government ch 1

What is the political process?

a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society

What must a state have?

population
territory

What is the difference between a goverrnment and a state?

government is the system that keeps the state organized

Who holds power in a dictatorship?

a single person or a small group

What are the 6 purposes of government/

form a more perfect union- establish justice- insure domestic tranquility- provide for the common defense- promote the general welfare- secure the blessings of liberty

What is the purpose of a constitution?

describes what a government does

What are the four characteristics of the state?

population, territory, sovereignty, and governmen

How is power distributed in a federal government/

divided between a central government and several local governments

Who holds power in an oligarchy?

small, usually self-appointed elite

Who holds power in an autocracy?

a single person (dictatorships)

How is power distributed in a confederate government?

power lies with the states

How is power distributed in a unitary government?

power lies with the central government

What are the 3 basic kinds of government?

unitary, federal, and confederate

What are the 2 kinds of government classified by the relationship between their legislative and executive agencies?

presidential
parliamentary

What is the balance of power in a presidential government?

executive and legislative are independent and coequal
president is chosen by the legislature

What is the balance of power in a parliamentary government?

voters elect legislature
chief executive is chosen by legislature
executive=legislature

What trait gives the United States a presidential system of government?

we have a written constitution that provides for the separation of powers between branches

What are the basic notions of american democracy?

worth of the individual-equality of all persons-majority rule, minority rights- necessity of compromise- individual freedom

Why is compromise an important part of democracy?

public decisions are made by the people which is essential
achieves majority agreement

what are 3 characteristics of the free enterprise system?

private ownership of capital goods
investments made by private decision not by government direct
success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace

What 4 fundamental factors is the free enterprise system based on?

private ownership
individual intiative
profit
competition

How does the law of supply and demand help determine the price of an item?

states that:
supplies + plentiful = low prices
supplies + scarce = high prices

What is the role of government in a mixed economy?

protects the public
preserves the private enterprise

What is the difference between equality of opportunity and equality of condition?

opportunity- prejudice can not be a factor in opportunities
condition- equality when it comes to the law