Political Science Flashcards
What are civil liberties?
Fundamental individual rights given to all citizens by law.
Which of the following topics does NOT fall within the scope of Political Science?
Social diversity. Political science studies and analyzes the structure of government and other political institutions, and politics in general.
Criteria for being President of the U.S.
- Over 35 years old
- Natural-born U.S. citizen
- U.S. resident for at least 14 years
For what length of term are federal judges appointed?
Life. They are appointed by the President .
Thomas Hobbes views the social contract primarily as a means of…?
Maintaining order to escape the violent chaos of nature.
Thomas Hobbes- “The Leviathan” Absolute ruler.
Hobbes believed that if society were left to its natural state, people would act violently because they would be inclined to try to prevent their own deaths and to try to gain the power that they inherently crave. Hobbes argued in The Leviathan that people had drawn up a social contract among themselves to give up power to someone who could protect them. So, he believed society was all too willing to give up liberty in return for security and community. For Hobbes, the social contract justified the need for an absolute ruler who would take care of the people.
Which one of these is NOT a metaphor for a type of social power?
Power of the Heavens.
Social Power.
The ability to get someone to act the way we want them to. The “power of the pen” is important in politics because it allows us to use our voice to express our ideas and to influence, or manipulate others. The “power of the sword” is based on our ability to get what we want , regardless of whether or not it would be a good action for the other person. The “power of the purse” comes from our ability to refrain from doing what someone else wants us to do.
Which of the following are primarily responsibilities of the state?
Ensuring public safety, administering and certifying elections, and recording birth and death certificates. (local)
How are local governments chartered?
A local government is chartered according to its state’s constitution. Just as the policies enacted by the state government must not conflict with federal law, a local government is subject to the legal environment created by the state’s constitution and statues.
Government by the many is called?
Is what we have in the U.S.: constitutional democracy.
Which of the following terms is closely relate to the term autocracy?
Despotism, or rule by a despot.
The modern democratic state in which the people do NOT take a direct role in legislating or governing, but elect representatives to express their views and wants is called…?
A republic. The a democratic government exists when these representatives are freely chosen by the people, whose wants and demands are reorganized by the duly elected government.
