G/c/ps Flashcards
(96 cards)
1
Q
What is the focus of political science?
A
Studying different governments and how they compare to each other, general political theory, ways political theory is put into action, how nations and governments interact with each other, and a general study of governmental structure and function.
2
Q
Political science and history
A
How historical events have shaped political thought and process
3
Q
Political science and sociology
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the effects of various stages of social development on the growth and development of government and politics
4
Q
Political science and anthropology
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the effects of governmental process on the culture of an individual group and its relationships with other groups
5
Q
Political science and economics
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how government policies regulate distribution of products and how they can control and/or nfluence the economy in general
6
Q
4 Major purposes of government
A
- Ensuring national security
- Providing public services
- Ensure social order
- Make decisions regarding the economy
7
Q
4 Main theories regarding origin of the state
A
- Evolutionary- state evolved from the family, with the head of state equivalent of the family’s patriarch/matriarch
- Force- one person or group of people brought everyone in an area under their control, forming the first government
- Divine Right- certain people were chosen by the prevailing deity to be the rulers of the nation, which is iteself created by the deity
- Social contract- there is no natural order. The people allow themselves to be governed to maintain social order, while the state in turn promises to protect the people they govern. If the government fails to protects its people, the people have the right to seek new leaders
8
Q
Aristotle and Plato
A
believed political science would lead to order in political matters, and that this scientifically organied order would create stable, just societies
9
Q
Thomas Aquinas
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Individuals should have certain rights, but also certain duties, and that these rights and duties should determine the type and extent of government rule.
- laws should limit the role of government
- modern constitutionalism
10
Q
Niccolo Machiavelli
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- author of The Prince
- politics based solely on power
11
Q
Thomas Hobbes
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- Leviathan (1651)
- individual’s lives were focused solely on a quest for power, and that the state must work to control that urge
- People were completely unable to live harmoniously without the intervention of the government
12
Q
John Locke
A
- Treatises of Civil Government (1690)
- Argued against ideas of Hobbes
- Tabula Rasa- people are born with minds that are a blank slate. Experience molds individual minds, not innate knowledge or intuition
- All men are essentially good, as well as independent and equal
13
Q
Montesquieu and Rousseau
A
- heavily influenced French Revolution (1789-1815)
- policies should change to alleviate existing problems “liberalism”
- Rousseau wrote “The Social Contract” (1762), “Decleration of Rights of Man” and “Citizen” (1789)
- Individual freedom and community welfare are of equal importance
- Man’s innate goodness leads to national harmony
- Reason develops with the rise of a civilized society
- Individual citizens carry certain obligations to the existing government
14
Q
Hume and Bentham
A
- politics hould have its main goal as maintaining “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”
- Hume believed in empiricism, or that ideas should not be believed until the proof has been observed
15
Q
John Stuart Mill
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- British philo/econ
- progressive policies such as woman’s suffrage, emancipation, and the development of labor organizations and farming cooperatives
16
Q
Fichte and Hegel
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-18th century German philosophers who supported a form of liberalism grounded largely in socialism and a sense of nationalism
17
Q
4 main political orientations
A
- Liberal
- Conservative
- Moderate
- Libertarian
18
Q
Liberal
A
- believe in working to increase equality, sometimes at the expense of some freedoms
- overall, government should not interfere with individual freedom
- Focus on health, justice, and education for citizens
19
Q
Conservative
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- government should be limited in all cases except in those of supporting longwithstanding moral values (often tied to religious beliefs)
- government should allow all citizens to solve social issues
- businesses should not be regulated
20
Q
Moderate
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-incorporates some liberal and some conservative values
21
Q
Libertarian
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-believes in limiting the role of government to the defense of the country and supporting social, as well as economic, freedom
22
Q
6 major principles of the government as outlined in the Constitution
A
- Federalism
- Popular sovereignty
- Seperation of powers
- Judicial review
- Checks and balances
- Limited government
23
Q
Federalism
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-the power of the government doesnt belong entirely to the national government, but to states as well
24
Q
Popular sovereignty
A
-the government is determined by the people, and gains its authority and power from the people
25
Seperation of powers
- the government is divided into 3 branches
- executive, legislative, judicial
- each branch has its own sets of powers
26
Judicial review
-courts at all levels of government can declare laws invalid if they contradict the constitutions of individual states, or the US Constituition, with the SCOTUS serving as the final authority on the matter
27
Liberal
- believe in working to increase equality, sometimes at the expense of some freedoms
- overall, government should not interfere with individual freedom
- Focus on health, justice, and education for citizens
28
Conservative
- government should be limited in all cases except in those of supporting longwithstanding moral values (often tied to religious beliefs)
- government should allow all citizens to solve social issues
- businesses should not be regulated
29
Powers delegated to the national government by the Constitution
- expressed powers: powers directly defined by the Cons., including power to declare war, regulate commerce, make money, and collect taxes
- implied powers: powers the national government must have in order to carry out the expressed powers
- Inherent powers: powers inherent to any government
30
Libertarian
-believes in limiting the role of government to the defense of the country and supporting social, as well as economic, freedom
31
6 major principles of the government as outlined in the Constitution
- Federalism
- Popular sovereignty
- Seperation of powers
- Judicial review
- Checks and balances
- Limited government
32
Federalism
-the power of the government doesnt belong entirely to the national government, but to states as well
33
3 Branches of the US government
- Legistlative: 2 Houses of Congress- The House of Representatives and the Senate: all are elected
- Executive: President, Vice President, presidential advisors, other cabinet members- appointed by Pres., approved by Congress
- Judicial: Federal court system, headed by the Supreme Court
34
Seperation of powers
- the government is divided into 3 branches
- executive, legislative, judicial
- each branch has its own sets of powers
35
Judicial review
-courts at all levels of government can declare laws invalid if they contradict the constitutions of individual states, or the US Constituition, with the SCOTUS serving as the final authority on the matter
36
Checks and Balances
-no single branch can act without input from another and each branch has the power to "check" any other
37
Limited goverment
-governmental powers are limited and certain individual rights are defined as inviolable by the government
38
Duties of a US Citizen
- Paying taxes
- Loyalty to the government
- Support and defend the Const.
