US Gov / Econ Chapter 1 Study Guide:

What are the main differences between federal, unitary, and confederal systems?

UNITARY: - A form of government is one in which political power rests with one central/national government. CONFEDERAL: - A form of government in one in which virtually all political power rests with the individual states, and very little with the central/national government. FEDERAL: - A form of government is one in which some political power rests with the national (or federal) government but other, equally important, powers rest with the state governments.

Tradition

- A system of rule may be considered legitimate if it has existed for a long time, because it evolved naturally - Hereditary monarchies claim legitimacy on these grounds (as long as the state is stable and there is no significant opposition, it may be argued that hereditary monarchy is a legitimate form of rule)

Liberty

- Ability of people to act and think as they choose

Equality

- All people possess moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment

Consent

- As system of rule may be considered legitimate if it enjoys the the broad consent of the people - In practice, peace and stability is taken as a sign of consent, especially when there is no popular movement for change

Ideal

- Conception of something in its most perfect form

Direct democracy or Pure Democracy

- Direct democracy exists where the will of the people is turned into public policy (law) directly by the people themselves, in mass meetings (example: town hall meetings). - Only works in very small communities where people can meet in a central place and problems of government are few and simple. - Direct democracy does not exist at the national level anywhere in the world today.

Free enterprise

- Economic system where individuals and businesses are able to engage in trade with little government interference

Dictatorship

- Exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. - Dictatorship is probably the oldest and most common form of government known to history. - Today many dictatorships are run by the military.

Oligarchy

- Form of dictatorship government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.

Republic

- In a republic the sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while the political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens.

government

- It is the formal structures and institutions through which decisions are made for a body of people. DEFINITION: Any group of people living together in a country, state, or community who has to live by certain rules - It has to issue & enforce rules for the people living within its territory - Must be recognized from within and by other nation states in the international community - Its function is to ensure national security, maintain order, resolve conflict, provide services, and provide for the public good.

Force

- One person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit. - A system of rule may be considered legitimate if it is able to maintain peace and security, no matter how it is gained or keeps power - Many people would not regard government based solely on force as legitimate

Problems with establishing consent

- People may have consented in the past, but how do we know they still consent? - What proportion of people consent? And what proportion is required to establish legitimacy How do we know that people consent at all? - Many don't even vote - does that signify lack of consent to the system of the government, or dissatisfaction with the parties and individuals

legitimacy

- Seen as right and proper by important segments of a nations population. - Rulers often have legitimacy - They are soon as right & proper by important segments of a nation's population, so their governance is voluntarily accepted by the people.

social contract theory

- States form when people reach a 'contract' to surrender some power to a common authority in return for security.

sovereignty

- Supreme power especially over a political unit - Must have supreme power to act within its territory and to control its external affairs

Monarchy

- The government in headed by one person like a King or Queen.

divine right of kings

- The king is only answerable to God, not to the people he ruled. - the idea that the kings authority came from God

Self-government

- The principle that the people are the ultimate source and proper beneficiary of governing authority; in practice, a government based on majority rule.

politics

- The process by which government makes and carries out decisions - This process provides people with an arena for pursuing different and often competing interests. - By participating in the political process, groups try to influence the decisions the government makes - The process is also about debating issues and policies

According to philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, why are people willing to enter into a social contract?

- To keep peace and protect your natural rights and property.

Under what circumstances do you think the government should regulate business in a free enterprise system?

- To protect rights of the people.

Which advantages and disadvantages might explain why there are more parliamentary than presidential systems?

- Well they are both democratically elected which is good. - With a presidential system the president, senators and congressmen are elected in separate elections. - In a parliamentary system, everyone elects together. - In a presidential system the president elected serves a full term but in a parliamentary system, it's much easier to change Leaders.

Why do you think that the ideal of liberty is important to the free enterprise system?

- You can't have free enterprise without liberty & it gives you the right to create your own business.

What type of government do you think is best suited to accomplish the purposes of government outlined in this section?

- a democracy or republic.

What does legitimacy mean?

- A characterization of elections by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders. - Rightfulness/Justification

How can you gain legitimacy?

1. Tradition 2.Force 3. Consent

What is legitimate power?

Authority

state

body / gov't Definition: Political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory.