Modules 1-3 Flashcards
Free Election
Elections in which (1) more than one candidate runs for office, (2) the candidates present real alternatives by promising to promote different public policies (or stand for different values or principles) if elected, (3) no adult citizen is unjustly denied the right to vote, (4) all who have the right to vote have reasonable opportunity to exercise that right, and (5) everyone’s vote is counted.
Political Parties
Coalition of individuals and groups—bound together by relatively similar interests, beliefs and values—that seeks to influence government by getting members elected to office and by coordinating the actions of elected officials in government.
Constituents
Those whom elected officials represent and to whom they are held accountable via elections
Petition
A written request, signed by many people, asking government to address an issue
Interest Groups
refers to an association of individuals or organizations that seeks to influence government to benefit members of the association or advance a cause they share a belief in
Lobbying
activities aimed at influencing government through direct contact with government officials.
Jury
A group of citizens chosen at random to make judgments in one or more legal cases
Civil Disobedience
Deliberate, open acts of lawbreaking intended to create awareness of unjust laws or government practices and thereby catalyze reforms of those laws and practices
*Madison; “A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government” means:
Madison was giving insight on how to solve the “great difficulty” and that was to make sure there is “dependence on the people” (democracy) and to make “auxiliary precautions” (checks and balances). This all is based on the idea that the different parts of government exert enough power over one another to keep each other within their proper constitutional limits.
Constitutional Governments
governments that are effectively bound by fundamental laws
Racial Supremacy
when governments promote the supremacy of one racial group over another
Theocracy
a form of government whose primary purpose of enforcing and/or fulfilling the doctrines of a particular religion
State Socialism (aka Communism or Marxist-Leninist Socialism
an ideology of government that seeks to overthrow market capitalism and replace it with an equal society free of all class oppression
Limited Government
A principle of government that holds government must be empowered to serve its legitimate purposes, including the protection of rights, but it must also be limited and controlled in its powers so that it does not pose an unacceptable risk to rights
Socioeconomic Rights
Social or economic services or benefits that governments and/or private employers have a duty to provide or guarantee
Legal Rights
Written human made laws; may or may not be in accord with natural (or human) rights
Natural Rights (AKA: Human Rights)
Moral rights that all human beings possess even in a state of nature prior to the creation of government; natural rights that humans have even if the government does not recognize or secure them.
What are the 4 Human/Natural Rights?
- Natural right to life (not to be killed)
- Liberty (right to not be enslaved or physically restrained)
- Pursuit of Happiness without unjust interference by others
- Right to property (not have your valued items stolen)
ideology
refers to beliefs about the proper role of government (or legitimate purposes of government);
Public Goods
goods that once provided, no one in a group can be excluded from enjoying; goods that are non-excludable. Example: firework show that everyone can enjoy, no one is excluded.
Private Goods
goods that individuals within a group can be excluded from enjoying. Example: selling pens, those who do not pay are excluded from owning them.
Free-Riding
enjoying the benefits of a public good without bearing part of the burden in providing it.
Executive Branch
a set of institutions in government with the authority to put laws into effect. Including but not limited to, through the use of physical force by police or military
Legislative Branch
institution that creates laws
bureaucratic agencies
organizational units within the executive branch responsible for implementing specific public policies and/or providing public services
Judicial Branch
the branch of government consisting of courts of law)
Government
A set of institutions that endures over time and that, in relation to the people of a particular territory, authoritatively makes and enforces laws
Legislature of the Sate of Georgia
Georgia General Assembly (that has senate and house/2branches)
Legislature of the Federal Government
Congress (that has senate and house/2branches)
Federalism
authority if partly divided and partly shared between the federal government and the 50 state governments.
Statues
A law made by Congress or a state legislature
Ordinances
A law made by a city (or “municipal”) legislature
Regulations
Rules made by bureaucratic agencies that have the “force of law”
Sovereign
to be the highest authority to rule over a given territory.
Power of the Purse
the government’s ability to influence behavior by using money; the use of money to control behavior
Who controls “Power of the Purse”?
Legislative Branch
Power of the Sword
the government’s ability to influence behavior by using, or threatening to use, physical force through the police or military
Who controls “Power of the Sword”?
Executive Branch
American citizens are legally and institutionally enabled to exert control over the government by:
- Helping to Elect Who Serves in Government
- Seeking to Influence the Behavior of those Serving in Governments
- Working Outside the Normal Democratic Process in Order to Improve It
Politics
Non-violent, open, and free activities through which people, bound by the same stable democratic government, and who often have different opinions and interests, struggle to exert power over what government does
What are two (sometimes overlapping) sources of disagreement that are constant objects of political contention in the US?
interests and ideologies
Who wants more government regulation, liberals or social democrats?
Social Democrats!
Libertarians
adherents of which normally side with the Republican Party, that stand for the principle of minimal government.
Who opposes government regulation more, Libertarians or Conservatives?
Libertarians!
Fascism
Right-wing totalitarian ideology, who embrace class divisions, sought to subordinate and exterminate peoples it viewed as being inferior races, and viewed military triumph over other nations as the highest aspiration of politics.
“Politics of Interest”
Struggle to exert influence over government emanating from conflicting economic interests and the efforts by individuals and groups to advance public policies that benefit themselves and pass burdens onto others—basically when people often enter into politics in order to advance or protect their private interests.
“Principled Politics”
political conflicts emanating from genuine disagreements over ideology, justice, and/or what will truly be advantageous for the people
when people enter into politics for causes that do not serve their obvious self-interest
What are the 4 Political Scientific Models of American Politics?
Majoritarianism, Elite Theory, Pluralism, and Biased Pluralism
Majoritarianism
a model of American politics that says the opinions and interests of the majority of Americans tend to prevail, through the mechanism of democratic elections, in the struggle for power over government
Elite Theory
a tiny group of connected and wealthy Americans, totaling around 3000 in number, are the real rulers of America.
Pluralism
theory that says government is influenced by the efforts of multiple minority organized groups with opposing interests and values. And all citizens potentially affected by policies can and will organize and thereby exert influence over policy
Biased Pluralism
Model of American politics that sees the process as plural (i.e., represented by diverse values and interests) but biased toward the particular values and interests that concern and divide the relatively affluent and well educated.
