Pols-Ch 1

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Politics

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Struggle over power or influence within organization or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or priveleges.

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Institution

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Organization that performs certain functions for society

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Government

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The institution in which decisions are made that resolve or allocate benefits and priveleges. Ulimate authority within society.

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Order

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State of peace & security. Protects members of society from violence and criminal activity. Oldest purpose of government.

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Why do we need government?

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To maintain security.
To maintain peace and order.

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Liberty

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The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society.

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Authority

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The right & power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience.

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Legitimacy

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Popular acceptance of the right and power of a goverment or other entity to exercise authority.

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Totalitarinan Regime

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A form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social life of the nation.

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Authoritarianism

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A type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controled by the ruler.

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Aristocracy

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Rule by the best; rule by the elite or upper class.

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Democracy

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Rule by the people; A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people.

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Direct Democracy

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Polictal decisions are made by the people directly-not by elected officials. Easiest in small communities.

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Legislature

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Government body responsible for making laws.

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Intitiatives

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Procedure by where voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

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Referendum

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Legislative or constitutional measures are reffered by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.

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Recall

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A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official before their term has expired.

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Consent of the People

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The idea that governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

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Republic

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A form of government in which soveriegnty rests with the people, as opposed to a king or monarch.

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Popular Sovereignty

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The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people.

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Democratic Republic

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A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws & policies.

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Representative Democracy

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A form of government in which representatives elected by the people make an enforce laws and policies; may retina the monarchy in ceremonial role (England)

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Universal Sufferage

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The right of all adults to vote for their representatives.

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Majority Rule

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Basic principle of democracy that the greatest nomuber of citizens in any political unit should elect officials and determine policies.

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Limited Government

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The principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by instituational checks.

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Majoritarianism

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A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.

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Elite Theory

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A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who excercise power to further their self -interest.

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Pluralism

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The theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decision making is characterized by bargaining and compromise.

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Political Culture

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The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation.

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Political Socialization

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The process through which individiuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. The family and the educational system are two of the most important in this process.

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Dominant Culture

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Calues, customs, and language established by the group or groups that traditionally have controlled politics and government in a society.

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Equality

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As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth.

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Property

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Anything that is or may be subject to ownership.
john Locke: the right to property is a natrual right superior to human law.

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Capitalism

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Economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract.

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Eminent Domain

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Power set forth in the 5th Am. that allows government to take private property for public under the condition that just compensation is offered.`

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Ideology

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A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government.

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Conservatism

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A st of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government helping individuals, support of traditional values & lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.

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Liberalism

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A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political & social change.

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Socialism

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Ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by the government or by employee cooperatives.

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Libertarianism

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Ideology based on skepticism or opposition towrad almost al government activities.

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Communism

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Revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (usually totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning.

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Fascism

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A 20th ideology (usually totalitarian) that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler.
Rejects liberal individualism, values acton over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.

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U.S. feritility rate

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2.1 children per woman

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Hispanic

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Someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish-speaking country (other than Spain). Used only in the US and other countries that receive immigrants - those who live in Spanish speaking countries don't usually apply the term to themselves.