting
