Unit#1 Principles of Government Flashcards
government
institution created by society to create and enforce public policy
protection
a government protects society against outside enemies; one of the five purposes of government.
order
a government maintains order among the members of society; one of the five purposes of government
conflict resolution
a government helps resolve disputes; one of the five purposes of government
economic stability
a government exercises some degree of control over the economy; one of the five purposes of government
public services
a government provides items the public needs; one of the five purposes of government
force theory
says that an individual or small group used force (or violence or the threat of violence) to gain control of people; the people will be forced to submit to their will.
evolution theory
says that the first government evolved naturally from the family
divine right theory
says that the right to rule was divine or came directly from God
social contract theory
says that society and government enter into a contract explaining what the government could and could not do; the right to rule comes from the people
power
ability to make people do what you want
authority
legitimate use of power
legitimacy
when people accept that the government should have power
sovereignty
the supreme and ultimate power or authority within a territory
elitist theory
in any society, only a small group of people hold power
pluralist theory
in any society a large number of people hold power
Karl Marx’s theory
the elites are those who control the economy
C. Write Mills’ theory
the elites are those who control the economy, the government, and the military
Max Weber’s theory
the elites are bureaucrats
democracy
rule by the people
dictatorship
people have no power, government leaders cannot be stopped by the people, the law, or constitution
direct democracy
all people have a direct say in how they are governed, everyone votes on all of the laws
indirect democracy
the people elect representatives who run the government
autocracy
one person holds all of the power
oligarchy
a few people hold the power
totalitarian government
government that has complete and total control over all aspects of people’s lives
limited government
government has less power; allows people and business a great deal of freedom
anarchy
government does not exist; no laws or order
unitary or centralized government
the power of the government is centralized into one place like a large capital city
federal government
power of the government is divided between a central government an many smaller governments
confederate government
power is spread out among several geographic centers; may have a central government, but it is not powerful
parliamentary government
strong legislative branch; executive branch is selected directly from the legislative branch
presidential government
executive branch and legislative branches are separate; members of the executive branch are not members of the legislative branch
popular sovereignty
government by the consent, or approval, of the people
