Politics quiz Flashcards
what are the 3 core functions of gov. and what is the desired outcome of these functions?
- make and enforce rules
- set up a system to resolve disputes among members of society.
- protect society from external attack
- desire to maintain order
what is government:
A specialized activity by those individuals and institutions who make and enforce public rules that apply to the community.
define politics:
process of conflict resolution in which support is mobilized and maintained for collective action, which usually results in compromise
define coalitions:
natural by-product of politics, which is the together of 2 or more parties during a conflict of interest
What are the 3 types of coalitions?
- Political party
- Formal coalition
- Personal coalition
define a political party coalition:
a group of individuals who share similar political outlooks/views and who work together to win power (mass politics in large democracies)
define formal coalition:
An agreement among actors to work together and this agreement is written down and lays out the benefits and obligations of membership (NATO)
define personal coalition:
Small scale and are based on personal relationships
define power:
Social ability to get others to do what you want.
what are the 3 types of power?
- influence
- coercion
- authority
define the power of Influence:
when you persuade or convince someone to do something you want.
what are the 4 forms of influence:
- An appeal to self interest (why its in their benefit)
- An appeal to group solidarity (How it’ll be good for the group)
- An appeal to intellect (you present facts/logical arguments that demonstrate how/why what you want them to do is good)
- Appeal to their emotion (get them upset/angry)
define the power of Coercion:
The subjection of one will by another based on fear of unpleasant consequences. The target agrees, but involuntarily.
- Ex: Tickets, fines, prison, strike, torture, etc…
define the power of Authority:
The source of a command is seen as having the right to do so and those receiving it accept their obligation to obey.
- the gov. like this type of power best
what are the 2 types of authority
- A natural authority
- Public authority
define a natural authority:
based on the human tendency to initiate/lead or follow/imitate
define a public authority:
when authority is placed in an office/position
- Ex: police, prime minister, judge
What are Weber’s 3 authority models and what did these models look at:
- traditional
- legal
- charismatic
- looked at how societies were organized and where authority was placed/held.
define traditional authority model:
-Authority was concentrated/held by a single individual.
- this position of social dominance was passed on by inheritance
- positions in gov. were awarded to those who were loyal to their ruler.
- their capacity to perform their functions was a secondary concern.
- Very little social mobility: little chances for people to improve their socio-economic status.
-Rigid divisions among classes
why was the ways of the traditional authority model acceptable?
- Tradition: things were always this way
- Divine right to rule: god wants things this way
- Featured ‘rule of man’
- the law is unpredictable and is used by the ruler to punish their enemies
define legal authority model:
- authority is placed in a legal document (constitution), which is perceived by the population as being legitimate.
- another feature is the ‘rule of law’: the same rules apply equally to all and are enforced without bias
- gov. offices/ positions are increasingly open to a wider segment of the population. competence becomes important (meritocracy)
- social mobility: its possible to improve your socio-economic status.
- this model often happens when revolutions happen
define charismatic authority model:
- may appear during periods of enduring crisis.
- in these situations, a charismatic leader may be granted legitimacy when other forms of authority have failed.
2 general types of charismatic authority leadership:
- A leader claims or is believed to communicate with a higher power. ex: prophets like Joan of arc
- A leader who claims to have a historic mission to return a fallen people to its former glory. Ex: Hitler and Mussolini
define sovereign:
The crown is superior to society
define sovereignty:
Absolute authority that overrides all other authorities
what are the 3 types of sovereignty:
- Individual sovereignty
- Parliamentary sovereignty
- popular sovereignty
define individual sovereignty:
That sovereignty is held by a single individual. (Queen, King, Crown)
define parliamentary sovereignty with 3 examples and the person it was advanced by:
- William Blackstone believed that sovereignty could be held and used by groups working together.
1. crown
2. house of lords
3. house of commons - to be used, all 3 groups would need to agree
define popular sovereignty:
- articulated by Jean-Jacque Rousseau
- He argued that every single individual is sovereign
- meant that individuals would need to gather, discuss and make collective decisions.
- direct-democracy: people participate directly in decision-making of community.
- the concept of direct-democracy has been tweaked, emphasis is now “consent of the governed”: results in indirect democracy: people choose representatives who make decisions for the community.
Sovereignty can be:
understood as the powers associated with the highest gov.:
1. power to make, amend, and repeal law
2. power to enforce the law
3. power associated with the executive branch of gov.
4. power to rule without foreign interference in domestic affairs and the power to deal with other sovereigns (diplomatic relations)
define state:
Exists where a sovereign power, effectively, rules over a population living within fixed borders.
define citizenship:
- member in a state
- it emerged in the ancient greek city-states where it applied only to men.
- it allowed men to participate in the political life of their city.
- now, citizenship applies to everyone now
Democratic societies citizenship confers 2 specific rights:
- right to participate in politics (AKA voting) (run for office)
- the right of residence
- you live in, leave, and return to state
how does one become a citizen of a state?
- Naturalization: a beaurocratic process in which an individual will apply for citizenship, and if they meet certain criteria it will be granted.
- Jus sanguinis (right of blood): you can claim citizenship through an ancestor who is a citizen.
- Jus soli (right of soil): if you are born on the territory of the state, you may claim citizenship.
define nation:
A sense of identity shared by a large # of people.
How is a nation upheld
members must believe it exists.
how did the concept of nation come about
emerged in modern European history. The original nations
- spanish
- french
- english
during the original nations what was the case
strong monarch established order within territorial boundaries.
What happens to local identities within a state during the creation of a nation
they are assimilated over time into a wider national identity
Form of nation heavily leaned on what
objective factors (ethnic nation)
- exclusionary and insular
- the idea that even if sm1 has lived there for years they are not members of the nation
what was the new type of nation that arose in the former colonies?
nations which experienced waves of immigration from diverse places. (civic nation)
Define a civic nation
nation rooted in acceptance or loyalty to the political order emerged
- open to newcomers
- inclusive and integrative
define political culture
Attitudes, values, and beliefs that people have about politics: the gov.
How is political culture passed along?
- Via a process called political socialization
what are the 4 revenues of political socialization?
- education
- family
- peers
- media