- Serve in the armed forces
- Obeying laws
39
Federalism and its factions
- States' Rights- those favoring the states' rigts position feel that the state gov. shoul take the lead in performing local actions to manage various problems
- Nationalist- feel the national government should take the lead to deal with those same matters
40
3 major effects of Federalism on public policy
- determining whether the local, state, or national gov. originates policy
- affecting how policies are made
- ensuring policy-making functions under a set of limitations
41
How does Federalism influence the political balance power in the US?
- making it difficult, if not impossible, for a single party to seize total power
- ensuring that individuals can participate in the political system at various levels
- making it possible for ind. working within the system to be able to affect policy at some level, whether local or more widespread
42
3 Branches of the US government
- Legistlative: 2 Houses of Congress- The House of Representatives and the Senate: all are elected
- Executive: President, Vice President, presidential advisors, other cabinet members- appointed by Pres., approved by Congress
- Judicial: Federal court system, headed by the Supreme Court
43
Responsibilities of Legislative Branch
- law-making
- all laws must be approved by Congress
- regulating money and trade
- approving Pres. appointments
- establishing organizations, like the postal service and federal courts
- propose amendments to the Constitution
- can impeach, bring charges against the Pres.
- declare war
44
"" of Executive Branch
- carries out lawes, treaties, and war declarations
- veto bills by Congress
- serve as commander-in-chief of the US military
- appoints cabinet members, ambassadors to foreign countries, and federal judges
45
"" of Judicial Branch
- makes decisions on challenges as to whether laws passed by Congress meet the requirements of the US Con.
- may review decisions made by lower courts to determine constitutionality
46
US Citizenship
- Anyone born in US, born abroad to a citizen, or has gone through process of naturalization
- lose citizenship as a result of a conviction, like treason, serving in another army, or pledging an oath to another country
- dual citizenship allows you to work as an expatriate in another country
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Duties of a US Citizen
-
48
Reponsibilities of a US Citizen
- Voting
- Respecting another's rights
- Staying informed
- Respecting one another's beliefs
49
Bill of Rights
- 1st 10 amendments of the Constitution
- prevent the government from infringing on certain freedoms
- passed in 1789
- added in 1791
50
First Amendment
-grants freedom of religion, speech, freedom of press, and right to assemble
51
Restrictions of certain elements for the 1st amendment
- when a religion espouses illegal activities-- polygamy, animal sacrifice, illicit drugs
- speech when it endangers others
- press cannot publish falsehoods
52
Third Amendment
-Congress cannot force individuals to bear troops
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Fourth Amendment
-Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
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Fifth Amendment
-no individual is required to testify against himself, and no individual may be tried twice for the same crime
55
Civil Rights
Limitations of states rights, describing those rights that belong to individuals and which cannot be infringed upon by the government.
Include
- freedom of religion
- political freedom
- overall freedom to live how we choose
56
Seventh Amendment
-right to civil trial by jury
57
Eight Amendment
- no excessive bail
| - no cruel/unusual punishment
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Ninth Amendment
-prevents the absence of rights not explicitely named in the Constitution from being interpreted as a reason to have them taken away
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Tenth Amendment
-any rights not directly delegated to the national government, or not directly prohibited, belong to the states or to the people
60
Restrictions of certain elements for the 1st amendment
- when a religion espouses illegal activities-- polygamy, animal sacrifice, illicit drugs
- speech when it endangers others
- press cannot publish falsehoods
61
Which amendments specifically protect those accused of crimes?
