Chapter 1 Section 1 Flashcards
(25 cards)
Public policies
All of those things a government decides to do, cover matters ranging from taxation, defense, education, crime, health care, transportation, the environment, civil rights, working conditions
Government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces it’s public policies
Legislative
Power to make laws and frame public policies
Executive
The power to execute, enforce, and administer laws
Judicial power
The power to interpret laws to determine their meaning and to settle disputes that arise within the society
Constitution
The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures and processes of government
Dictatorship
Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people, dictators: hitler, Mussolini, Stalin etc.
Democracy
Supreme authority tests with the people,
State
A body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority, official word meaning. Country or nation
Characteristics of a state
Population
Territory
Government
Sovereignty
Sovereignty
Every state is sovereign, meaning no if her level of government exists over it and it has FULL and FINAL choice over all issues/ laws/ decisions in the state.
Origins of state
Force theory
Evolutionary theory
Divine right theory
The social contract theory
Purpose of government
Form a more perfect union Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote general warfare Secure blessings of liberty
Autocracy
A form of government in which a single person holds unlimited political power
Oligarchy
A form of government in which the power to rule is held by a small usually self appointed elite
Direct democracy
People make laws themselves, does not exist on a national level today
Representative democracy
A small group of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will. ( ex: the United States)
Unitary government
All of the powers held by the government belong to a single central group (ex: Great Britain, parliament holds the power)
Federal government.
Powers of a central government. Are divided Among local governments
Confederation
An alliance of independent states, the central government has the power to handle the matters that all of those states have assigned to it
Presidential government.
Features a separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches of government, and a president is chosen by the people
Parliamentary government.
The executive branch is made up of the prime minister or premier, the people elect the legislature and the legislature elects the prime minister
5 Concepts of democracy
Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person.
Respect for the equality of all persons
Faith in majority rule and insistence upon minority rights.
Acceptance of the necessity of compromise.
Insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.
Citizen
One who hold both rights and responsibilities in a state
