WS9 Unit 3 Political Theory

Question 1

Social Contract

Answer 1

Implicit agreement between gov/ppl to cooperate for social benefits and harmony.

Question 2

Social Contract Assumptions

Answer 2

1) The Inherent (natural, unchangeable) Nature of Man (people).
These are identified using adjectives about individuals
2) The State of Nature
This is identified using verbs describing group interaction
3)The Flaw in the State of Nature
This is a problem emerging from people’s inherent nature which they want fixed.

Question 3

Social Contract Considerations

Answer 3

4) The freedoms people give up to their government in order to fix the flaw (responsibilities of citizens)
5) The benefits (solutions + protection) the government provides to the people (rights of citizens)
6) The contract is valid only as long as both sides give and receive. When one side discontinues its responsibility to the other, the contract can become void.

Question 4

Democracy

Answer 4

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Question 5

Direct Democracy

Answer 5

a form of government in which policies and laws are decided by a majority of all those eligible rather than by a body of elected representatives. (ex. Ancient Athens, Switzerland)

Question 6

r

Tyranny of the Majority

Answer 6

The tyranny of the majority is a situation in which the majority of a group or society imposes its will on the minority, disregarding the minority’s rights or interests.

Question 7

Referendum

Answer 7

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

Question 8

Minority

Answer 8

The smaller number or part

Question 9

Direct democracy assumptions

Answer 9

Inherent Nature of Humans :OPINIONATED, Generous, Smart, Patriotic
State of Nature - must be verbs describing interaction between individuals, Endless verbal, non-violent debate and disagreement
Flaw in the State of Nature: No important decisions ever get made: unproductive

Question 10

Direct democracy considerations

Answer 10

Responsibilities:
Give up their freedom to make their own decisions and must accept the decisions of the Assembly/Council of 500
Must give time to serve in the assembly/council if selected.
Must give their opinion when selected.
Protected freedom of speech.

Rights:
Answers to unanswered questions (DECISIONS).
Free speech most importantly

Void:
Widespread corruption or abuse of power by people
Suppression of basic freedoms such as speech, assembly, and participation in governance.
Persistent disregard for the interests and welfare of the majority of citizens.
People ignoring the democratic processes

Question 11

Constitutional Republic

Answer 11

A constitutional republic is a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf, and the government’s powers are limited by a constitution. Has three branches that keep each other accountable (checks and balances): legislative (creates law), executive (enforces law), judicial (interprets law) (ex. US)

Question 12

**Republic

**

Answer 12

a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Question 13

Constitution

Answer 13

a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

Question 14

Neutral judge

Answer 14

Judge thats unbiased interpretation and application of the law.

Expected to uphold the principles and values enshrined in the constitution without being influenced by personal biases, political affiliations, or other extraneous factors.

Question 15

Separation of Powers

Answer 15

Judicial branch(interprets law)
Legislative branch (creates law)
Executive branch (enforces law)

Question 16

Checks and balances

Answer 16

Refers to the distribution and balancing of powers among different branches of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and potentially abusing its authority. Safeguards tyranny, promotes accountability.

Question 17

Congress

Answer 17

Bicameral (House of reps and Senate) Lead by a president–is not a member but works closely with members. President has the authority to veto legislation passed by congress, which congress can override with a two-thirds majority vote.

Question 18

Parliament

Answer 18

Unicameral or bicameral. Headed by a prime minister–is member, chosen by majority party or coalition. Members are called (MPs). If the parliament expresses a lack of confidence in the government, it can lead to the resignation of the prime minister or the dissolution of the parliament.

Question 19

Reason

Answer 19

The ability of a healthy mind to think and make judgments, especially based on practical facts.

Question 20

Legitimacy

Answer 20

Conformity to the laws or the rules. Ability to be defended with logic or justification; validity.

Question 21

Monarchy

Answer 21

Political system based upon the undivided sovereignty or rule of a single person (the Monarch).

