Political Power and Its Bases

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary purpose of government, according to John Locke?

To provide extensive social services to everyone

To eliminate all forms of conflict in society

To ensure that the government has maximum authority over individuals

To protect the natural rights of individuals (correct)

According to Thomas Hobbes, what must the government do to ensure safety?

Have more power and authority over the people (correct)

Provide limited authority to individuals

Focus on protecting the environment

Guarantee maximum freedoms for individuals

What differentiates procedural democracy from substantive democracy?

Procedural democracy emphasizes the processes of decision-making, whereas substantive democracy focuses on fairness and outcomes (correct)

Procedural democracy includes fewer stakeholders than substantive democracy

Procedural democracy allows for unequal votes, while substantive democracy guarantees equal votes

Procedural democracy focuses on the principles of policies, while substantive democracy focuses on the voting methods

Which of the following is NOT a form of government mentioned?

Totalitarianism Signup and view all the answers

What does Marx argue is the primary role of government?

To protect private property Signup and view all the answers

The significance of a written constitution for the US colonies was that it represented a departure from which governing principle?

Tradition-based governance Signup and view all the answers

In a democratic system, what ratio is typically required to reach a decision?

50% plus one of the votes Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes a government controlled by the wealthy?

Plutocracy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines power?

The capacity to influence others' actions Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes a system in which people express demands that the government responds to with policies?

Feedback loop Signup and view all the answers

Which type of policy represents a genuine response to people's demands?

Substantive policy Signup and view all the answers

According to David Easton, how is government best characterized?

An institution for resource distribution Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driver of the formation of government as per conquest theory?

Conflict with another society Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a base of power?

Intelligence Signup and view all the answers

In the context of government responses, what does political repression entail?

Using harmful tactics to suppress demands Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main inquiries within the study of politics?

Who receives benefits from governmental action Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Power

Power influences behavior, compelling others to act as desired.
Can be exercised by individuals, animals, corporations, states, etc.
Bases of power include:
- Money
- Authority
- Knowledge
- Religion
- Morality
- Violence
- Size and solidarity
- Charisma
- Celebrity

Politics

Defined by who gets what, when, and how.
Pursuit of interests is highlighted by James Madison.
Aristotle envisions politics as the quest for a good society.
Can involve manipulation of people.

Government

Government as a decision-making process: authoritative allocation of values/resources.
Responds to citizens' demands through policies, creating a feedback loop.
Possible policy responses include:
- Neglect: ignoring requests.
- Symbolic: half-hearted policies that give the appearance of addressing issues.
- Cooptation: utilizing community leaders in policy-making.
- Substantive: granting what people want.
- Political repression: use of violence/threats to suppress demands.
Core system values consist of:
- Capitalism
- Democracy
- Constitutionalism

Origin of Government

Government emerges from conflict, according to conquest theory.
Social contract theory posits that government arises from the need to mediate internal conflicts.
John Locke emphasizes protection of natural rights (life, liberty, property) as government’s primary role.
Thomas Hobbes advocates for a powerful government to ensure safety, emphasizing a need for authority in a chaotic "state of nature."
Locke favored limited government; Hobbes supported greater governmental power.

Class Struggle

Karl Marx theorized that government exists to safeguard private property.

Democracy

Democracy is derived from two Greek words: Demos (people) and Kratos (power).
Forms of governance comparison:
- Anarchy: no governance
- Autocracy: rule by one
- Oligarchy: rule by few
- Aristocracy: rule by the best and brightest
- Plutocracy: rule by the wealthy
- Democracy: rule by many

Procedural vs Substantive Democracy

Procedural democracy focuses on:
- Participation of all adults in decision-making.
- Political equality (one person, one vote).
- Majority rule for decisions.
Substantive democracy emphasizes:
- The content and fairness of government policies.
- Inclusion of basic rights in policies (e.g., freedom of speech, religion).
- Evaluates democracy based on rights protection, not just decision-making methods.

Purposes of Government

Ensure order.
Protect freedoms.
Provide public goods.
Strive for equality/equity.

Constitutional Government

U.S. origins trace back to British colonies governed by charters.
Colonies operated under written documents defining governmental structure, marking a shift from British tradition-based governance.

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Description

Explore the various bases of power and the dynamics involved in politics. Delve into key concepts like authority, morality, and interpersonal influence. This quiz addresses who gets what in society and the philosophical perspectives on governance.