government
a system for exercising authority over a body of people
authority
power that is recognized as legitimate, or right
legitimate
accepted as "right" or proper
rules
directives that specify how resources will be distributed or what procedure govern collective activity
norms
informal, unwritten expectations that guide behavior and support formal rule systems; often most noticeable when broken
institutions
organizations in which governmental power is exercised
political narrative
a persuasive story about the nature of power, who should have it, and how it is used
gatekeepers
journalist and the media elite who determine which news stories are covered and which are not
economics
production and distribution of a society's material resources and services
socialist economy
an economic system in which the state determines production, distribution, and price decisions and property is government owned
substantive guarantees
government assurance of particular outcomes or results
procedural guarantees
government assurance that the rules will work smoothly and treat everyone fairly, with no promise of particular outcomes
capitalist economy
an economic system in which the market determines production, distribution, and price decisions, and property is privately owned
laissez-faire capitalism
an economic system in which the market makes all the decisions and the gov plays no role
mixed economies
economic systems based on modified forms of capitalism tempered by substantive values
democratic socialism
a mixed economy that combines socialist ideals with a commitment to democracy and market capitalism, keeping socialism as its goal
social democracy
a mixed economy that uses the democratic process to bend capitalism toward socialist goals (like more equality)
regulated capitalism
a market system in which the government intervenes to protect rights
Authoritarian Government
systems in which the state holds all the power over the social order
Totalitarianism
a system in which absolute power is exercised over every aspect of life
authoritarian capitalism
a system in which the state allows people economic freedom but maintains stringent social regulations to limit noneconomic behavior
anarchy
the absence of government and law
democracy
government that vest power in the people
Popular Sovereignty
the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power
advanced industrial democracy
a system in which a democratic government allows citizens a considerable amount of personal freedom and maintains a free-market (though still usually regulated) economy
communist democracy
a utopian system in which property is communally owned and all decisions are made democratically
populism
social movement based on the idea that power has been concentrated illegitimately among elites at the people's expense
subjects
individuals who are obliged to submit to a government authority against which they have no rights
citizens
members of a political community with both rights and responsibilities
divine right of kings
the principle that earthly rulers receive their authority from God
classical liberalism
a political ideology dating from the seventeenth century emphasizing individual rights over the power of the state
social contract
the notion that society is based on an agreement between government and the governed in which people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of others
republic
a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people
Totalitarianism
a government system in which absolute power is exercised over every aspect of life
oligarchy
A government in which an elite few rule for everyone
politics
who gets what, when, and how; a process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society without resource to violence
power
the ability to get people to do what you want
media
the channels-including television, radio, newspapers, and the internet-through which information is sent and recieved
social order
the way we organize and live our collective lives