Politics

Question 1

The levels of government that exist

Answer 1

1) The Federal government,
2) the state government,
3) & the local governments

Question 2

The federal government

Answer 2

The Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the Federal courts, respectively. … For a full listing of Federal Agencies, Departments, and Commissions, visit USA.gov.

Only the federal government can regulate interstate and foreign commerce, declare war and set taxing, spending and other national policies. These actions often start with legislation from Congress, made up of the 435-member House of Representatives and the 100-member U.S. Senate.

Question 3

The state government

Answer 3

The state government oversees affairs within state borders. It raises income taxes and oversees state welfare programs, such as Medicaid. It also controls the state criminal code, maintains state roads, and carries out federal laws and programs at the state level.

State and local governments exercise important functions in the United States. They plan and pay for most roads, run public schools, provide water, organize police and fire services, establish zoning regulations, license professions, and arrange elections for their citizens.

Municipalities generally take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services (including public transportation), and public works (streets, sewers, snow removal, signage, and so forth).

Question 4

The local government

Answer 4

Local government is responsible for a range of vital services for people and businesses in defined areas. Among them are well known functions such as social care, schools, housing and planning and waste collection, but also lesser known ones such as licensing, business support, registrar services and pest control.

Municipalities are the most important administrative unit of local government. Each municipality has its own government and council, with elections taking place every four years.

Local government manages those services that are nearest to your day to day life – water, roads, public safety, parking and so much more. Although we can pack our bags and testify before Congress and state legislature, it’s much easier (and more impactful) to give your opinions before county or city government.

State and local governments exercise important functions in the United States. They plan and pay for most roads, run public schools, provide water, organize police and fire services, establish zoning regulations, license professions, and arrange elections for their citizens.

Municipalities generally take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services (including public transportation), and public works (streets, sewers, snow removal, signage, and so forth).

Question 5

Legislative branch powers

Answer 5

The legislative branch is made up of the House and Senate, known collectively as the Congress. Among other powers, the legislative branch makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies.

Question 6

Executive branch powers

Answer 6

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.

Question 7

Judicial branch powers

Answer 7

The judicial branch decides the constitutionality of federal laws and resolves other disputes about federal laws. However, judges depend on our government’s executive branch to enforce court decisions. Courts decide what really happened and what should be done about it.

Question 8

Political theory

Answer 8

Political theory is the study of political ideas and values like justice, power and democracy that we use to describe, understand and assess political practices and institutions.

Question 9

Political ideas

Answer 9

In social studies, a political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.

Question 10

The 4 political ideas

Answer 10

In social studies, a political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.

Question 11

History of political ideas

Answer 11

History of political ideas is about ideas, theories and traditions in the western history of political ideas from antiquity to the present. … It enables students to understand and communicate the central ideas in the field and provides a basis against which they can form an opinion on many contemporary political issues.

Question 12

Different groups that influence the government

Answer 12

One chief means of influencing the American government is by joining an INTEREST GROUP — an organization that pressures elected officials to enact legislation favorable to its causes.

Question 13

Interest groups

Answer 13

Types of Interest Groups

1) Actually, there are three major types of interest groups. Animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) and environmental interest groups such as GREENPEACE usually organize as PUBLIC-INTEREST GROUPS. These groups claim to work not for self interest but for the best interest of the public.
2) Underpaid professional workers may organize as groups
3) Lawyers belong to the AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION group
4) doctors belong to the AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION group
5) teachers belong to the NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION or the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS group
6) Labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and the TEAMSTERS’ UNION to protect workers in factories or businesses group
7) CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM group
8) NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION group
9) The National Organization for Women (NOW)
- The National Organization for Women (NOW) pressures Congress and other legislative bodies to adopt laws and measures that they feel most benefit American women. They also work hard to get more women into elected office.
10) International Organization group

Etc..

Note :

The most common type of interest group is formed around businesses, corporations, and trade associations. Part of their reputation for power is based on the fact that they represent about half of all interest groups in Washington. People who criticize interest groups for having undue power in government believe that the business groups get special privileges for people who already have more wealth and power than ordinary citizens. For example, the oil and tobacco industries each have interest groups who promote their respective interests on CAPITOL HILL.

Question 14

(PAC) Political Action Committee group

Answer 14

who serve as special political arms for the interest groups.

