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