Chapter 1 Questions

Question 1

What are the functions of a government and how do they relate to our lives?

Answer 1

1) Maintain social order-through laws & enforcement. Helps in need of natural disaster
2) Provide for the economy-creates tariffs, currency, taxes
3) Provide public services-education,roads,FDA, utilities, postal system
4) provide national defense-protect from foreign invaders. Army, navy, marines, Air Force

Question 2

What are the four theories on the origin of a state

Answer 2

1) Evolutionary-the family serves as the government unit
2) Force-people are forced together for protection or access to resources
3) Divine Right-god has chosen a certain person to rule
4) Social Order - people surrender their power to a state

Question 3

Laws-

Answer 3

Rules, regulations, ordinance, ACT(national), codes, statutes

Question 4

Essential Features of a State

Answer 4

1) Population-demographics & constituents
2) Territory-physical & political
3) Sovereignty- the supreme authority with absolute power within its boundaries
4) Government

Question 5

Government systems def

Answer 5

Shows the organization of a states government.

Question 6

Aristotle

Answer 6

Direct or participatory

Question 7

Characteristics of a democracy

Answer 7

1) individual liberties
2) majority rule of minority rights
3) free & open elections
4) competing political power

Question 8

Condition for a democracy

Answer 8

1) participation in a civic life
2) stable economy
3) provides public education
4) network of voluntary
5) democratic values

Question 9

Political thinking def

Answer 9

Involves the careful gathering & shifting of information to form a knowledge view about a political issue
-important for being a responsible citizen

Question 10

Barrier to political thinking

Answer 10

Unwillingness of citizens to make the effort be informed

• changes in media
• “spin”
• research shows faulty perception become more prevalent.

Question 11

Power def

Answer 11

Ability to control 1 person to cause another to act in accordance

Question 12

Authority def

Answer 12

Right to use power

Question 13

Legitimacy def

Answer 13

What gives one the authority to use power

Question 14

A free market system does what

Answer 14

• operates mainly on private transactions
• some government intervention through regulatory taxing & spending policies
• tax rate much lower in US than in European countries

Question 15

Corporate powered def

Answer 15

Influence firms have over policy makers

Question 16

Elitism def

Answer 16

Power excersized by the influential few

- C. Right Mills

Question 17

Who does govern

Answer 17

• defining characteristics of American politics —widespread sharing of power
• women & minorities initially excluded; their power will steadily grow over time

Question 18

A constitutional system

Answer 18

• restraints on majority power

- judicial action channel through which ordinary citizens can excersize power

Question 19

The constitution

Answer 19

Elaborate checks & balances

Question 20

What is political power & how is it distributed in America?

Answer 20

Political power affects of holding public office & how government will behave.
Distributed through a democratic system & constitutional system.