Political Science Policy Evaluation Concepts

War and capitalism act as catalysts for state formation, as states have the power to organize and fund extensive armies, while capitalism relies on state infrastructure for its growth and success.

Involves standardizing cultural practices and beliefs, creating a shared national identity.

It's a political system where government derives its legitimacy from a fair and open mandate from all qualified citizens, emphasizing governance 'by the people'.

Focuses on 'how' a democracy should function, emphasizing organizational structures and procedures.

Emphasizes the 'what' of democracy, focusing on its goals and effectiveness in achieving those goals.

Participating in policy making through conventional means, like lobbying. This can sometimes lead to abuse as it can be influenced by special interests.

Utilizing techniques such as public campaigns or legal action to indirectly affect policy. This approach often involves mobilizing public pressure.

The factors that determine a group's influence in politics, including their internal characteristics and the broader political landscape.

Internal features of an interest group that contribute to their power. These include membership size, income, organizational structure, sanctions, and leadership.

External factors impacting interest groups' power. These include public views, the alignment with political parties and other powerful groups, and the legitimacy of the group.

Groups advocating for specific professional interests, such as labor unions.

Groups formed around a specific cause, like cycling safety.

Groups that form specifically in response to a temporary issue, only active when needed. Think of firefighters responding to a fire.

A decline in citizen participation and trust in political institutions resulting in a weakened democracy. This may be driven by factors like a decline in voluntary organizations and overall cynicism.

Values and assumptions about government and politics that influence citizen behavior. It is often learned through political socialization.

A type of political culture characterized by low awareness, knowledge, and involvement in politics. Often found in developing countries.

A type of political culture where citizens are aware of the political system but have limited involvement in decision-making or exerting pressure on the government. Often found in non-democracies.

A type of political culture characterized by high awareness, knowledge, and involvement in politics, leading to active participation in the political process. Found in countries like the US and UK.

A type of political culture where citizens have a balanced combination of passivity and activity, respecting laws, trusting the political system, while still participating in the political process.

Social and political differences that divide a society, such as class, religion, or ethnicity. When these differences reinforce each other (e.g., wealthy and white), they can be more potent. However, if they cross-cut each other (e.g., wealthy from diverse backgrounds), their ability to divide is reduced.

Decisions made by the government to direct public, economic, and social life. These policies can be categorized into regulative (economic, environmental), distributive (education, roads), redistributive (taxes), and constitutive (constitutional).

A process that involves assessing the effectiveness of a policy by evaluating its impact on the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

This evaluation model examines the impact of a policy on the economy, its efficiency in achieving desired outcomes, and its overall effectiveness in solving the problem it was designed to address.

A common form of evaluation, focused on gauging the satisfaction levels of individuals who are directly affected by a policy.

The fundamental difference lies in their selection, term of office, expertise, rationales, primary orientation, measure of success, and numbers.

An ideal type of bureaucracy characterized by hierarchy, functionalism, neutrality, permanent appointments, and a strong emphasis on legalism.

A model advocating for decentralization, departmentalization, and a smaller role for government. It emphasizes efficiency, customer orientation, and achieving goals over rigidly following rules.

Organizations that share political goals and seek to achieve them through public policy. They are characterized by their commitment to ideology and their desire to win elections.

A type of political party characterized by its large membership, strong bureaucracy, and centralized decision-making structure.

A system where multiple parties must work together to form a government. Each party brings its own policies and interests to the table.

A government formed by a single party with a majority of seats in parliament. It enjoys greater stability and clearer lines of responsibility.

A type of government where a small group controls power. Leaders may use their position for personal gain and betray the interests of the organization.

The idea that political parties should give members a say in decision-making and not rely solely on party leaders. It also includes limits on the terms of party leaders.

A system where voters choose a candidate based on who receives the most votes, even if they don't get a majority. It emphasizes clear winners and stable government.

An electoral system where the number of seats a party wins is proportional to the percentage of votes they received. This system ensures better representation for smaller parties.

A type of voting system where a country is divided into small electoral districts and one candidate is elected from each district based on the highest percentage of votes. It is simple to understand but can lead to wasted votes.

A system where multiple candidates are elected from a single district, with votes being allocated based on their proportion of the total votes.

A system where the executive branch (president) is directly elected and separate from the legislative branch (parliament). This creates a strong separation of powers, but can lead to gridlock.

A system where the executive branch (prime minister) is chosen by the legislative branch (parliament). This creates a fusion of powers, allowing for efficient governance but potentially leading to concentrated authority.

A system where a central government holds most constitutional power, potentially granting some decision-making authority to lower levels while maintaining its supremacy.

A system where central and sub-state governments share constitutional power and a degree of sovereignty. Power is divided and balanced.

A system where states retain their national sovereignty but delegate some power to a central body. Decision-making requires unanimous agreement.

Local governments operate under the control of a central government, with limited authority and often restricted in their tax-collecting abilities.

The pressure on a state from both higher (supranational) and lower (local) levels of governance.

The different levels of government, from international/supranational to local/municipal, each with its own sphere of influence.