I. Introductory Vocabulary Flashcards
What is the state?
The basic political unit in the world today.
What are the features of The State?
1) Population
2) Territory
3) Sovereignty (power)
4) Government
What are the types of states?
1) Unitary
2) Federal
3) Confederate
What is UNITARY? And where is it usually found?
Almost all power is located within national government.
Usually found in
a) small to medium sized compact countries
b) countries where everyone is the same (like ethnicity)
What is FEDERAL? And where is it usually found?
- 50-50 power shared between national and smaller units of government
- Usually found in
a) large land countries
b) ethnically mixed/diverse states
What is CONFEDERATE? And where is it usually found?
- Almost all power with smaller units of government
- Usually found in large geographic states with regionally placed ethnicities
(Usually not very effective)
What is a government? And what does it do?
The government is the engine that makes the state run!
It • Maintains Social Order • National Security/Defense • Social Services • Infrastructure
What is the constitution?
A basic plan for the government
That:
- Is the highest form of law
- May be written or unwritten
- May be infallible or just a “statement of purpose”
Types of Constitutions?
1) Republic
2) Monarchy
3) Constitutional Monarchy
What is a Republic Constitution?
a) all citizens are socially equal
b) elected representatives govern on behalf of the people
What is a Monarchy?
- Selected families have higher social status and run the government
What is a Constitutional Monarchy?
- select family has higher social status, but power limited by the people
What is politics?
- struggle among people to control power
What are the types of power?
1) Autocracy: Single strong ruler (Dictatorship)
2) Oligarchy: Select group of people (Dictatorship)
3) Democracy: Power rests with the people
Types of Democracies
- Direct democracy: People directly make decisions for themselves
- Representative (or indirect) Democracy: People elect others to make decisions on their behalf
Characteristics of a Representative Democracy
- Personal Liberty
- Respect for the Individual
- Equally for Opportunity
- Popular Consent (Majority Rule)
- Free & Fair Elections
- Freedom of Expression
- Right to assemble/protest
Democratic and Republican Party
Democratic: They believe that the federal government should take a more active role in people’s lives, particularly those who are in need. (Liberal)
Republican: They believe that the federal government should not play a big role in people’s lives. (Conservative)
Green and Libertarian Party
Green: promotes environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice. Etc.
Libertarian: non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism and the abolition of the welfare state.
American Independent/ Peace and Freedom Party
American Independent: limited constitutional government with emphasis on the rights of the several states to govern their own local affairs and educational systems. (Far right)
Peace and Freedom: committed to socialism, democracy, ecology, feminism and racial equality.
(Left wing)
What is capitalism?
Private ownership of production
Types of Capitalism
- Laissez-Faire (Libertarianism): No government intervention in the economy
- Mixed Market: Some gov. intervention
What is socialism?
economic production is owned by the public
Types of socialism
- Communism (Marxist-Leninism): all industry is owned by the state
- Democratic Socialism: “Key” industries are owned by the state. Government guarantees you a minimal quality of life.
What is fascism (nationalism)?
- State direction and planning of the economy but maintains capitalism
- usually found when government and the military are intertwined
