POLS 1101 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE

Oligarchy

Rule by a few self-serving citizens

Aristocracy

Rule by a few virtuous citizens

Tyranny

Rule by one self-serving citizen

Monarchy/kingship

Rule by one virtuous citizen

Natural v. Human rights

"All men" v. "All humans"

Happiness and Welfare conflict

Americans disagree on whether the government has this duty in the sense of the lack of clarity on what policies are appropriate in the promotion of these (prayer in school --> parental responsibility, not gov)

Legitimacy

Claim to authority must be proven by being determined as rightful and/or justified

Four freedoms of democracy

1: All adults are free to seek election to government office 2: All elections are free elections 3: People are free to act against government in an effort to change unruly policies 4: Procedural protections are in place to prevent government from falsely accusing/punishing people for crimes, disguising the motive to silence one in the effort to change unruly policies

Four ways to influence government representatives

1: Directly voicing views/needs to officials (letters, petitions, emails, etc) 2: Start/work for/donate to an interest group seeking to influence officials 3: Serve on a jury (legally required to influence what the gov does) 4: The ability to sue the government in court if rights are violated or public benefits are denied (You can sue the GA government in state OR federal court)

Points of ideological conflict

1: How limited should government be? 2: What rights should the government secure? 3: What policies are effective? 4: What methods are appropriate?

Three sources of conflict

1: Ideology 2: Interests 3: Identity

5 ways Americans help elect representatives

1: Run for elected office 2: Vote in free elections 3: Openly advocate for a running candidate 4: Work for/donate to a candidate's campaign 5: Work for/donate to a political party

Hierarchical structure

1: Supreme leader/party 2: Coercive institutions (military/police) 3: Dominated subjects (civilians)

Human rights abuses in the US

Enabled by denying protections to certain groups (ex--> Jim Crow era, Native American erasure, gender inequality) Not caused inherently by democracy but by the deprivation of full inclusion in the democratic process to vulnerable groups

Defining features of government

A government consists of a set of institutions that endures over time

Constitutional Government

A government effectively bound by a written and followed constitution

Democratic Government

A government made by the people, for the people. The citizens hold the highest power

Authority

A has authority over B to the extent that A has a right to issue commands to B and expects B to obey those commands

Dahl's Formulation

A has power over B to the extent that A can get B to do something B would otherwise not do

Unconstitutional laws

A law passed by congress that goes against the constitution. Unlawful, illegal, illegitimate, void.

Politics

A set of nonviolent, open, and free activities through which people struggle to exert power over the government. More likely to occur in a stable government in which the people are free to participate in said activities

Market

A system in which voluntary exchanges b/t private buyers and sellers affect price of goods/services sold. Prices in turn affect how many goods/services are produced and consumed.

Methods of relational influence

Affecting hearts and minds, using the power of the purse as + and - incentives. Use not limited to the government (everybody does it!)

Bureaucratic Agency Lawmaking (BAL)

Agencies part of executive branch, enforce laws and make regulations.

Direct democracy

All citizens directly participate in making/enforcing laws (literally everybody)

Rule of law

All people in a given territory are bound by the laws of said territory

"All members of the human family created equal"

Amended from the OG Constitution in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, Post WWII/Holocaust era) Modernized, more specific. All inclusive

Democracy origination

Ancient Greece, Demokratia (rule by the people); demos (meaning people or common people) and kratein (to rule)

Regulations

Any official rule, generally made by agencies

Interest group

Association of individuals seeking to influence. government in order to benefit members or to advance a cause they share a belief in

Federalism

Authority is partly divided and partly shared b/t the federal and state governments. Is not widely used in other countries.

Free riding

Benefiting from a public good while avoiding the costs of contributing to it (we all do this)

Securing rights

Both protectin' and respectin'

Collective action problem

Can be caused by provision of public goods, enjoyment is free so people will "free ride". Producers of goods must volunteer or derive a paycheck from elsewhere (gov pays them instead)

executive orders

Commands with force of law enacted by the president or governor.

Peace and Order

Considered a public good as government has the responsibility to maintain civil rest (law enforcement, military, lawmakers)

Democratic > authoritative

Constitutionally sound, low threat of violence when exercising rights, governed by elected officials, rights protected, happiness/welfare above all, just elections > Sham constitutions, threat of violence in exchange for obedience, not governed by the people, rights often violated, happiness not promoted, rigged elections, if any

Civil disobedience

Deliberate, open acts of lawbreaking intended to create awareness of unjust laws or practices and thereby catalyze reforms

Separation of powers

Division of responsibilities into distinct branches. Prevents concentration of power using checks and balances.

Real v. fake constitutional government

Doesn't need a written constitution, only must be effectively bound by fundamental law. Rules must actually be followed, not just written (sham constitution)

Three branches of government

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Distinguishing features of US government

Federalism, separation of powers, constitutional government, democracy

Ideology

Foundational views, values, and beliefs about the proper role of government.

GA branch of legislature

Georgia General Assembly (GA HOR and Senate)

"Monopoly of legitimate use of force" Issue

Goes against the fundamentals of federalism (monopolies not allowed). Gov has legitimate authority to use force, but is also given the right to make laws, judge when they have been violated, and determine adequate punishment.

