Political Science Approaches and Judiciary

Traditional Approaches

• Two main approaches: historical and institutional.
• Historical approach focuses on past events to explain present political developments.
• Institutional approach prioritizes philosophy, law, logic, norms, values, and institutions.
• Traditional approaches are criticized for being static and oversimplified.

Behavioral Approach

• Developed in the 1940s and 1950s.
• Emphasizes careful observation of individual behavior in politics.
• Leans on sociology and psychology for analysis.
• Employs statistical methods for hypothesis testing.

System Analysis Approach

• Introduced by David Easton.
• Applies general systems theories to political science.
• Defines a political system as a structure with interactions leading to authoritative decisions.

The Judiciary

• Interprets laws, leading to law-making through interpretations.
• Higher courts' decisions bind lower courts.
• Creates equity legislation in the absence of clear laws.
• Protects citizens' rights from government and private entities.
• Serves as the guardian of the Constitution.
• Conducts judicial review to ensure laws align with Constitutional principles.
• Enforces decisions and judgments.
• Manages its own administration independently from the legislature and executive.

Ideology

• A systematic set of ideas that guide political action.
• Outlines the fundamental principles of government.
• Includes ideals, ends, and purposes for society.
• Often arises during times of crisis.
• Incorporates empirical and normative elements.
• Claims exclusive relevance, absoluteness, and universality.
• Motivates active involvement from adherents.
• Can be personalized, scriptualised, and programmatic.

Democracy

• There are three main variants of democracy:
  • Direct/participatory democracy.
  • Liberal/representative democracy.
  • Marxist/people's democracy.
• The practice of democracy varies across countries.
• Liberal democracies prioritize individual freedom and the rule of law.
• The rise of modern liberal democracies began in the 1970s and 1980s.

Bureaucracies

• Refers to the administrative machinery of the state.
• Studied extensively by Max Weber who defined it as a rational rules-based system.
• Principles of bureaucratic organization include:
  • Fixed jurisdictional areas.
  • Hierarchical organization.
  • Reliance on written documents.
  • Impersonal authority.
  • Strict rules for minimization of personal discretion.
  • Appointment and advancement based on professional criteria.
• Functions of bureaucracies include:
  • Administration.
  • Policy advice.
  • Articulating interest groups.
  • Political stability.
• Power sources of bureaucracies include:
  • Strategic position in the policy process.
  • Logistical relationship with ministers.
  • Status and expertise.

Introduction

• Political Science is the study of life in an organized community, specifically the state.

This quiz covers key approaches in political science, including traditional, behavioral, and systems analysis, as well as the role of the judiciary in law interpretation and legislation. Understand the critiques and applications of these theories within the field. Test your knowledge of the basic concepts and their significance in modern political discourse.