Government Notes Quiz Flashcards
Politics
Process (how it’s done) by which it is determined by those in authority as to who gets what, when, and how (the authoritative allocation of scarce resources)
The how
Government
The institutions (authority) that actually determine who gets what, when, and how (by making public policy)
Public policy
Decisions (rules) or non-decisions made by govt to settle political issues
What govt decides to do
Govt choice
Political issues
An issue that arises out of conflict between the people about a political problem and how to fix it
Policy agenda
Those policy items that govt officials decide to address
Political values
Those elements (ideas/core beliefs) which guide a person’s decisions regarding public policy
Study the policy making process chart
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Linkage institution
Political, non-governmental institution created to help channel the people’s concerns (polit. issues) onto the policy agenda
Ex: elections, campaign polit. Parties, the MEDIA, interest groups
Policy agenda
Political issues that attract attention of govt officials and other polit actors (set by govt. policy makers, but influenced by linkage institutions ESP. MEDIA)
Policy making institutions
(Government) those in branches of govt at state and federal level
Ex: congress, pres, courts, the federal bureaucracy, state legislatures, governors, etc
Types of policy: who decides?
What’s bureaucracy?
Congressional laws
Govt budget decisions by congress/pres
- expenditure plans (aka appropriations)
- tax plans (aka revenues)
Presidential decisions (executive orders, executive agreements, etc.)
Bureaucratic agency rules
-bureaucracy:the executive agencies that actually carry out work of the govt
Enlightenment:
Euro movement that advocated use of logic and reason to find natural laws that regulate human society to reform society by creating better social institutions.
Enlightenment beliefs:
Democracy
Liberty (freedom)
Equality of opportunity
Importance of checking self-interest
State of nature
People are naturally free and equal, but this freedom inevitably leads to inequality and chaos
Natural law
In natural state men are ruled by laws of nature
- innate moral laws
- stronger than human (govt) law
Natural rights
Life, liberty, property
Arise out of this natural law
Self interest
A natural characteristic of man; cause of inequality and chaos (threatens natural rights) changes s.o.n
Consent of the governed (social contract)
People willingly give up some freedom (consent) to form govts to protect natural rights forming a contract between ppl and govt
Right to revolt
Occurs when govt breaks contract
Limited govt
In order to honor its contract, power of govt, must be restricted so that it does only those things citizens allow
Democracy
All authority rests with people
Govt expresses will of people
Direct democracy
Ppl make and vote on laws directly themselves
Representative (indirect) democracy
Ppl. Vote a small group of people (representatives) to make a vote on laws
Dictatorship
1 person or small group of people have political authority
Those who rule aren’t responsible to will of ppl
Autocracy
1 person holds all power (military dictator, absolute monarch)
Oligarchy
Small group holds all power
Republic
A elected govt limited by rule of law
All repl. Democracies are
Republics
Traditional theory of democracy
Problem?
- Citizen control of agenda through majority rule and representative (majoritarianism)
- minority always loses - Equality in voting
- Effective in participation (all citizens participate)
- Enlightened understanding (society marketplace of ideas and citizens understand political issues)
- Inclusion (minority rights are protected from abuse by majority) biggest concern of framers
Pluralist theory
Emphasizes politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
Similar groups will work together (form majorities)
Public interest will prevail
Elite and class theory
Societies are divided along class lines and upper middle elite will rule, regardless of formal niceties of governmental organization
Not all groups equal
Policies benefit those with money/power
Hyper pluralism
Groups are so strong that government is weakened
Exaggerated form of pluralism
Results in:
Confusing/contradictory policies
Gridlock: inability to act at all
