Usgov.unit 1 Vocab And Important Lists.8-15

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institution

Back 1

an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society

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politics

Back 2

the way in which gov solves various issues

PRETTY MUCH "who gets what, when and how"

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government

Back 3

the formal vehicle by which public policy is made; the individuals and institutions that make society's rules and possess the power and authority to enforce them

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*Three (3) essential purposes of government*

Back 4

1. Resolve conflict

2. Provide public services

3. Defend the nation and its culture against attacks by other nations

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political science

Back 5

a systematic study of government and politics' it is not history

Front 6

*Three (3) types of Ballot Propositions*

Back 6

1. initiative petition: the people sign petition to get in on ballot proposition

2. referendum: state legislature makes idea and puts it on the ballot for people to vote

3. recall: people vote to kick someone out before their terms end

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*Two (2) types of government*

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1. Democratic -- people rule

2. Undemocratic -- people do not rule

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*Five (5) types of Democratic Systems*

Back 8

1. Democracy -- people have ultimate governing power (sovereignty)

2. Direct Democracy -- political decisions are made by the people rather than by elected reps

3. Representative democracy -- will of majority is shown through groups of elected officials

4. Republic -- like a representative democracy, but no king/queen and people are sovereign

5. Parliament -- governed by parliamentary system

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*Eight (8) types of Undemocratic Systems*

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1. Autocracy -- a "one man band" where power is exercised in one individual

2. Monarchy -- king, queen, emperor, etc,; usually "elected" through inheritance (autocratic form of gov). Constitutional monarchy -- elected assembly

3. Divine right theory -- he/she is ruler because God said so

4. Dictatorship -- A single person/group in full power... like an autocracy but this form of undemocratic gov is not supported by the people

5. Theocracy -- ruled by religious authorities

6. Aristocracy -- ruled by the upper-class

7. Plutocracy -- ruled by the wealthy

8. Oligarchy -- ruled by the few

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American Political Ideology

Back 10

-- a consistent/coherent philosophy about the role of government

1. Conservative

2. Liberal (Progressive)

3. Libertarian

4. Statist/Communitarian

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Conservative (Political Ideology)

Back 11

limited role for the national gov in helping individual in the economic affairs of the nation, as well as support for traditional values and lifestyles. Typically Republicans.

ECONOMIC CONSERVATIVE, SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE

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Liberal/Progressive (Political Ideology)

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active government that intervenes to improve the welfare of individuals and protect civil rights. Typically Democrats.

ECONOMIC LIBERAL, SOCIAL LIBERAL

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Libertarian (Political Ideology)

Back 13

gov should do as little as possible in both economic sphere and moral sphere.

ECONOMIC CONSERVATIVE, SOCIAL LIBERAL

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Statist/Communitarian

Back 14

statists believe that the state should control either economic or social policy;

communitarians emphasize the importance of community in the functioning of political life.

ECONOMIC LIBERAL, SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE

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Socialist

Back 15

stronger commitment to egalitarianism (the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities) and tolerance for strong gov

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political culture

Back 16

usually influenced by the past.

The set of ideas, values, and attitudes about gov and the political process held by a community or nation

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Thomas Hobbes (17th cent)

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shared philosophy with John Lock and Thomas Jefferson.

English philosopher, enlightenment era

Social contract theory -- the view that persons' moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live.

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John Locke (17th cent)

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*The Second Treatise on Government* 1690

Man surpasses government and all men are politically equal and free.

No man-made law, just natural law (reason itself)

The government is there to protect what is not protected in natural law; the gov does not get to decide what rights you have

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*Three (3) Core Values in America*

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1. Liberty

2. Political equality -- equal opportunity ≠ equal results

3. Individualism -- people should be self-sufficient and take initiative; pursue own results, don't just receive them

4. Self-government -- popular sovereignty/popular consent

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*Three (3) Economic Systems*

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-- the interaction of government with financial and business actions in a country

1. Capitalism

2. Socialism

3. Communism

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Capitalism

Back 21

the gov does as little as possible "laissez faire".

FOUR MAJOR POINTS:

1. free enterprise

2. private ownership of the means of production

3. profit and motive

4. competition

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Socialism

Back 22

redistribution of wealth on a large scale

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Communism

Back 23

a classless society w/o economic liberty aka "socialism on steroids"

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*A Capitalist may argue that...*

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- Socialism is immoral

- Social justice says to not use socialism

- Economic equality does not mean everything is immoral/socially unjust/unfair

- Socialism hurts the people it is trying to help because it creates more poverty

- Through history, the wealthiest and most successful economies have been capitalistic

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*A Socialist may argue that...*

Back 25

- Capitalism is immoral/unfair

- Social justice requires that people are deserving of a certain standard of living

- "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer"

- Capitalism is built on a system of greed and self-interest

- Socialism is just a fair distribution of wealth