Political Science: Module One
ideology
the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy
social capital
connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them
Government
describes the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that the society as a whole needs. Among the goals around the world seek to accomplish are economic prosperity for the nation, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens. also provide benefits for their citizens. The type of benefits provided differ according to the country and their specific type of system they commonly provide such things as education, health care, and an infrastructure for transportation.
Nineteenth Amendment
extended the vote to include women, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made exercising the right to vote a reality for African American men and women in the South
political power
influence over a government's institutions, leadership, or policies
monarchy
a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power
toll good
a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price to do so
True
Anti-Federalists were those who did not support ratification of the Constitution. T/F
Public goods
1. What goods are available to all without direct payment? a. private goods b. public goods c. common goods d. toll goods
Federal system
A confederation is a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
False
A confederation is a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government. T/F
A
According to the pluralist theory of government, ________. a. government does what the majority of voters want it to do b. government policy is formed as a result of the competition between groups with different goals and interests c. ordinary people acting on their own have a significant influence on government d. wealthy people decide what government policy will be, and politicians have no interest in pleasing anyone else
property, Competition, industrial capitalism
Adam Smith believed that all people should be free to acquire ______ in any way that they wished. Instead of being controlled by government, business, and industry; he argued that people should be allowed to operate as they wish and keep the proceeds of their work. ______ would ensure that prices remained low and faulty goods disappeared from the market. In this way, businesses would reap profits, consumers would have their needs satisfied, and society as a whole would prosper, which formed the basis for ______ ______
True
An example of partisanship is if you support the actions of the Democratic Party simply because you identify as a member of that party. T/F
Yes, boycotts
Are all Americans equally able to become engaged in government? What factors make it possible for some people to become more engaged than others? What could be done to change this? _____, Even those without money or connections to important people can influence the policies that affect their lives and change the direction taken by government. U.S. history is filled with examples of people actively challenging the power of elites, gaining rights for themselves, and protecting their interests. Change can be done by marched in protest, participated in ______, delivered speeches, wrote letters to politicians, and sometimes risked arrest in order to be heard
True
Checks and balances is a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch, T/F
True
Cooperative federalism is a style of federalism which lead to the blending of layers as in a marble cake. T/F
False
Elite theory claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people and policy is a result of the competition between these groups. T/F
decisions, force
Elite theory: the wealthy use their power to control the nation's economy in such a way that those below them cannot advance economically. Their wealth allows the elite to secure for themselves important positions in politics. They then use this power to make ____ and allocate resources in ways that benefit them. Politicians do the bidding of the wealthy instead of attending to the needs of ordinary people, and order is maintained by ____.
True
Enumerated powers are powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution. T/F
True
Federalists were those who supported ratification of the Constitution. T/F
False
Funded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation. T/F
False
Government is the process which decides how resources will be allocated. T/F
True
In a confederate system power is concentrated in the states; in a unitary system, it is concentrated in the national government. T/F
true
In a direct democracy people participate directly in making government decisions. T/F
Oligarchy
In which form of government does a small group of elite people hold political power? a. direct democracy b. monarchy c. oligarchy d. totalitarian
yes
Is citizen engagement necessary for a democracy to function? _____, citizens use their right to vote for electives to be their voice in government. Civic engagement can increase the power of ordinary people to influence government actions. Even those without money or connections to important people can influence the policies that affect their lives and change the direction taken by government
True
John Locke believes that we have natural/inalienable rights to life, liberty and property. T/F
laws, business
Local, state, and national governments also make ____ to maintain order and to ensure the efficient functioning of society, including the fair operation of the ____ marketplace
education, parks
On the local level, funds are allotted for _____, police and fire departments, and maintenance of public ____.
defense, Security, courts
On the national level, money goes to such things as ____, Social ____, pensions for veterans, maintenance of federal _____ and prisons, and management of national parks.
Politics
Refers to the process of gaining and exercising control within a government for the purpose of setting and achieving particular goals, especially those related to the division of resources within a nation.
colleges, roads, wildlife
State governments allocate money for state ____ and universities, maintenance of state ___ and bridges, and ___ management, among other priorities.
A
Supporting the actions of the Democratic Party simply because one identifies oneself as a member of that party is an example of ________. a. partisanship b. ideology c. latent preference d. social capital
10
The 1st____ Amendments protecting individual and states' rights.
true
The Articles of Confederation created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government. T/F
False
The Bill of Rights are powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution. T/F
True
The Federalist Papers are a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution. T/F
The great compromise
The Reserved Powers Compromise is a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a two-house Congress. T/F
true
The U.S. Congress is considered a bicameral legislature. T/F
Declaration of Independence
The US Constitution is a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King.
False
The US Constitution is a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King. T/F
True
The clause of Article I, Section 8, which enables the national government "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying" out all its constitutional responsibilities is an example of an elastic clause. T/F
D
The elite theory of government maintains that ________. a. special interest groups make government policy b. politicians who have held office for a long time are favored by voters c. poor people and people of color should not be allowed to vote d. wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people
true
The social contract is an agreement in which citizens will consent to be governed so long government protects their natural rights. T/F
True
Three-Fifths Compromise is a compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting 60 percent of the slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress. T/F
True
Three-fourths of the states must ratify an amendment before it becomes law. T/F
False
Toll goods are available to all without direct payment. T/F
D
When a person is asked a question about a political issue that he or she has little interest in and has not thought much about, that person's answer will likely reflect ________. a. ideology b. partisanship c. intense preferences d. latent preferences
Quality of life
Which is the more important reason for being engaged: to gain power or improve the quality of life? _____ ___ ____; the job of the government is to care for its citizens and hear their requests to live their best life
A
Which of the following is a good example of a tradeoff? a. The government pleases environmental activists by preserving public lands but also pleases ranchers by allowing them to rent public lands for grazing purposes. b. The government pleases environmental activists by reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park but angers ranchers by placing their cattle in danger. c. The government pleases oil companies by allowing them to drill on lands set aside for conservation but allows environmental activist groups to protest the drilling operations. d. Groups that represent a variety of conflicting interests are all allowed to protest outside Congress and the White House.
Mills
_____ argued that government was controlled by a combination of business, military, and political elites. Most are highly educated, often graduating from prestigious universities
Oligarchy
a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power
totalitarianism
a form of government where government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights
direct democracy
a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
representative democracy
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws
majority rule
a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
Unfunded mandates
are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation.
Intense preferences
beliefs and preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someone adheres to over time
latent preferences
beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time
elite theory
claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people government the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals
pluralist theory
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
Pluralist Theory
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people and policy is a result of the competition between
Fifteenth Amendment
gave the vote to African American men.
public goods
goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all without charge
private goods
goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them
common goods
goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply democracy a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people
minority rights
protections for those who are not part of the majority
partisanship
strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party
politics
the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies government will pursue