9 - Participation and Citizenship Flashcards
This deck explores civic engagement, civil rights, political ideologies, and the structures of democratic and non-democratic governments.
Define:
civil rights
Rights guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Examples: right to vote, the right to equal protection under the law, and the right to due process.
Define:
civil liberties
Fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess.
Examples: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to protest
Describe:
Responsibilities of citizens in the United States
- Obeying the Law: Adhering to federal, state, and local laws.
- Paying Taxes: Contributing to the funding of government services.
- Serving on Juries: Participating in the justice system.
- Voting: Exercising the right to choose elected officials.
- Staying Informed: Keeping up-to-date on current events and issues.
- Respecting the Rights of Others: Tolerating diverse viewpoints and treating others with dignity.
Explain:
Significance of the Bill of Rights on development of civil rights and liberties
- Protect fundamental rights such as the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
- Serve as a basis for legal challenges to challenge discriminatory laws and practices.
- Create a framework to evolve over time as the needs of the country changed.
- Inspire social movements such as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Define:
direct action
Involves taking immediate, visible, and often unconventional actions to achieve specific goals.
Explain:
4 types of direct action
- Civil Disobedience: involves peacefully breaking unjust laws to protest against them.
- Protests and Demonstrations: can draw attention to important issues and mobilize public opinion.
- Strikes and Boycotts: Labor unions and other groups have used strikes and boycotts to pressure employers and governments to address workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
- Occupations and Sit-ins: involve physically occupying spaces to disrupt business as usual and demand change.
Define:
collective action
- Set of actions taken by a group of people to achieve a common vision.
- Can be social or political, and can include co-creating and implementing systemic change programs.
Explain:
4 types of collective action
- Social Movements: Social movements, such as the environmental movement or the LGBTQ+ rights movement, mobilize large numbers of people to advocate for specific causes.
- Community Organizing: Community organizing involves building power within local communities to address issues like housing, education, and healthcare.
- Voting and Political Engagement: Participating in elections and advocating for specific policies are essential forms of collective action.
- Social Media Activism: Social media platforms have become powerful tools for organizing, mobilizing, and raising awareness about social issues.
Explain:
3 examples of groups and individuals who used collective and direct action
- Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat
- Occupy Wall Street
- Anti-War protests
Explain:
3 ways conflict can lead to change in society
- Encourages the exchange of ideas, leading to a deeper understanding of issues.
- Can spark innovative solutions by challenging the status quo
- Disagreements can expose flaws in systems and institutions, prompting necessary reforms.
Explain:
3 ways cooperation can hold societies together
- By pooling resources and efforts, groups can achieve goals that would be impossible for individuals to accomplish alone.
- Finding common ground and making concessions are essential for reaching agreements and moving forward.
- Cooperation fosters a sense of community and trust, which is vital for a healthy democracy.
Explain:
3 characteristics of democratic societies
- Emphasizes individual rights, limited government, and representative democracy.
- Prioritizes social justice, economic equality, and welfare programs.
- Generally characterized by tolerance, compromise, and respect for the rule of law.
Identify:
Structures and instutions in democratic socienties
- Representative Democracy
- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Free and Fair Elections
- Rule of Law
Identify:
Examples of democratic societies
- United States: A federal republic with a presidential system.
- Canada: A federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
- Germany: A federal parliamentary republic.
- Japan: A constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.
- Australia: A federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Explain:
3 characteristics of non-democratic societies
- Authoritarianism: Concentrates power in the hands of a single leader or small group, often suppressing dissent.
- Totalitarianism: Seeks to control all aspects of citizens’ lives, including their thoughts and beliefs.
- Political Culture: Often characterized by obedience, conformity, and a strong sense of nationalism.
Identify:
Structures and instutions in non-democratic socienties
- One-Party Rule
- Authoritarian Rule
- Limited or No Elections
- Restricted Civil Liberties
- Weak or Nonexistent Rule of Law
Identify:
Examples of non-democratic societies
- China: A one-party state ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.
- North Korea: A totalitarian state with a hereditary dictatorship.
- Saudi Arabia: An absolute monarchy with a theocratic government.
- Syria: An authoritarian regime with a strong military presence.
- Belarus: An authoritarian state with a strongman leader.
Define:
ideology
- Set of beliefs that one has about the world and how it should operate.
- Thinking structures on the way policies should be run.
Identify:
5 political ideologies
- Liberalism
- Conservatism
- Fascism
- Communism
- Socialism
Describe:
Liberalism
- Political and moral philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom, equality, and the protection of civil liberties.
- Advocates for a political system that ensures the rights of individuals are respected and that government power is limited and accountable.
Describe:
Conservatism
- Political and social philosophy that promotes the preservation of traditional institutions, practices, and values.
- It emphasizes stability, continuity, and the importance of maintaining the social order
Describe:
Communism
- Aims to create a classless, stateless society where the means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the community.
- Seeks to abolish private property and promote equality and social justice.
