Process and Actors of Governance Quiz

Politics, State, and Governance

• Politics is the social activity that deals with the relation to the affairs of state (Aristotle)
• Politics is the process of making authoritative decisions on the allocation of values in a society (David Easton)
• Politics is any activity involving human beings associated together in relationships of power and authority where conflict occurs (Robert Dahl)

Basic Concepts of Politics

• Power: The ability to impose one's will on another, to get one's own way, or to do or get what one wants
• State: An organization that has a number of political functions and tasks
• Nation: A group of people with a sense of unity based on shared traits, attributes, customs, and order
• Justice: The process of legalizing and penalizing the abuse of political power and the power to rule

Forms of Power

• Authority: Imposition of one's will on another by reason of legitimacy
• Coercion: Imposition of one's will on another by the use of penalty, force, or threat of force
• Influence: Imposition of one's will on another through persuasion and voluntary compliance
• Compulsory: Direct control of one actor affects another
• Institutional: Indirect ways in which an actor affects another
• Structural: Looks at the position and roles of various actors in relation to each other
• Productive: Looks at the relative position of actors, their social production of roles, and how it affects actions

Elements of State

• People: Sustain the state, and without people, there is no state
• Territory: The place where the people live, with four types: terrestrial, fluvial, maritime, and aerial
• Government: The agency through which the will of the state is formulated and carried out
• Sovereignty: The supreme power of the state to command and enforce obedience to its will from people within its jurisdiction and to have freedom from foreign control

Characteristics of Sovereignty

• Absolute: Not subject to restrictions
• Comprehensive: Authority extends to all citizens, aliens, and within the territory
• Permanent: If the state exists, sovereignty exists
• Indivisible: Cannot be divided, one authority of the state

Government and Governance

• Purpose and Necessity of Government: Advancement of public welfare
• Transparency of Government: People are open to information regarding the decision-making process and implementation
• Simplicity of Procedures: Easy to understand and follow
• Responsibility: Government is accountable for its actions
• Fight Against Corruption: Preventing the abuse of power
• Individual Freedom and Collective Expression: Ensuring the rights of citizens
• Independent Judicial System: A separate and impartial system of justice

Decision Making and Implementation

• Decision Making: The process of arriving at a decision involving individual and communal needs and wants
• Implementation: The process that logically follows the decision

Actors and Structures

• Actors: Sectors or groups that participate in the decision-making process and implementation
• Structures: Organizations or mechanisms that guide the decision-making process and set into motion the different actors and apparatuses in the implementation process

Indicators of Governance

• Participation: Active involvement of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process
• Rule of Law: The people and civil society render habitual obedience to the law
• Effectiveness and Efficiency: Actors meet the needs of society, and valuable resources are utilized without waste
• Transparency: People are open to information regarding the decision-making process and implementation

Types of Government

• Autocracy: Government by a single person having unlimited power
• Totalitarianism: The government seeks to control all aspects of social and economic life
• Socialism: A system where the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness
• Theocracy: A government where the political leader is also the spiritual leader or the spiritual leader is given political power
• Communism: The government owns property, and the people's healthcare, education, and welfare are provided

Characteristics of Democracy

• Bill of Rights: A document that outlines the rights of citizens
• Constitution: A document that outlines the rules and laws of the state
• Right of Suffrage: The right to vote
• Majority Rule: Decisions are made by the majority of the people
• Principle of Separation of Powers: The division of power between the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches
• Tripartite System: The system of government composed of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches
• Observance of Law: The government and citizens are subject to the law
• Irrepealable Laws: Laws that cannot be changed
• Laws not Men: The law is supreme, not individuals
• Meditating Institutions: Institutions that help resolve disputes and protect the rights of citizens
• Natural Rights: Rights that are inherent to human beings
• Constitutional Rights: Rights that are protected by the constitution
• Statutory Rights: Rights that are protected by laws and regulations