Introduction Flashcards
Politics
The organisation of power and decision making in society
Law
Rules of behaviour enforced by sanctions and imposed by a sovereign authority
Rules
Guides to behaviour possibly enforced by sanctions imposed within a group
Customs
A traditional or excepted way of behaving
Government
- the body that has the power the power to carry out the laws and run the society it is in
- Combined institutions on a level of power and decision making in a country
The Heavenly Mandate
Traditional Chinese concept, heaven would bless the authority of a fair and just leader, but be displeased with a despotic ruler and withdraw the mandate
The divine right of kings
European concept justifies absolute power of the monarch as they derive their right to rule directly from god
The god emperor
The ruler is considered to be a living god
Dictatorship
Rule by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control
Single party system
Power is restricted to or by a single group with a unified goal
Theocracy
A form of government in which a ‘god’ or ‘deity’ is recognised as the supreme ruler
Monarch
A monarch who obtains power through hereditary means
Oligarchy
Political power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society who have equal power
Artiscocracy
Power is wielded by an elite section of society
Anarchy
There is no government