Political Dimensions

Question 1

Why do political systems/governments exist?

Answer 1

To administer and regulate populations. Exhibit differing degrees of citizen involvement and freedom

Question 2

Referendum

Answer 2

Asking of a political question to an electorate for direct decision by general vote. Legally binding (plebiscites are not)

Question 3

Characteristics of parliamentary governments

Answer 3

No clear separation between legislative and executive branch. Executive branch is fused with and dependent upon the legislative branch

Members of the executive are drawn directly from the legislative branch and are completely dependent upon the legislative branch for authority

Question 4

What happens if the executive loses majority support in the legislature?

Answer 4

Government will fall, elections will be held to select a new executive

Question 5

Responsible government

Answer 5

Government is responsible to Parliament

Question 6

Checks and balances in a presidential democracy

Answer 6

Congress can make laws, President can veto them

President can veto laws, Congress can override a President’s veto

Congress can make laws, courts can declare those laws to be unconstitutional

Question 7

Constitution

Answer 7

System or code that establishes the rules and principles by which an organization is governed

Recognizes important citizen rights that limit how the state may exercise its power and authority

Takes precedence over all other laws. Other laws that are inconsistent are declared unconstitutional and have no legal force

No politician or institution is above the principles and norms as defined by the Constitution

Question 8

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 8

Executive government and authority is vested in the Canadian monarchy

Question 9

Most powerful branch in Canada

Answer 9

House of Commons

Only part with elected members

Must approve all legislation by majority vote

Question 10

Elite theory of democracy

Answer 10

A small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policymaking networks, holds the most power - and that this power is independent of democratic elections

Question 11

Lobbying

Answer 11

Form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agencies or judiciary

Question 12

Tyranny of the majority

Answer 12

The will of a majority population group exclusively prevails in a system of government, it results in the potential for tyranny over minority groups

Question 13

Vision

Answer 13

Rallying call to embrace a new future - based on security, economic gain, nationalism, unity

Question 14

Propaganda

Answer 14

Persuasive technique that uses media to create support for the regime. Purposefully fosters glorification of the leader, cult of leadership

Question 15

Controlled participation

Answer 15

Citizens are key participants in staged events designed to show mass support of the dictatorship

Question 16

Indoctrination

Answer 16

Purposeful contrived program to promote acceptance and obedience, targeting youth groups and the education system

Question 17

Censorship of the media

Answer 17

State control of information. Used with propaganda and indoctrination to control and manipulate information

Question 18

Secret police

Answer 18

Use of agents, informants, militia, and the army to foster fear and terror when required in order to control the citizenry

Question 19

The purge

Answer 19

Elimination of real or perceived enemies of the state - unfair courts

Question 20

Use of scapegoats

Answer 20

Redirecting popular discontent towards a particular group or groups of people

Question 21

Single party state

Answer 21

No political opposition is tolerated. Conformity to the demands of state is required and achieved through coercion

Question 22

Radical totalitarianism

Answer 22

Soviet Union

Change desired is a move toward the far left

Classless society with state ownership of property and a complete rejection of political and economic traditions of the past

Question 23

Reactionary totalitarianism

Answer 23

Nazi Germany

Change desired is a move toward an idealized past and an acceptance of economic inequality - some people are naturally better than others

Question 24

New Economic Policy

Answer 24

Brought back some aspects of capitalism on a temporary basis, in hopes of stimulating the economy

Peasants could own farmland and decide what to produce, small businesses could buy and sell products

Implemented because Lenin realized the country couldn’t be transformed as quickly as the government hoped

Created rich kulaks, which undermined the ideal of a classless society

Question 25

5-year plans

Answer 25

Called for industrial production to increase by about 20% per year in various industries Government implemented collectivization, where farms became food-producing factories with production quotas Kulaks, prosperous land-owning peasants, were scapegoats. Those who didn't give up their property voluntarily were arrested, deported, or executed. BlaHmed for all hardships

Question 26

Holodomor

Answer 26

Famine in Ukraine Seen as a success by Stalin's government because peasants learned who their master is

Question 27

Great Purge

Answer 27

Period of political repression, where Stalin convicted and executed citizens and senior party members and high-ranking officials People were arrested for counterrevolutionary activities or political reasons

Question 28

Mikhail Gorbachev

Answer 28

Introduced Perestroika (economic restructuring) to revitalize a stagnant Soviet economy by promoting better planning, introducing new technologies, and allowing small businesses to operate on free market principles Glasnost (openness) was introduced to improve communication between state and society to get support for Perestroika. Glasnost made the Soviet people aware of inefficiencies and corruption of communism and more demanding of reform

Question 29

Nuremberg Decrees

Answer 29

German Jews and other targeted peoples were methodically identified, concentrated in ghettos, and denied all civil and social rights

Question 30

Kristallnacht

Answer 30

A night during which Nazis terrorized Jews with uncontrolled outbursts of murder, rape, and pillaging Jews were held responsible and forced to pay huge sums in reparation

Question 31

Final Solution

Answer 31

Nazi policy for extermination of Jews in concentration camps

Question 32

War communism

Answer 32

Instant transition to a command economy with the immediate abolish of private property Extremely unproductive and unpopular

Question 33

Sturmabteilung (SA)

Answer 33

Paramilitary arm of the Nazi party Part of Hitler's popularity came from his promise to quell chaos and lawlessness, which was mostly caused by the SA

Question 34

Germany's economy under the Nazis

Answer 34

Managed/command economy Permitted private enterprise but didn't support free enterprise Nazi command for the production of war goods over the demand for consumer goods

Question 35

Night of the Long Knives

Answer 35

Purge (elimination of opponents within your own party) Members of the SA were killed by the SS (Hitler's bodyguards) on Hitler's orders Eliminated opposition within his own party, helped him gain support from the regular German army