Introduction to Political Science Exam

Political Parties and Systems

• In a multi-party system, there are two categories of political parties: ruling party and opposition parties.
• The main aim of a political party in a democratic state is to win elections and control state power.

Political Theory and Terminology

• Politikos is a Greek word used to describe anything concerning political affairs.
• Harold Lasswell defined politics as “who gets what, when and how”.

Political Culture

• In a parochial political culture, citizens' interest in state politics is considered low.

Approaches to Political Science

• The institutional approach emphasizes formal structures for the study of politics.
• The behavioral approach emphasizes careful observation of individual behavior in political analysis.

Political Analysis and Systems

• The "Input" functions of a political system according to Structural Functionalism consist of political socialization and recruitment, interest articulation, interest aggregation, and political communication.
• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels defined the state as essentially an expression of class relationships generated by the particular mode of production.

Government and Governance

• The functions of the legislature as a branch of government include making laws and policies, overseeing executive action, and determining public expenditure.
• The functions of the executive branch of government include enforcing laws, ensuring peace, adjudicating disputes, and managing foreign relations of a state.