Question 15

How interest groups work

Answer 15

Interest groups send representatives to state capitals and to Washington, D.C. to put pressure on members of Congress and other POLICYMAKERS. They engage in LOBBYING, or the organized process of influencing legislation or policy. Lobbying can take many forms. Interest groups can testify in CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. For example, several years ago, when Congress was considering discrimination in private clubs, representatives of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts appeared in hearings to try to persuade Congress to allow each one to remain a single-sex organization. Lobbyists also contact government officials directly or informally, present research results and technical information, talk with people from the press and the media, and sometimes even help to draft legislation.

Question 16

Campaign Finance Reform group

Answer 16

The number of PACs has grown rapidly since the early 1970s, when CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM laws were passed that restricted individual contributions to campaigns.

Question 17

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

Answer 17

contributors who write checks to them specifically for the purpose

Question 18

Do interest groups corrupt government ?

Answer 18

Do interest groups corrupt government by “buying” influence? Critics believe that they do because more money comes from businesses and corporations than from any other source. This, they contend, gives them a connection to government that ordinary people do not have. From another point of view, everyone is free to form and join interest groups. So many exist that there is literally a group for everyone. These multiple contacts make the American democracy stronger, because they give the opportunity for all Americans to have better access to their government.

Question 19

Institution strategies employed by the government

Answer 19

Most government institutions and individuals within the institutions have at least a rhetorical mandate of addressing poverty. While strategies adopted may not be clear, self-analysis may assist institutions to understand how they might be able to address poverty alleviation more effectively. Before this can be done the institution may need a degree of capacity building to enable them to perform this self-analysis and to measure their impact on poverty.

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Question 20

Process Strategies employed by government

Answer 20

A strategic process is concerned with making decisions. Decisions are made only after data from various sources is received. This data is received from both within the organization as well as from the environment outside the organization.

Question 21

Diplomacy

Answer 21

Diplomacy, the established method of influencing the decisions and behaviour of foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, negotiation, and other measures short of war or violence. … Historically, diplomacy meant the conduct of official (usually bilateral) relations between sovereign states.

Question 22

Diplomatic strategies employed by the government

Answer 22

The word diplomacy invokes images of international intrigue, power and strategy.

Question 23

Diplomatic strategies employed by the government … continued

Answer 23

6. Ignore Imposed Constraints
   It may be in your best interests to ignore deadlines and other constraints imposed by the other side. It’s important not to let the other side box you in.

Question 24

Military strategies employed by the government

Answer 24

The 2018 National Military Strategy (NMS) provides the Joint Force a framework for protecting and advancing U.S. national interests. Pursuant to statute, it reflects a comprehensive review conducted by the Chairman with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the unified combatant commanders.

Mini-theories of military strategy, consisting of the five basic military strategies of extermination, exhaustion, annihilation, intimidation and subversion, are woven together into a coherent military strategy theoretical framework.

Question 25

Sovereignty

Answer 25

Refers to the concept that people get to rule them selves

Question 26

Development

Answer 26

The concept of development refers to the process of growth in a country. Strategies are put together that are designed to improve the nation’s outlook. The tactics that country’s establish can include planning highways, water systems, the development of urban centers, improved agricultural processes, and higher quality amenities for people. Other examples of development can include planning for improved healthcare or communications access. In short, the concept of development has to do with the growth of a country. When researchers try to judge a country’s development, they look at mortality rates, employment rates, income levels, and other factors that indicate how much a country has improved the lives of its people.

Question 27

Underdevelopment

Answer 27

Underdevelopment is a related concept to development. The difference with underdevelopment is that it refers to a state when countries are lagging in their ability to improve the lives of its people. A country may have poor highways and transportation systems, for example. This would make it difficult for companies to operate in the country or even for people to just get around. Other signs of underdevelopment include low income levels, low literacy levels, or high mortality rates, among other factors.

Question 28

Law

Answer 28

Law and policy refer to the laws that govern a country and the policies by which a government operates. Law is often associated with the rule of law, meaning that everyone is accountable and will pay penalties for breaking the law. People can only be punished by an authority when there is actually a breach of the law. These basic principles establish that punishment can only occur within a certain context. Punishing people on a whim and without justification should not occur, at least if a country is operating according to democratic principles.

