Test 1 Flashcards
[Syl] Government definition
Political system, or the institution that creates and implements policy and laws that guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens
Democracy definition
Rule by the people
Aristocracy
Rule by “the best”
Direct democracy definition
Direct citizen rule
Monarchy definition
1 person holds power
Republic definition
Ruled by elected representatives; a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the processes by which laws made; a representative democracy
Senate definition
Roman aristocratic body
[Syl] Ideas that influence US founders and framers
Greece provided philosophy through its culture. Rome provided a system of laws, language changes, and engineering. The US took some aspects of Athenian government. Hobbes and Locke provided the idea of social contract theory and popular consent. New England had a direct democracy. The House of Burgesses inspires the US republic (people electing responses).
[Syl] What are the attributes functions of American democracy?
According to the preamble, the governments aim is to: •Establish justice •Ensure domestic tranquility •Provide for the common defense •Promote general welfare •Secure the blessings of liberty
[Syl] Attributes of the American Government.
- Personal liberty
- Political equality
- Popular consent and majority rule
- Popular sovereignty
- Gvt. limited by constitution and laws
- Civil society
- Individualization
- Religious faith
[Syl] Direct democracy definition and examples
Citizens participate in making policy decisions. Ex. Switzerland, early Athens.
[Syl] Definition of indirect democracy and examples
The people control the government through elected officials. Ex. Sparta, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, etc.
[Syl] Plato’s forms of government from “most perfect to least perfect”
- Philosopher King
- Timocracy (ruled by honor)
- Oligarchy (ruled by wealthy)
- Democracy
- Tyranny
[Syl] Aristotle’s forms of government from “most perfect to least perfect”
- Monarchy
- Aristocracy (ruled by the best)
- Polity (ruled by many in the interest of all)
- Democracy
- Oligarchy
- Tyranny
[Syl] Alternatives to democracy
- Totalitarianism
- Authoritarianism
- Socialism
- Communism
- Fascism
[Syl] Politics definition
The study of “who gets what, when and how.” Also been defined as the struggle between individuals and/or groups within a society for the allocation of resources and privileges
[Syl] Definition of state
An independent political-administrative unit that successfully claims the allegiance of a given population
[Syl] Definition is nation
A large group of people who are bound together, and recognize a similarity among themselves, due to a common culture
Cultural and linguistic grouping of people who feel that they belong together
Were populations uniform?
No. Varied from 100+ to in the thousands.
What was the population of Athens?
> 300,000
What was Athen’s original form of government?
Monarchy
When did Athens become an oligarchy?
The 7th century.
Describe some of Athens’s early economic problems
- Debt-slavery
- Poor wanted land and their debt cancelled
- A civil war was imminent
What did Solon do?
Canceled debts but did not give any land. Allowed aristocrats to come to power while people remained landless.
What was the council of 500?
An unpaid male Athenian assembly.
What did the council of 500 do?
- Proposed laws
- Supervised foreign affairs
- Treasury
What sort of government did Cliesthenes enact?
An Athenian democracy.
Who elected the council of 500?
Athenian males.
What did a direct democracy mean for Athenians?
Legislation was debated by Athenians who ruled directly.
How many Athenians attended the assembly? How often did they meet?
6,000 people attended every 10 days
What led to the Sparta/Athens war?
Athens refuses to fight.
Why study government?
I am directly or indirectly affected by government.
Does government = democracy?
No
What are some elements of of democracy?
- They are common to societies
* They may be simple to complex
What is government?
- ”To pilot a ship” or to “steer the ship of a state”
- Works independently
- Allocates benefits
- Has the final say
- Policy decision-making
- Defined by Lasswell as “Who gets what, when, and how”
Why is government needed? Give an example of life without government.
- Security and order
- Safety from violence and crime
- Ex. Iraq power vacuum
What happens when order is overemphasized? Give an example of such a government.
Liberty may be limited or absent. Ex. Franco’s Spain, Hussein’s Iran, Castro’s Cuba
What is the double sided coin of liberty?
It may be promoted to a people, or used against them.
What was the main point of Federalist Paper no. 10. Cite the text.
To discuss liberty and factions. “Removing causes” vs. “controlling effects”. “Destroying liberty” vs. “same interests”. “First remedy worse than the disease.”
Why does the government need authority? How does it obtain authority.
To enforce decisions. They obtain this authority through the army, police, or ostracism.
What defines legitimacy?
People’s willingness to follow government’s rule and belief in their authority
What is an example of the gvt.’s use for authority.
The C.P.A. during the time of Iraq.
How did the US redefine direct democracy?
Initiative, referendum, or recall
What is teledemocracy? How has it changed traditional US democracy?
- The internet has been used to contact politicians and to donate to them
- Online interest groups can be viewed
- Colorado installed online voting in 2000.
What document noted opposition to direct democracy? What did it say?
Federalist paper #10 says that pure democracies are unrestrained and brief.
What causes the Reformation? What king was involved in it?
Protestants moved into a church started by Henry the 8th and split from the Anglican Church.
What makes puritans different?
They are less hierarchal.
How are congregations governed?
They are self-governed and independent.
Where did separatists find refuge?
America
What documents did the pilgrims create?
The Mayflower Compact.