4th, 5th, 6th, 8th
62
Major issues in today's political climate
- Debate over women's rights
- affirmative action to encourage hiring of minorities
- civil rights of homosexuals, marriage and military service
- whether minorities should be compensated for past discriminatory practices
- balance between public's rights to know and the government's need to maintain national security
- balance between the public's right to privacy and national security
63
Civil Liberties
the role of the state in providing equal rights and opportunities to individuals within that state. An example is non-discrimintation policies with regards to granting citizenship
64
Communists
- based on class conflict, revolution, and one-party state
- communist government would involve a single government for the enire world
- control production and flow of goods and services
65
Suffrage and Franchise
- Right to vote
- Only white landowners--> all white males--> 15th amendment gave right to former slaves(1870)--> 19th amendment gave rights to women---> 1971 gave rights to any US citizen over the age of 18
Criminals and those without full citizenship cannot vote
66
Changes in the Voting Process
-public ballot--> registering voters before elections took place & secret ballot----> 1892 introduction of voting machine
67
Monarchy
- king/queen
- position is hereditary
- constitutional monarchies, where the king/queen still exist, but most of the decisions are made by demoocratic institutions, like the parliament
68
Presidential System
- has a legislature and political parties, but there is no difference between the head of state and the head of government
- an elected president performs duties of both
- election can be direct or indirect, and the President may not necessarily belong to the largest political party
69
Process for choosing political candidates
- Nominating conventions
- Caucuses
- Primary Elections
- Petitions
70
Participation of average citizens in political process
- local gov.
- caucuses
- volunteering to help political parties
- running for election to local, state, national offices
- donate money to political causes
- support political groups that focus on specific causes such as abortion, wildlife conservation, or women's rights
71
Campaingn funding
- personal finds
- donations
- special interest groups
72
Anarchists
Believe that all government should be eliminated and that individuals should rule themselves
Historically, use violence and assassination to further their beliefs
73
Dictatorship
- rule by a single individual
- another kind is an oligarchy, in which there are a few
- violence, repressive police force
74
Facism
- single leader, oppositional belief to Communism
- single party state, centralized control
- power lies in the "cult of personality", with a focus on expanding and conquering of other nations
75
Monarchy
- king/queen
- position is hereditary
- constitutional monarchies, where the king/queen still exist, but most of the decisions are made by demoocratic institutions, like the parliament
76
Socialism
- the state controls production of goods, though it does not necessarily own all means of production
- state provides variety of social services and helps guide the economy
- usually has a democratic form of gov.
77
Totalitarian System
- believes everything should be under the control of the government, from resource production to the press to religion
- all aspects of life must conform to ideals of the gov.
78
Authoritarian gov.
- practices widespread state authority
- does not dismantle all public institutions
- a government can be authoritarian w/o being totalitarian
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Parliementary System
- a gov. involves a legist. and a variety of political parties
- Prime Minister is the head of the dominant party
- head of state can be elected, or taken by a monarch
80
Democratic System
- people elect gov. reps.
- Democracy means "for the rule of the people"
- 2 forms: direct, indirect
- can exist as a Presidential or a Parliementary System
81
Indirect Democracy
employs a legis. that votes on issues that affect a large # of people whom the legis. represents
82
Direct Democraacy
Each issue/election is decided by a vote where each ind. is counted seperately
83
Theory of Realism
- nations are, by nature, aggressive, and work in their own self-interest
- relations are determined by military and econ. strength
- nation is the highest authority
84
Theory of Liberalism
- believes states can cooperate
- act based on capabilities, not power
- coined to describe W. Wilson's theories on international cooperation
85
Institutionalism
- institutions provide structure and incentive for cooperation among nations
- institutions are defined as sets of rules used to make international decisions
- inst. help distribute power and determine how nations will interact
86
Constructivism
- based on international cooperation
| - recognizes that perceptions countries have of each other can affect relations
87
What is foreign policy?
-set of goals, policies, and strats. that determine how an indiv. nation will interact w/ other countries
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Isolationism vs. internationalism
- 1800s, US leaned towards isol.
| - WWs led to internationalism; joined UN
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Interdependence
- Globalism
- today's policies
- recognize widespread effects of issues, like economic health
90
Who determines US foreign policy?
- Congress/Pres.
| - influenced by sec. of state, sec. of defense, national security advis.
91
Main departments in charge of day-to-day foreign policy?
- US Dept. of State
- carries out policy, negotiates treaties, maintains diplom. relations, assists citizens traveling in foreign countries, ensures that the Pres. is properly informed of any international issues
92
What does the Department of Defense do?
- largest executive department
- supervises armed forces
- provides assistance to Pres.
93
IGOs
- interngovernmental organizations
- made of members from various national governments
- UN is an example
- treaties among members determine functions and powers of these groups
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NGOs
- nongovernmental organizations
- lies outside the scope of gov. and is usually supported by private donations
- International Red Cross
95
Diplomats
- indiv. who reside in foreign countries in order to maintain communications b/t that country and their home country
- negotiate trade, envir. agreements, convey official info
- resolve conflicts b/t countries
- appointed by pres., approved by Congress
96
UN
- United Nations
- form interna. policies by hosting reps who provide input
- members must agree to abide by all final resolutons
- can punish through trade sanctions, military forces
- major role in Korean War
