Unit 1 Buzzwords Flashcards
Age of Enlightenment
18th century intellectual movement that emphasized the use of reason and the scientific method as means of obtaining knowledge
social contract theory
The government is supposed to serve the people not the other way around.
personal liberty
freedom from government interference, demands for freedom to engage in a variety of practices without government interference or discrimination
power
ability of one person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions
authority
the right to use power
legitimacy
in the US it’s the concept of democracy and Constitutionality
monarchy
“One ruler” a king, or emperor maybe. Maybe… even a pharaoh
unitary system
centralized governmental system in which state or municipal governments exercise only those powers given to them by the central government
democratic centralism
“central” government makes decisions in interest of the people
representative democracy
acquisition of power by leaders who compete for votes via election
direct democracy
the population directly governs itself
majority rule
leaders do exactly as the people want
oligarchy
ruled by the few that are of higher class
republic
system with chosen representatives and usually a president
politics
method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government (who gets what, when, and how)
elitist theory
decisions made by identifiable group who hold unequal share of political power, have larger influence in the language, repercussions of the policy
Marxist
government merely reflects economic forces, economy dominated by one social class: capitalists or workers. Control economy= Control government
bureaucrats
appointed officials who operate government agencies and large corporations
pluralist
no single elite, divided into corporate leaders, politicians, media, unions, etc, many interests to serve, power not equally shared
political culture
distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life should be carried out
political efficacy
belief that one’s political participation really matters - that one’s vote can actually make a difference
political ideology
coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who should rule, what policies they should pursue and the rules by which leaders govern
conservative
favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs
liberal
favors greater government intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services
totalitarianism
central government power is held by dictator leader or an oligarchy. Individual is subordinate to the state, state controls all aspects of life
libertarian
believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties
