Midterm Flashcards
Weeks 1-5 (35 cards)
1
Q
What is a State?
A
A central entity that rules over its people and property and claims sovereignty overall.
2
Q
Name alternatives to a state.
A
- Kingdoms
- Empires
- City-states (e.g., Vatican City)
3
Q
How does a State rule?
A
- Law, policy, rules
- Legitimate monopoly of violence
4
Q
What are the internal agents of a state?
A
- Bureaucracies
- Judges
- Police
5
Q
What are the external agents of a state?
A
- Military
- Diplomats
6
Q
What is a Political Regime?
A
A system of government and governance, a political order.
7
Q
What does a Political Regime establish?
A
- Rules for acquiring power
- Rules for exercising power
- Rules for opposing and resisting power
- Rules for holding power accountable
8
Q
What is required for political regimes to be effective?
A
- Legitimacy – Public acceptance of authority.
- Rule of Law – Laws apply equally to all.
- Stable Institutions – Functioning government bodies.
- Enforcement Power – Ability to implement laws & policies.
- Citizen Participation – Engagement in governance.
9
Q
List the types of Political Regimes.
A
- Democracy
- Authoritarianism
- Totalitarianism
- Absolutism
- Dictatorship
- Tyranny
- Monarchy
10
Q
What distinguishes a monarch from a tyrant?
A
- Monarch: Rules in favor of the people
- Tyranny: Rules in favor of their own
11
Q
Define Aristocracy.
A
- Rule by the elite – Power held by a privileged class (nobility).
- Hereditary or Merit-Based – Often passed down through family or based on status.
- Limited Participation – Common people have little say in governance.
12
Q
What is Plutocracy/Oligarchy?
A
- Plutocracy – Rule by the wealthy elite.
- Oligarchy – Rule by a small, powerful group (wealth, military, or political elite).
- Limited Democracy – Power is concentrated, restricting broader participation.
- Examples – Russian oligarchs, historical aristocracies.
13
Q
What is a modern Political Democracy?
A
A system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their actions by citizens.
14
Q
What are the elements of a Political Democracy?
A
- Judiciary
- Regime
- Ruler and citizens
- Public realm/Civil Society
- Competition and cooperation in elections
- Majority rule and minority rights
15
Q
What are the principles that make democracy feasible?
A
- Consent of the people
- Contingent consent of politicians
16
Q
What is Democracy not?
A
- Inherently better for economic growth
- More administratively efficient
- More orderly, consensual, stable
- More open to the global economy
17
Q
List the main types of modern non-democratic regimes.
A
- Authoritarianism
- Totalitarianism
- Sultanism
18
Q
What characterizes Authoritarianism?
A
- Centralized Power – One leader or small group controls the government.
- Limited Political Freedoms – Opposition is restricted, and dissent is suppressed.
- Weak Rule of Law – Laws serve the regime, not the people.
- State Control of Media – Censorship and propaganda shape public opinion.
- No Free & Fair Elections – Elections (if held) are manipulated or symbolic.
- Limited Civil Rights – Restrictions on speech, assembly, and press.
- e.g.: China, Russia, & Saudi Arabia
19
Q
Define Sultanism.
A
- High patrimonial rule, strong dynastic tendency, high fusion of public and private realms.
- Treats the state like personal property.
20
Q
What is Totalitarianism?
A
A political system where the state has total control over all aspects of public and private life.
- Extreme nationalism
- Single ruling party
- No political opposition
- Use of propaganda and surveillance to maintain power
- e.g.: North Korea & Nazi Germany
21
Q
What is Competitive Authoritarianism?
A
Neither democratic nor fully authoritarian; could move in either direction.
22
Q
What is a constitution?
A
Fundamental laws that outline governance and citizen rights.
23
Q
What does a constitution define regarding powers?
A
- Separation of Powers – Divides executive, legislative, and judicial authority.
- Checks & Balances – Prevents abuse of power.
- Locus of Sovereignty – Identifies ultimate decision-making authority.
- Government Limits – Restricts state actions to protect rights.
- Citizen Rights – Defines individual freedoms vs. state control.
24
Q
What are the standard dimensions of a constitution?
A
- Fundamental Laws – Establishes the structure of government and political procedures.
- Entrenchment – Hard to change; requires special amendments.
- Written vs. Unwritten – Some are fully codified.
- Power Allocation – Defines relationships between government branches and citizens.
- Rights & Freedoms – Outlines individual and collective rights.
25
What are the three branches of government in Canada?
* Legislative
* Executive
* Judicial
26
What characterizes a parliamentary system?
* Executive from legislature – PM & cabinet are MPs.
* Fusion of powers – Executive & legislature linked.
* No fixed tenure – Can be removed by vote of no confidence.
* Collective responsibility – Cabinet supports decisions.
* Separate heads – Head of state ≠ Head of government.
27
What defines a presidential system?
* Directly elected head of state
* Separation of executive and legislature
* Dependence on legislature to pass law
28
What is the difference between Unitary and Federal systems?
* Unitary: Sovereignty resides in central government
* Federal: Sovereignty divided between central and state/provincial governments
29
What is the difference between Unicameral and Bicameral legislatures?
* Unicameral: Single form of political representation
* Bicameral: Two forms of political representation
30
What are arguments for Judicial Review?
* Protects rights – Prevents unconstitutional laws.
* Checks power – Limits government overreach.
* Upholds rule of law – Ensures legal consistency.
* Defends minorities – Shields against discrimination.
* Adapts to change – Interprets laws for modern times.
31
What are arguments against Judicial Review?
* Undemocratic – Judges are unelected but can overturn laws made by elected officials.
* Judicial Activism – Courts may impose personal views instead of interpreting the law.
* Slows Decision-Making – Legal challenges can delay policies and reforms.
* Constitutional Rigidity – Hard to adapt laws quickly to societal changes.
* Potential Bias – Judges may reflect elite interests rather than public will.
32
What are informal institutions?
Norms, conventions, and practices that are usually unwritten and unofficial.
33
List the sources of informal institutions.
* Gender
* Ethnicity
* Race
* Education
* Nationality
34
What are the processes of change in informal institutions?
* Displacement
* Layering
* Drift
* Conversion
35
What is the difference between:
* Authoritarianism
* Totalitarianism
* Absolutism
* Sultanism
Authoritarianism – Strong central rule with limited political freedoms.
* Some personal freedoms (as long as they don’t challenge the regime).
* No free elections & opposition is suppressed.
* Example: China, Russia.
Totalitarianism – Complete control over all aspects of life.
* Propaganda, surveillance, and repression are used extensively.
* No personal freedoms.
* Examples: Nazi Germany, Stalinist USSR, North Korea.
Absolutism – Unrestricted rule by a monarch.
* Power based on divine right or heredity.
* No legal or institutional limits on the ruler.
* Example: Louis XIV’s France (“L’état, c’est moi”).
Sultanism – Extreme personalist rule by a leader who treats the state as personal property.
* No ideological basis; ruler governs arbitrarily.
* Corruption, favouritism, and dynastic rule.
* Example: Trujillo’s Dominican Republic, Turkmenistan under Niyazov.