Question 29

Policy

Answer 29

Policy and law are often associated, but policy is more closely associated with guidelines that an authority agrees to follow when making decisions. It may be the policy of a country to preserve public lands, for example. When this is the case, it may pass laws that set apart lands for the public rather than selling those lands for private use by companies. Policies establish the goal an authority is hoping to meet and the principles it will adhere to when establishing laws.

Question 30

Rights

Answer 30

Rights refer to the what citizens are entitled. This concept establishes that there are fundamental rights people are owed that no law should break. For instance, in the United States Constitution, people are attributed fundamental rights in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights lists the right to free speech and the right to bear arms, as only two examples. These rights are important because they dictate what always may be passed and what may not. Laws can’t be passed that break a person’s right to free speech, for example. It’s important for a nation to establish what rights it considers fundamental, because this impacts the way the rest of its laws are established.

Question 31

Justice

Answer 31

Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes “deserving” being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspectives, including the concepts of moral correctness based on ethics, rationality, law, religion, equity and fairness.

Question 32

Politics

Answer 32

Politics (from Greek: Πολιτικά, politiká, ‘affairs of the cities’) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations between individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies politics and government is referred to as political science.

A narrow definition of politics refers to the activities of governments, politicians, or political parties. … Ordinary people can participate in politics, and every individual has the right to participate, including people with disabilities.

Politics. Politics is all about influence; who gets what, when and how. People have self-interests that generally can be solved if government can some way be persuaded to change policies, laws or procedures. Public involvement in these changes is called politics.

Politics is the study of how governments work, how public policies are made, international relations and political ideas - from democracy to human rights. You will learn to assess ideas and arguments and develop your written and spoken communication skills.

Question 33

Why do we study politics ?

Answer 33

Politics Helps You to Know Your Rights

It has truly educated us on a fundamental part of our society and has helped us to understand that if we engage in political processes, using the pressure points built into the system, then every individual really does have the opportunity to change the world.

Question 34

How did political science begin ?

Answer 34

Political science originated with the ancient Greeks in the first century BCE. During this time, the philosopher Plato wrote numerous dialogues about politics, asking about the nature of justice, what constitutes good government, and what is truly best for humanity.

Question 35

What did Aristotle say about political science ?

Answer 35

Political science is the practical science par excellence. It is the architectonic science, Aristotle argues, concerned with the human good, or happiness, generally, and therefore the one that orders all other sciences, such as medicine or farming.

Question 36

Who first used the term Political Science ?

Answer 36

Aristotle

The word politics comes from the Greek word polis, which means “city-state.” Probably the first person to use the term political science was Aristotle, a Greek philosopher who argued in favor of living a virtuous life.

Question 37

Democracy

Answer 37

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos ‘people’ and kratos ‘rule’) is a form of government in which the people have the authority to choose their governing officials or to deliberate and decide legislation via direct democracy. … The original form of democracy was a direct democracy.

Question 38

League of Nations

Answer 38

League of Nations, an organization for international cooperation established on January 10, 1920, at the initiative of the victorious Allied powers at the end of World War I.

Question 39

Allied powers

Answer 39

Also called allies,

a state formally cooperating with another state for a military or other purpose.

The major Allied powers in World War I were Great Britain (and the British Empire), France, and the Russian Empire, formally linked by the Treaty of London of September 5, 1914. Other countries that had been, or came to be, allied by treaty to one or more of those powers were also called Allies: Portugal and Japan by treaty with Britain; Italy by the Treaty of London of April 26, 1915, with all three powers. Other countries—including the United States after its entry on April 6, 1917—that were arrayed against the Central Powers were called “Associated Powers,” not Allied powers; U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson emphasized that distinction to preserve America’s free hand. The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) concluding the war listed 27 “Allied and Associated Powers”: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, the British Empire, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, the Hejaz, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serb-Croat-Slovene State, Siam, the United States, and Uruguay.

In World War II the chief Allied powers were Great Britain, France (except during the German occupation, 1940–44), the Soviet Union (after its entry in June 1941), the United States (after its entry on December 8, 1941), and China. More generally, the Allies included all the wartime members of the United Nations, the signatories to the Declaration of the United Nations. The original signers of January 1, 1942, were Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yugoslavia. Subsequent wartime signers were (in chronological order) Mexico, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Iraq, Brazil, Bolivia, Iran, Colombia, Liberia, France, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.

