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Government- Kelly > Unit One > Flashcards

Unit One Flashcards

1
Q

Government

A

formal institutions and processes in which decisions are made for a group of people

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2
Q

4 Ps of Government

A

People, Power, Policy, Politics

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3
Q

Categories of People

A

Elected Officials, Appointed Officials, Hired by Merit, Governed

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4
Q

3 Types of Power in Government

A

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

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5
Q

Legislative

A

the power to make laws

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6
Q

Executive

A

The power to enforce laws

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7
Q

Judicial

A

The power to judge laws

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8
Q

Policy

A

decision is made for the pursuit of some goal

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9
Q

Politics

A

process in which decisions are carried out

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10
Q

State

A

political unit with power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a defined territory

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11
Q

4 characteristics of a State

A
  1. Functioning Government
  2. Territory
  3. Population
  4. Sovereignty
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12
Q

Sovereignty

A

ultimate authority to act over the population of a territory and control external affairs

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13
Q

functions of Government

A
  1. Ensure national security
  2. Provide Services
  3. Public Good
  4. Maintain Order
  5. Resolve Conflict
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14
Q

Public Good

A

promote general welfare of society

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15
Q

Provide Services

A

controversial role of government, because these may be exclusionary (that is some people get them and others don’t)

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16
Q

Legitimacy

A

rulers of a state are seen as right and proper by important section of population

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17
Q

Divine Rights of Kings

A

the kings were only answerable to God, they were above the law and had absolute power due to the “mandate from heaven”

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18
Q

Social- Contract theory

A

government form from people agreeing to be governed in exchange for safety and support

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19
Q

Hobbes- Social Contract

A

invest absolute power in a ruler to govern the citizenry

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20
Q

Locke- Social Contract

A

People have natural rights and they consent to government to protect those rights, including life, liberty and property.

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21
Q

Anarchy

A

state of lawlessness and disorder (usually from failure of gov) in which each individual is at war with one another

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22
Q

Monarchy

A

gov ruled by king or queen, where power is inherited, and ruler have great deal of power

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23
Q

Constitutional Monarchy

A

citizens, through the constitution, puts limits on power of monarchs, with real power in another brance, may coexist with representative democracy

24
Q

Dictatorship

A

one person has absolute power and makes all decisions, violence may be used to maintain order since legitimacy is lacking

25
Totalitarian Regimes
Gov controls all aspects of life and there are no formal or informal limits on gov power
26
Oligarchy
small group of powerful ppl make most decisions for their benefits (membership in group may be based on wealth, family, or military powers)
27
Theocracy
ruled by religious leader who claim to represent and be directed by religious ideas
28
Direct Democracy
gov in which ppl come together and discuss and pass laws without elected officials. works best in small settings
29
Republic/Representative Democracy
gov in which citizens are source of power but elected representatives make gov decisions on their behalfs
30
Unitary System of Power Division
national gov --> state only
31
Federal System of Power Division
national <--- --> state both have sovereignty. power is balanced
32
Confederal System of Power Division
state --> national ONLY.
33
advantage of presidential system
1. president more directly accountable to voters 2. term of president is set 3. separation of power to prevent abuse 4. independence of executive from other brances 5. president can quickly act to implement policy
34
disadvantages of presidential system
1. difficult to remove president if unfit 2. risk of gridlock & inefficiency 3. separate branches may have conflict 4. presidents may be too strong 5. risk of authoritarian executive
35
advantage of parliamentary system
1. efficiency in that legislative & executive are combined 2. prime minister is accountable to parliament 3. easier to pass legislation
36
disadvantages of parliamentary system
1. fewer checks and balances 2. prime minister chose by parliament not people 3. prime minister lacks independence 4. chance of more frequent election 5. often require coalitions to form gov
37
Ideal
conception of something in its most perfect form
38
Key American Ideals
Liberty, Equality, and Self-Gov
39
Liberty
ability to act and think as they choose so long as it does no harm to the liberty or well-being of others
40
self-gov
belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do as as political equals (ppl are source of soverignty)
41
Thomas Jefferson quote on equality
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
42
Examples of Inequality noted by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1830s
slavery, treatment of natives, incomplete equality which puts liberty at risk
43
Despotism
political system in which rule is given too much power and exercises that power nearly absolutely, creating a tyranny
44
Principles of American Democracy
1. Worth of the Individual 2. Rule of Law 3. Balance of Majority Rules and Minority Rights 4. Compromise 5. Citizen participation 6. Free Market Economics
45
worth of individual
individual liberty and self-reliance that respects the rights of individuals to choose their own course
46
rule of law
limits power of gov because leaders & citizens are both accountable to the laws
47
liberal democracy
individual rights and liberties, including those in minority, are balanced with the will of the majority
48
citizen participation
voting, running for office, participating in juries, paying taxes
49
free enterprise
economic system based on competition, which allows ppl to make their own economic choices about how to best maximize their potential w limited interfference from gov.
50
economic freedoms in US
1. earn and save money 2. purchase and own property 3. spend money on goods and services 4. choose their own jobs 5. determine how to invest their captial 6. open new businesses
51
John Locke list of natural rights
Life Liberty Property
52
Centrally Planned Economy
gov makes key economic decisions, thereby limiting the economics liberty of individuals
53
gideon vs. wainwright
US supreme court regarding the ideal of equality. Holding that the right to an attourney from 6th amendment extends even to those who can't afford it
54
Ruby Bridges attending an integrated school
example of American ideal of equality, implementing the 1954 Brown vs. Board decision that said separate educational facilities were fundamentally unequal
55
referendum
vote by the people which make laws is the most common example of direct democracy in US (EX: Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana)

Government- Kelly (1 decks)

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