Describe:
Socialism
- Advocates for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
- Emphasizes social equality, economic fairness, and the reduction or elimination of class distinctions.
Define:
Feminism
A group of social theories, moral philosophies and related political movements that advocates social, political and economic equality between the sexes.
Explain:
3 waves of the feminist movement
- First Wave: In the early 1900’s, it focused on the major political, social, and economic rights, including the right to vote.
- Second Wave: In the 1960’s, reproductive rights were added.
- Third Wave: Incorporating concepts such as intersectionality and being more inclusive of race and gender.
Explain:
What is political socialization and what affects it?
It is the process by which people form their ideas about politics. Factors that affect it are:
- Personal
- Economic
- Mass Media
- World Events
Explain:
What are the primary factors that influence voter turnout in elections, and how do these factors vary across different demographics and regions?
- Factors: Socioeconomic status, education level, age, race, and political engagement.
- Higher turnout typically seen among individuals with greater resources and civic involvement.
- Regional differences, such as state voting laws, access to polling places, and cultural attitudes toward voting, can significantly affect turnout rates across different demographics.
Explain:
What are the key differences between plurality and majority voting systems, and how do these differences impact electoral outcomes and representation?
- Plurality voting occurs when the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority of votes, which can lead to outcomes where a candidate wins without broad support.
- Majority voting requires a candidate to receive more than 50% of the votes to win, often leading to runoff elections if no candidate meets this threshold, thereby promoting broader consensus among voters.
Explain:
Significance of political parties.
- Evolved to make it easier to select qualified candidates to help make policy decisions.
- The members work together to develop a set of ideals and positions called the party’s political platform.
- Act as the organized opposition to the party in power.
Identify:
3 types of political parties.
- Mass Parties: The most recognizable, catch-all parties, which seek to gain as many members as possible even if that degrades their platform.
- Niche Parties: Form around a specific issue, such as environmentalism.
- Cadre Parties: Seek to allow elites to retain power.
Explain:
What are the key distinctions between political pluralism and cultural pluralism?
- Political pluralism: system where multiple political parties and interest groups coexist and compete for power, allowing for diverse representation and the incorporation of various viewpoints in governance.
- Cultural pluralism: emphasizes the coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a society, advocating for the recognition and respect of different cultural identities and practices while promoting social harmony and inclusion.
Describe:
3 types of government
- Autocracy: It has 1 leader who controls all decision making. There is no Constitution to limit their power, and they are often called a dictator.
- Aristocracy: It is ruled by leaders who inherit through their family’s bloodline. They can function with or without a Constitution.
- Democracy: Citizens are involved in either voting for leaders to represent them or directly participating in decision making themselves.
Identify:
International organizations
- United Nations (UN): The primary international organization aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance between North American and European countries.
- European Union (EU): A political and economic union of 27 member states, primarily in Europe.
- World Trade Organization (WTO): An intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): An international organization that oversees the global financial system.
- World Bank: An international financial institution that provides loans and grants to developing countries.
What role do international organizations play in promoting cooperation and addressing global challenges?
International organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, play a crucial role in promoting cooperation, facilitating dialogue, and addressing global challenges, including security threats, climate change, and humanitarian crises.
Explain:
How do shifting geopolitical alliances impact global economic stability and international security?
- Altered trade routes, investment flows, and economic policies can lead to uncertainties in markets.
- Changes can also impact international security, as new alliances may shift power balances, potentially increasing the risk of conflicts or fostering new areas of cooperation.
Define:
globalization
- Process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, economies, and cultures, driven by advancements in technology, trade, communication, and transportation.
- Involves the movement of goods, services, information, and people across borders, leading to a more integrated global economy and facilitating cultural exchanges and the spread of ideas.
Explain:
How does globalization influence cultural identity and the preservation of local traditions in various societies?
- Local traditions and identities may be overshadowed by dominant global influences, potentially resulting in the loss of unique cultural practices.
- Can foster cultural exchange and awareness, allowing societies to preserve and even rejuvenate their traditions by sharing them on a global stage.
Identify:
3 polarities of power
- Unipolar system
- Bipolar System
- Multipolar system
Unipolar system: There is only one center of power where one state pretty much can influence and dominate all other international actors.
Bipolar System: There are two centers of power and all states align with either one or the other center of power, like in the Cold War with the Soviet Union and the United States.
Multipolar system: Power is diffused among many different states where all players have fairly equal influence and can act independently.
How has the Universal Declaration of Human Rights influenced international law and the promotion of human rights globally since its adoption in 1948?
- Established a foundational framework for international human rights law, guiding the development of treaties, conventions, and national legislation aimed at protecting individual rights.
- Inspired global movements for justice and equality, encouraging countries to uphold human rights standards and hold violators accountable.
Define:
What are the elements of power in international relations?
- Tangible factors: such as the size, population, technology and wealth of a state.
- Intangible factors: such as nationalism, political culture and ideology.