Question 22

Absolute Monarchy

Answer 22

Often hereditary, the monarch has unlimited power and rules in their own right. (King Louis XIV France)

Question 23

Limited Monarchy

Answer 23

Monarchies where the power of the monarch is limited in some way, usually by a constitution or similar document. (Jordan)

Question 24

The end justifies the means

Answer 24

If a goal is desirable enough, any method of achieving it is acceptable, even if it involves unethical or immoral behaviour. Coined by Machiavelli.

Question 25

Macchiavellian

Answer 25

sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code.

Question 26

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 26

A monarchy which has its power limited by a constitution is called a constitutional monarchy

Question 27

Ceremonial Monarchy

Answer 27

The monarch holds little or no actual power or direct political influence, though they frequently have a great deal of social and cultural influence. (UK, Japan)

Question 28

Magna Carta

Answer 28

A charter of liberties signed under duress by King John of England in 1215 that influenced the development of many important modern legal and constitutional principles. Sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.

Question 29

Capitalism in Theory

Answer 29

Economy based upon private ownership of the means of production (business, land, factories, machines, resources).
Business profits are privately owned
Theoretically, the government does not interfere in the means of production (this is known as laissez-faire, or “hands off”).

Question 30

Capitalism IRL Advantages

Answer 30

Efficient in producing goods and services
Lower Costs: Large companies with great resources can produce products for a much lower cost than an individual.
Competition between companies results in lower prices still, and potentially higher quality products with a greater range of choice.

Question 31

Capitalism IRL disadvantages

Answer 31

Human costs (poverty, starvation, violence)
Inequality
A potential threat to democracy (corruption by wealthy factions)
Environmental destruction
Propaganda (advertising)

Question 32

Socialism in Theory

Answer 32

Economic system based upon government (public) ownership of the means of production in certain areas such as health care, education, public safety, transportation, communication.
The goal is to ensure all people in society have their basic needs met (health care, education, safety, housing, food, clothing).
Other areas of the economy are left to private businesses (Capitalism)

Question 33

Dem Soc:

Answer 33

Representative Democracy
= Hybrid Economy: part capitalist (private ownership) and part socialist (state owned)
= citizens who need to accept that they pay relatively higher taxes than citizens in Democratic Capitalist nations, and with these taxes the government helps distribute wealth toward education, health, and social programs to meet the needs of all.
These systems / societies are “communitarian” in nature
Ex: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, France, Germany

Question 34

Dem Soc IRL advantages:

Answer 34

In countries where capitalism is combined with socialism, the government can lessen the negative social effects of capitalism, such as income inequality and poverty.
Low Child poverty rates

Question 35

Dem Soc IRL disadvantages

Answer 35

Can be less efficient than capitalism because government interferes with businesses and can reduce their profits.
In the areas the government manages, lack of competition could lead to a lower quality product, or lack of incentive to improve.

Higher taxes

Question 36

Communism in theory

Answer 36

Economic Theory created by Germans Karl Marx & Fredrich Engels
Economic system based upon all people sharing the means of production.
here is no government, there are no countries, and there are no social classes.
Therefore, the government does not control the means of production, the people do.
Considered by some to be “socialism in an extreme form” but Marx considers it socialism in a “higher form”
Has never existed and does not exist at any national level

Question 37

Communism in theory advantages

Answer 37

Needs provided for all
Labor shared
Property shared
Low income inequality
Group decision making
High level of trust between people

Question 38

Communism in theory disadvantages

Answer 38

Never was established in its pure form.
Although the USSR, China, Cuba, East Germany and other nations identified themselves as communist, they were not.
They were actually Non-Democratic Socialist States (A form of Single Party State).
They used the government to control means of production in a socialist fashion, but also limited the rights of humans, restricted free thinking, prevented a democratic process – yet often called themselves republics and democracies.

Question 39

Single Party State

Answer 39

a governance structure in which only a single political party controls the ruling system.

Question 40

Dictator

Answer 40

a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

Question 41

Authoritarian

Answer 41

favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom.

Question 42

Despot/ Despotic

Answer 42

a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

Question 43

Autocratic

Answer 43

relating to a ruler who has absolute power.

Question 44

Tyrant

Answer 44

Cruel and oppressive leader

Question 45

Tyrannical

Answer 45

exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.