What did pilgrims and puritans begin to practice?
A form of direct government
What did Hobbes propose?
Popular consent and social contract theory.
What was Hobbes like? What did he believe?
He was a pessimist who believed that life was short and unpleasant
What was described in Locke’s second treatise?
- Denied divine rights
- Favored natural rights
- Consent of the governed
- True justice came for laws
- Favors legislature
- Jefferson modifiers Locke’s “life, liberty, and property”
What sets a democratic republic apart from a representative democracy?
A democratic republic utilizes rules of a democracy and republic, while a representative democracy was founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people
What is an example of a democratic republic? Of a representative democracy?
- Democratic republic: US
* Representative democracy: UK
What defines personal liberty?
- Freedom from government interference
* Freedom from government discrimination
What defines political equality?
•People are equal, which dictated that suffrage should be universal
What makes popular consent and majority rule characteristics of American government?
- Locke said that having popular consent legitimizes ideas
* The Bill of rights limits majority rules
What defines a civil society?
Citizens are able to debate public policy
Why is individualization a characteristic of an American government?
It is an American tradition that provides opportunity to achieve.
How has unlimited religious faith shaped the current US?
Religious diversity has increased, but Christians are still the largest group.
What separates the types of democracy?
It is either for everyone, few, or groups.
What is the type of democracy for everyone? How is it defined?
•Majoritarianism: majority’s wished
How are society’s affected by being ruled under majoritarianism?
Polls show people are disinterested in politics and have limited awareness
What type of democracy is for the few? How is it defined?
Elite theory: a few people are in power, and these people are in elite groups.
What type of democracy is for groups? How is it defined?
Pluralism is defined as a struggle among groups?
What type of democracy forms our democracy?
•Some argue all three are involved
How do individual political beliefs form?
- Political socialization
* Dominant culture
What are the most important elements of political socialization?
- Family
* Schooling
What defines dominant culture?
Values, customs, and language of major groups.
What sort of issues cause tension in American democracy?
- Liberty vs order
- Equality vs order
- Equality vs liberty
- Economic equality
- Property rights and capitalism
- Limited vs big government
What defines a liberty vs order tension? Examples?
Order up against individuality. Ex. Abortion debate, the Patriot Act.
What defines an equality vs order tension? Example?
Equality is pitted against social order. Ex. Same sex marriage.
What defines an equality vs liberty tension? Example?
Equality goes against individual liberty. Ex. Single payer healthcare
What defines the existence of economic equality tension?
- Total economic equality is considered controversial, but reducing economic inequality is less controversial
- The 5th amendment (property rights)
What defines property rights and capitalism tension?
Controversy over the Kelo case (eminent domain for private purposes). Many felt it violated the 5th amendment.
What is an example of a limited vs big government tension?
State vs federal intervention in Hurricane Katrina
What are political ideologies?
Beliefs about government.
What is Dahl’s criteria of democracy?
- Citizens can vote
- Citizens can be elected
- Candidates can campaign
- Free and fair elections
- Freedom of association
- Freedom of expression
- Alternative information sources
- Accountable policy makers
What are the 4 corners of the ideological grid?
- Liberals
- Libertarians
- Conservatives
- Populist communitarian
Liberals definition
Cultural liberty and economic equality
Libertarian definition
Cultural and economic liberty
Conservative definition
Cultural order and economic equality
Populist communitarian definition
Cultural order and economic equality
What are the tensions within ideologies? How is it defined?
Fiscal vs. social: conservative vs liberal
Socialism definition
Economic and social equality, cooperative or nationalized industry
Communism definition
Rule by workers, government enterprises, central planning
Fascism definition
Exalts nation and rulers, action over discussion, honors war
How are US demographics changing?
- The elderly population is growing
- Media age is higher (35.5, 2008; 36.2, 2050; strains Medicare and social security)
- Overall population growing (300 mil 2006, 350 mil 2025, 400 mil 2050)
- Population growing, birthrate falling (replacement rate = 2.1 births)
- Immigration and large families may only sustain population growth until ~2050
Changes in demographics (pt. 2)
- Diversity is increasing (Latinos and Asians are fastest growing, African Americans are frowning slowly, and white peoples are decreasing)
- Labor for participation (F36% M80% 1960, F58% M71% 2000)
- After Roe v Wade abortion rates went up, but have recently declined
- Divorce rate was 2.5/1000 in 1965, 4.8 in 1975, and 4.2 in 2006
What are attitudes towards the American government like?
- Many want to achieve “the American Dream”
- Expectations are higher since the new deal
- Successes may be over shadowed
- Scandals explain 2005 poll with 23% of people trusting politicians
- Not feeling your vote makes a different, or not knowing information may result in voter apathy
- Must recognize good and bad done by government
When was Roanoke established?
1587
When was Jamestown founded?
1607
How much of the original Jamestown died? Why?
80% due to drought.
What crop saved Jamestown?
Tobacco
What important model for the US government was established in Jamestown? What year?
The House of Burgesses was established in 1619
What important document was signed on a failed exposition to Virgina that ended up in New England? How many men signed it?
41 out of 44 men signed the Mayflower Compact
What did the signers of the Mayflower Compact do?
Formed a new government