Private Goods

Goods that are excludable (gotta pay)

Public Goods

Goods that nobody in a group can be excluded from enjoying (gov cannot demand payment in exchange)

Legitimate authority power

Gov is understood to have legitimate authority to use physical force in certain circumstances in order to take away life, liberty, and/or property

Limited government

Gov must be empowered to serve legitimate purpose (to secure rights) but must also be limited/controlled in its powers as to pose unacceptable risk to rights

State socialism

Gov takes ownership of all major parts of economy, forcefully enacts revolution to bring economic equality, ending class oppression (what communism was supposed to be)

Affecting hearts and minds

Gov uses tactics to persuade the people to do their duty as citizens. (warning labels, public education, patriotic holidays, campaigns, etc)

Relational Influence

Governments can use two methods of persuasion/coercion without threat of violence

Fundamental law

Highest law of the land, declared in constitution

James Madison's "Great difficulty"

How can a government be empowered to make and enforce laws and be effectively bound by laws? (Gov must first be enabled by the people to control the people, in the next place enabling it to control itself)

Why is market capitalism supported in the US?

It is a relatively efficient way to produce and consume goods and services. Private property required for a functioning market contributes to the ideal that the gov has the responsibility to secure property rights.

Statutes

Laws made by congress or state legislatures

Ordinances

Laws made by municipal (city) legislatures

"A dependence on the people is the primary control on the government"

Madison; In reference to the democratic system (for and by the people).

"Auxiliary precautions"

Madison; a necessary system of checks and balances

How to advocate for a candidate

Making speeches, posting on social media, sending newspaper letters tot he editor, attending campaign rallies, candidate yard signs, bumper stickers, etc.

State Socialists' beliefs (market capitalism)

Market Capitalism results in too much economic inequality and oppressive relationships between owners and workers.

Mainstream Americans' beliefs (market capitalism)

Market capitalism (done right) leads to prosperity for all; gov ownership of means concentrates too much power (see: limited government)

Hallmarks of Capitalism

Means of production are privately owned, owners of production purchase labor hours (people) in exchange for wages

Natural rights

Moral rights that all human beings have upon creation, even without government

Free elections

More than one candidate runs, presents real alternatives and promises real solutions, no adult citizen is unjustly denied the right to vote, all who have right to vote have the opportunity to exercise it, everyone's vote is counted

"All men created equal"

OG Constitution, exclusive specifically to WHITE MEN as loopholes were created (see: slavery and misogyny???).

Codes

Official laws passed by any level of legislature

"by the people"

People exercise ongoing and significant control over the government. (People of low income, young, low education, poor health, Latinx/Hispanic/Asian descent are less likely/able to participate in democratic process)

Popular Sovereignty

People of a particular territory have the highest authority to rule that territory (ex--> State v. Federal gov)

Distinctive feature of nondemocratic governments

People subjected to their rule have no meaningful opportunity to exert influence over their government (except through fear of rebellion)

Theocracy

Primary purpose of government is to enforce doctrines of a particular religion

Activities outside the normal democratic process

Protesting, demonstrating, performance art, boycotting, writing books, documentaries, sit ins, other acts of "civil disobedience"

Pre 1960's v. post 1960's

Racial supremacy was originally promoted, then turned a blind eye to v. racial supremacy determined an illegitimate purpose of government. (White supremacist groups NEVER eradicated, just marginalized. Thank you sooooo much for that one, Donny T. )

Socioeconomic Rights

Social/economic services and benefits that institutions have a duty to guarantee. Healthcare, housing, jobs, listed in the UDHR.

Democratic Socialism

Socialism that accepts basic principles of market capitalism (less control over economy but similar goals)

Socioeconomic rights conflict

Some Americans disagree on whether these rights are regular and necessary or if they aren't "real" rights at all

Happiness and Welfare

Stated by the Declaration and the Constitution, the Government has this responsibility of promoting these

Government necessity in security of rights

Suggests that without government, natural and legal rights would be insecure (humans would voluntarily infringe on the rights of others, prevents this by punishing those who infringe)

Power of the Sword

The ability to influence behavior by threat of physical force to maintain obedience (sticks)

Distinguishing factor of democratic governments

The extent to which the people are legally and institutionally able to exercise ongoing significant control over the government (no threat to wellbeing)

Sovereign

The highest authority to rule a given territory. The people themselves have this in the US

Democide

The mass murder of civilians by government. Accounted for about 175 million deaths in the 20th century, 99% by nondemocratic governments.

Illegitimate government purposes

Theocracy, racial supremacy, state socialism

Representative democracy

Those who make/enforce laws do it on behalf of citizens (elected officials)

Ability to usurp power from authoritarian government

Threat posed by the people of potential to cause a mass uprising leads to the devotion of considerable effort to prevent said uprising from taking root

Prevention of mass uprising by authoritarian government

Threat, silencing, rigging of elections, intimidation, humiliation, imprisonment, torture, murder

Primary purpose of government

To secure rights

Carrots and Sticks

Use the carrot to reinforce the donkey when it does well, (positive), hit the donkey with a stick when it does poorly (negative)

Power of the purse

Using money as a positive or negative incentive to do what the user wants (carrots and sticks)

Purpose of white supremacy in America

Was accepted as a primary purpose of gov for a very long time. Used as terms to justify slavery and to perpetuate oppressive/degrading system of segregation after abolishment of slavery. (Took Nazi Germany to happen for the US to "reconsider" racial supremacy.)

Likeliness of democratic governments to protect and respect peoples rights

When people exert control over government, the government is less likely to do bad things to people (in comparison to authoritarian government)

Petition

Written formal request for government to address an issue, signed by many

Legal rights

Written, human-made laws. Not always respected by gov in cases of necessary negative incentives

Characteristics of BAL laws

Written, organized, and published in special compilations. Makes regulations that impact us most in our daily lives. Understood to have the force of law

legislative branch function

makes all laws, declares war, regulates commerce, controls money policies

Judicial branch function

interprets all laws, made up of the courts.

executive branch function

part of government that enforces law, responsible for governance of state

executive branch

president/vp, cabinet, bureaucratic agencies, governors, mayors, law enforcement

legislative branch

senate, house of representatives, congress

judicial branch

supreme, circuit, magistrate, and municipal courts