government
the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
public policies
all those things a government decides to do
the three basic kinds of power a government has and exercises
(1) legislative power
(2) executive power
(3) judicial power
legislative power
the power to make a law and to frame public policies
executive power
the power to execute, enforce, and administer law
judicial power
the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society
constitution
the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
dictatorship
form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority
democracy
a form of government in which the supreme authority rests with the people
state
a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (that is, with a government), and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority
characteristics of a state
(1) population
(2) territory
(3) sovereighnty
(4) government
population
a state must have people, the number of which does not directly relate to its existence
territory
a state must be compromised of land - _________ with known and recognized boundaries
sovereignty
every state is __________. it has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and decides
government
every state has a ____________ - that is politically organized
2 stateless boundaries
(1) Palestine
(2) Kurdistan
the force theory
states that one person or a small group took control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that person's or group's rule
the evolutionary theory
argues that the state evolved naturally out of the early family
the divine right theory
God created the state and that God gives those of royal birth a 'divine right' to rule
the social contract theory
argues that the state arose out of a voluntary act of free people
-- the constitution: 1787
Locke, Harrington, Hobbes, and Rousseau would most likely agree that
the state exists to serve the will of the people
the theory underlying modern democracies was developed to challenge the idea that
those of royal birth have absolute authority to rule
direct democracy
the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves
indirect democracy
a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, act as their popular will
autocracy
a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power
oligarchy
a government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite
unitary government
a centralized government where all powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency
-- United Kingdom
federal government
is one of which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments
division of powers
basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis (in the Unites States, between the National Government and the States)
confederation
an alliance of independent states
-- European Union, EU
presidential government
voters elect the Legislative and the Chief Executive who is part of the Executive Branch. The legislature and executive are independent and coequal
parliamentary government
voters elect the Legislature. The Chief Executive is drawn from the legislature
compromise
the process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests
anarchy
the total absence of government
the free enterprise system
an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by PRIVATE decision rather than by state control; and determined in a free market. Is based on four fundamental factors; private ownership
law of supply and demand
a law which states that when supplies of goods and services become plentiful, prices tend to drop. When supplies become scarcer, prices tend to rise
mixed economy
an economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion
The United States Federal Government is an example of a direct democracy.
false
Among the broad purposes of the United States government spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution is the obligation to
Provide for justice and the people's general welfare.
a federal government is one in which
Power is divided between a central government and local governments
The individual 50 states lack which basic characteristics of a state?
sovereignty
Which of the following statements about sovereign states is NOT true?
A. Sovereign states decide their own foreign and domestic policies
B. Sovereign states can determine their own form of government
C. A county or city is considered sovereign because it is subordinate to a larger form of government
D. Sovereign states have
In a democracy, the will of the majority
Cannot be used to deprive rights to a member of a minority group
All political powers in a state are concentrates at the central level under which form of government?
Unitary
Which of the following is among the purposes of government outlined in the Preamble to the constitution?
A. Defending the nation against foreign enemies
B. Insuring order and domestic tranquility
C. Promoting the general welfare of the citizens
D. All of the Above
According to the social contract theory, the contract is?
A constitution
Which of the following would be most threatened be the social contract theory?
Divine right advocates
Process, institution
Politics is a(n) _________, while government is a(n)___________.
A government can be both?
Unitary and Parliamentary
The evolutionary theory of the origins of the state emphasis which of the following?
Family
Which of the following purposes of government is mainly concerned with other nations?
Providing for the common defense
In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned...
By private and corporate means.