Question 40

Axis Powers

Answer 40

The Axis alliance began with Germany partnering with Japan and Italy and was cemented in September 1940 with the Tripartite Pact, also known as the Three-Power Pact, which had the “prime purpose to establish and maintain a new order of things… to promote the mutual prosperity and welfare of the peoples concerned.”

The major Axis Powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan. The alliance began to form in 1936. First, on October 15, 1936 Germany and Italy signed a friendship treaty that formed the Rome-German Axis. It was after this treaty that Italian dictator Benito Mussolini used the term Axis to refer to their alliance.

The three principal partners in the Axis alliance were Germany, Italy, and Japan. These three countries recognized German domination over most of continental Europe; Italian domination over the Mediterranean Sea; and Japanese domination over East Asia and the Pacific.

The Axis Powers is a term for those participants in World War II opposed to the Allies. The three major Axis powers, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Japanese empire, referred to themselves as the “Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.” The Axis powers ruled empires that dominated large portions of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, but they were ultimately defeated at the end of World War II.

Generally, however, the Axis powers were governed dictatorially by totalitarian regimes, while the Allies were democracies. The Axis powers restricted freedom of religion for minorities and others, while the Allies upheld religious liberty.

Question 41

Central Powers Vs. Axis Powers

Answer 41

Central Powers, World War I coalition that consisted primarily of the German Empire and Austria-Hungary, the “central” European states that were at war from August 1914 against France and Britain on the Western Front and against Russia on the Eastern Front. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy had been parties to a secret agreement, the Triple Alliance, from 1882 until World War I, but Italy entered the war in opposition to Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Ottoman Empire entered the war on the side of the Central Powers on October 29, 1914, as did Bulgaria on October 14, 1915.

Axis powers, coalition headed by Germany, Italy, and Japan that opposed the Allied powers in World War II. The alliance originated in a series of agreements between Germany and Italy, followed by the proclamation of an “axis” binding Rome and Berlin (October 25, 1936), with the two powers claiming that the world would henceforth rotate on the Rome-Berlin axis. This was followed by the German-Japanese Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union (November 25, 1936). Hostile acts of expansionism by the three countries during the 1930s sowed the seeds of world war. Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. Imperial

Allied powers, also called Allies, those countries allied in opposition to the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) in World War I or to the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) in World War II.

Question 42

Associated Powers

Answer 42

Other countries—including the United States after its entry on April 6, 1917—that were arrayed against the Central Powers were called “Associated Powers,” not Allied powers; U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson emphasized that distinction to preserve America’s free hand.

The major Allied powers in World War I were Great Britain (and the British Empire), France, and the Russian Empire, formally linked by the Treaty of London of September 5, 1914. Other countries that had been, or came to be, allied by treaty to one or more of those powers were also called Allies: Portugal and Japan by treaty with Britain; Italy by the Treaty of London of April 26, 1915, with all three powers. Other countries—including the United States after its entry on April 6, 1917—that were arrayed against the Central Powers were called “Associated Powers,” not Allied powers; U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson emphasized that distinction to preserve America’s free hand. The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) concluding the war listed 27 “Allied and Associated Powers”: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, the British Empire, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, the Hejaz, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serb-Croat-Slovene State, Siam, the United States, and Uruguay.

In World War II the chief Allied powers were Great Britain, France (except during the German occupation, 1940–44), the Soviet Union (after its entry in June 1941), the United States (after its entry on December 8, 1941), and China. More generally, the Allies included all the wartime members of the United Nations, the signatories to the Declaration of the United Nations. The original signers of January 1, 1942, were Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yugoslavia. Subsequent wartime signers were (in chronological order) Mexico, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Iraq, Brazil, Bolivia, Iran, Colombia, Liberia, France, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.

Question 43

Local Government Policy

Answer 43

A more practical definition for today’s local government environment is “Policy is the direction from a Council of what their intentions are in terms of governance.” Thus, policy can be defined as the political direction of a municipality, which describes the clear objectives and the form of administrative measures.

Question 44

What are major local government services ?

Answer 44

Their major services include: Public safety (police, fire, and ambulance); Environment and housing (sewerage, solid waste, parks, and building and code enforcement); and. Utilities (water, electric and public transit).

Question 45

What are major federal government services ?

Answer 45

Each executive department collects and publishes unique information.

Question 46

What are major state government services ?

Answer 46

A state government is the government of a country subdivision in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government.