POS 101 - Week 1 Flashcards
Politics
the struggle over power and influence within an organization
Government
ultimate authority within a society; resolves conflicts through
decision-making; determines winners and losers; determines who gets what
Liberty
the freedom of an individual that is consistent with the freedom of others
within a society
Order
a state of peace and order protecting members of society from crime and
violence
Authority
the right of a government to enforce decisions and compel obedience
Consent
government and laws exist through legitimacy
Legitimacy
popular control of a government and its powers
Natural Rights
(John Locke) superior to human law that includes life, liberty, and property
Social Contract
Voluntary association designed to secure rights and welfare by
creating a government and following its rules
Confederation
an agreement between individuals to respect each other’s decisions while working together as a central government with limited powers over states
Political Typology
mutually exclusive political subject categories
Define: Types of Government
variations of governmental structures and purposes
What are the 4 types of government?
- Totalitarian
- Authoritarian
- Aristocracy
- Democracy
Totalitarian
a form of government with total control of society and politics
Authoritarian
a form of government under the authority of a ruler
Aristocracy
a form of government ruled by the upper class
Democracy
a form of government under the authority of the people
What are the 2 types of democracy?
- Direct Democracy
- Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy
governmental decisions are made by the people directly
Representative Democracy
governmental decisions are made indirectly by representatives of the people
Define: Types of Rule
variations of decision-making authority
What are the 3 types of rule?
- Majority
- Elite
- Plural
Majority (type of rule)
greatest number of people determine the policies, who will lead
Elite (type of rule)
small number of people who exercise power over a large number to
further their self-interest
Plural (type of rule)
decision-making is controlled through bargaining and compromise of groups of like-minded individuals
Political Ideology
set of beliefs about politics
What are the 4 types of political ideology?
- Conservative
- Liberal
- Socialism
- Libertarian
Conservative
a belief in a limited role in government assistance; support for traditional values; resistant to change
Liberal
a belief that the government should assist individuals, strong on civil rights, open to change
Socialism
a belief in social and economic equality; businesses ran by government and employee cooperatives
Libertarian
a belief that scrutinizes and opposes government control of society
Governmental Systems
relationships between state and national governments
What are the 3 types of governmental systems?
- Confederal system
- Federal system
- Unitary system
Confederal system
system of government where independent states have equal power and the state governments has limited power over the central government
Federal system
power is divided between the central government and the state government
Unitary system
centralized governmental system where states have only the powers given to them by the central government
Government Power
distribution of authority and control
What are the 4 types of government power?
- Concurrent
- Enumerated
- Implied
- Inherent
Enumerated (government power)
powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution
Implied (government power)
powers reasonably necessary to carry out powers expressly given to the national government
Inherent (government power)
powers held by the national government as a sovereign state to preserve itself
Inalienable Rights
all men are created equal with rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Federalist
those individuals who favored a strong central government
Anti-Federalist
those individuals who favored strong state governments
When was the Articles of Confederation created?
1777
When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
July 4, 1776
Concurrent (government power)
powers held jointly between national and state governments
