Final Exam Flashcards
(30 cards)
government
The institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocate benefits and privileges for the people as a whole.
Or– the legitimate use of force.
collective goods
Resources (national parks, roads, etc.) that are paid for by taxpayers, managed by the government, and available to all. (Usually too large-scale to be owned and managed privately.)
Dilemmas of the Government
Freedom vs. Order (how much freedom to give citizens)
Freedom vs. Equality (how much the government should get involved in maintaining equality)
Tragedy of the Commons
A public good is overused until it is destroyed completely.
Democracy
System of government where the people govern themselves; often involves voting.
Republic
System of government in which the people decide who shall govern them.
Conservatism
Economic freedom, social order.
Often have traditional social values and support a free market.
Libertarian
Freedom in society, freedom in the market.
Extreme libertarians are anarchists. Libertarians are a minority US party. Often they side with Republicans, who share their view on market.
Populist or Communitarian
Order in society, freedom in market.
No major political party holds these views in the United States, but the Catholic Church is a good example. Often side with Democrats. Extreme Populists are totalitarian.
ideology
Consistent system of ideas, values, and beliefs about the proper function and scope of government.
elite theory
Having a small group rule the masses is inevitable in any social construct.
pluralism
Belief that democracy can be achieved through competition between multiple organized groups.
hyperpluralism
?
Who was John Locke and what did he believe?
Locke: 17th century philosopher during the Scientific Revolution who believes that humans are social beings, but work in their own self-interest.
Believed the “circle” should have a center of majority rules and outer ring of natural rights.
inalienable rights
Rights of all people that cannot/should never be ignored, violated, or taken away. (Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness in our Constitution.)
State of Nature
Scenario where a group of people have no existing government or structure and no knowledge of the rest of the world.
natural rights
Most basic rights of a person– life, liberty, and property.
Bill of Rights
First ten Constitutional Ammendments, granting rights of free speech, to bear arms, of religion, of the press, etc.
Originally there was not one because the Founding Fathers reasoned that since the Constitution did not give the government rights to do such things, they could not.
Federalist
Person who favored the Constitution and wanted a strong central government. Opposed a Bill of Rights. James Madison was one. Virginia supported this ideal.
Antifederalist
Opposed the Constitution; favored state rights over federal power. Wanted a Bill of Rights.
checks and balances
Constitutional provisions for each branch of government to check the power of the other two and keep one another in line.
Confederal government
States/counties have more power than central government.
Ex: European Union
Unitary government
States/counties have NO power; central government rules.
Ex: England
Federal government
Central government and state/county each have some powers.
Ex: United States