Week 1 Intro Flashcards
politics definition (textbook)
activity; influencing/making/implementing collective decisions for a political community
power (2)
- ability to influence/bargain
- authority: someone who issues commands
conflict resolution (4)
- gathering/maintaining support
- conflict exists
- struggle for advantage
- bargaining/negotiating may not be equal
political agenda
- authority/leader controls agenda
compromise (3)
- national/global level
- peace
- conflict res. process: mobilized support for collective projects
common good (3)
- democracy
- difficult to discuss in larger groups
- majority (could oppress minorities)
government’s 3 major functions
(rule): making, application, adjudication
3 main branches
legislature, executive, judiciary
authority (2)
- legit power
- democracy: elected
sovereignty (define)
legal condition w. political authority embedded in domestic political institutions
citizenship (2)
- relationship between an individual and state
- right to vote*
voter turnout
- steadily declining in many democratic countries (eg Canada)
- variation among countries
young voters (2)
- less likely to vote than older
- 2011: (18-24) 39% vs (55+) 70%
Australia’s mandatory voting (3)
- 1924 when voter turnout dropped (58%)
- $20 fine
- may cast invalid/blank ballot
(+) side of mandatory voting (4)
- citizen’s duty
- public act
- everyone benefits
- right to cast blank ballot
(+) influence on parties (3)
- parties will reach young people
- focus on policies benefiting the whole
- campaign focus on issues (not voting)
(-) side to mandatory voting (2)
- lack of freedom of choice
- increases uninformed ballot voters
voting reforms (6)
- online voting
- change electoral system
- proportional representation
- more parties
- party/individual behaviour
