Unit 1 Flashcards
That activity in which conflicting interests struggle for advantage or dominance in the making and execution of public policies
Politics
defines it simply as: “who gets what, when, and how?”. Lasswell’s definition of politics is tied to the importance of conflict. Among the things that cause conflict are the nature of government; what services that should (or shouldn’t) exist; who should or shouldn’t have the right to do certain things; and, laws, enforcement, punishment. In other words, conflict over basic, everyday, “stuff”.
Harold Lasswell
“The set of institutions that makes and enforces collective public decisions for a society.”
Government
saw Government as “rule-making, rule-application, rule-adjudication”. So, not only are they in charge of who gets what, but they are also in charge of making the laws that decide this. Governments, states, and nations are all separate, and don’t necessarily go together all the time, even though they often do.
Gabriel Almond
The ability of one actor to impose its will on another, to get its own way, to do or get what it wants.
Power
“The imposition of one’s will on another by the use of penalty, force, or the threat of force”
Coercion
“The imposition of one’s will on another through persuasion and voluntary compliance”
Influence
“The imposition of one’s will on another by reason of legitimacy–because the subject regards the decision-maker as having a right to make such a binding decision”. Democratic societies think of this as the best form of government power.
Authority
usually defined as Government by the people, for the people.
Democracy
A form of government common to Western political systems in which there is a combination of the “liberal” right to individual freedom and the “democratic” right to representative government. Hence, the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law as established by a constitutional system that recognizes fundamental rights and freedoms…Liberal democracies also include protection for minorities against possible encroachment on their rights by the majority, such institutional structures of representative government as open and free elections with multiple party systems, civilian rule, separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, an independent judiciary, and a political culture of tolerance and pluralism
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy seen around the world. They have all the characteristics of Liberal democracies that we highlighted above, but include two additional features.
1.foundational laws
2.gov by representative
that are enshrined in society, and that these principles form the highest laws that all, including governments and leaders, must abide by.
Foundational laws
Citizens vote for and select others to do the governing on their behalf.
Government by representative
