Government Notes Quiz

Question 1

Politics

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Government

Answer 2

The institutions (authority) that actually determine who gets what, when, and how (by making public policy)

Question 3

Public policy

Answer 3

Decisions (rules) or non-decisions made by govt to settle political issues

What govt decides to do

Govt choice

Question 4

Political issues

Answer 4

An issue that arises out of conflict between the people about a political problem and how to fix it

Question 5

Policy agenda

Answer 5

Those policy items that govt officials decide to address

Question 6

Political values

Answer 6

Those elements (ideas/core beliefs) which guide a person’s decisions regarding public policy

Question 7

Study the policy making process chart

Answer 7

YOU GOT THIS!!!

Question 8

Linkage institution

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Policy agenda

Answer 9

Political issues that attract attention of govt officials and other polit actors (set by govt. policy makers, but influenced by linkage institutions ESP. MEDIA)

Question 10

Policy making institutions

Answer 10

(Government) those in branches of govt at state and federal level

Ex: congress, pres, courts, the federal bureaucracy, state legislatures, governors, etc

Question 11

Types of policy: who decides?

What’s bureaucracy?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Enlightenment:

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Enlightenment beliefs:

Answer 13

Democracy
Liberty (freedom)
Equality of opportunity
Importance of checking self-interest

Question 14

State of nature

Answer 14

People are naturally free and equal, but this freedom inevitably leads to inequality and chaos

Question 15

Natural law

Answer 15

In natural state men are ruled by laws of nature

• innate moral laws
• stronger than human (govt) law

Question 16

Natural rights

Answer 16

Life, liberty, property

Arise out of this natural law

Question 17

Self interest

Answer 17

A natural characteristic of man; cause of inequality and chaos (threatens natural rights) changes s.o.n

Question 18

Consent of the governed (social contract)

Answer 18

People willingly give up some freedom (consent) to form govts to protect natural rights forming a contract between ppl and govt

Question 19

Right to revolt

Answer 19

Occurs when govt breaks contract

Question 20

Limited govt

Answer 20

In order to honor its contract, power of govt, must be restricted so that it does only those things citizens allow

Question 21

Democracy

Answer 21

All authority rests with people

Govt expresses will of people

Question 22

Direct democracy

Answer 22

Ppl make and vote on laws directly themselves

Question 23

Representative (indirect) democracy

Answer 23

Ppl. Vote a small group of people (representatives) to make a vote on laws

Question 24

Dictatorship

Answer 24

1 person or small group of people have political authority

Those who rule aren’t responsible to will of ppl

Question 25

Autocracy

Answer 25

1 person holds all power (military dictator, absolute monarch)

Question 26

Oligarchy

Answer 26

Small group holds all power

Question 27

Republic

Answer 27

A elected govt limited by rule of law

Question 28

All repl. Democracies are

Answer 28

Republics

Question 29

Traditional theory of democracy

Problem?

Answer 29

1. Citizen control of agenda through majority rule and representative (majoritarianism)
   - minority always loses
2. Equality in voting
3. Effective in participation (all citizens participate)
4. Enlightened understanding (society marketplace of ideas and citizens understand political issues)
5. Inclusion (minority rights are protected from abuse by majority) biggest concern of framers

Question 30

Pluralist theory

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Elite and class theory

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Hyper pluralism

Answer 32

Groups are so strong that government is weakened

Exaggerated form of pluralism

Results in:
Confusing/contradictory policies
Gridlock: inability to act at all