Untitled Politics PDF

Politics Who gets what, when and how. A process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society w/o recourse to violence. Power The ability to get other people to do what you what them to do. Social Order The way we organize and live our collective lives. - w/o politics, there w...

Politics Who gets what, when and how. A process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society w/o recourse to violence. Power The ability to get other people to do what you what them to do. Social Order The way we organize and live our collective lives. - w/o politics, there would be no compromise b/t conflicting interest, no agreements, bargains made or alliances formed. Legitimate Accepted as "right" or proper Government a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people. Authority power that citizens view as legitimate or "right" -- power to which we have given our consent Rules Can be thought of as the "how" in the definition -- directives that determine how resources are allocated and how collective action takes place Institutions organizations in which gov't power is exercised -- the "where" of the political struggle Economics The production and distribution of a society's maternal resources and services -- Both politics and economics focus on the distribution of society's resources. Capitalism (capitalist economy) - Market determines production, distribution, and price decisions * Regulated capitalism has gov't procedural guarantees, whereas laissez-faire capitalism doesn't Laissez-Faire Capitalism From the french term "let people do as they wish" * No gov't procedural guarantees Socialist Economy The state determines production, distribution, and price decisions; property is gov't owned. *Few nations still claim allegiance to socialism (China, North Korea, and Cuba) Social Democracy A hybrid system combining a capitalist economy & a gov't that support equality (capitalism & socialism) Ex: Scandanavian Nations (Norway, Denmark, Sweden) Authoritarian Gov'ts Ultimate power belongs to the state rather than to the people to decide how they ought to live their lives. - the state chooses to exercise its power, the people have no choice but to submit to its will. Monarchy Gov't power vested in a king or queen (Saudi Arabia) Theocracy Gov't claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority (Iran) Facist Gov't Policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state (Nazy Gemany) Oligarchy Rule by a small group of elites (Post-soviet Russia) Totalitarian Gov't Exercises absolute control over ever aspect of life (North Korea) Authoritarian Capitalism A system in which the state allows people economic freedom but maintains stringent social regulations to limit noneconomic behavior. Non-authoritarian systems Ultimate power rests w. individuals to makes decisions concerning their lives. Anarchy The absence of gov't and laws (no one has true freedom b/c your rights can be usurped by anyone physically stronger than you or by anyone w. a weapon) Democracy Gov't that vests power in the people; based on popular sovereignty [Popular sovereignty: the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power] Elite Democracy Limits' the citizens role to choosing among competing leaders Plural Democracy Citizen membership in groups is the key to political power Participatory Democracy Citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives and al aspects of law-making What is the key difference b/w a citizen and a subject? Citizens have rights as well as obligations but subjects only have obligations In the relationship b/w politics and gov't: Politics is the process or activity through which power is gained and lost, whereas gov't is a system for exercising authority over a body of people The major difference between elitist, pluralist, and participatory theories of democracy is related to the: Role of the people in decision making According to the social contract, what is the source of gov't legitimacy? Citizen consent The concept of "republican virtue" is what scholars such as Madison call the: Ability of democratic man to put the community's interests ahead of his own. Madison referred to the ability of democratic man to put the community's interests ahead of his own as: Republican or civic virtue Rights designed to allow citizens to criticize their gov't openly w/o threat of retribution by that gov't Ex: Freedom of speech & press, the right to assemble Responsibilities Obligation to obey the law, they may also have obligation to pay taxes, serve in the military or sit on juries John Locke (1632-1704) Legitimate gov't requires that people consent to it & if gov't breaks contract, people may form a new one. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Gov't did not exist due to divine right; instead people agree to be governed for their own protection James Madison feared "Pure democracy" b/c people may create "factions" *Factions - groups that may pursue only their self interest; instead he preferred a republic Republic A gov't in which decisions are made through representatives of the people Madison's View Human Nature is to be self-interested, individual participation in gov't should be limited and "too much" democracy is a bad thing Republican Virtue Faith in the citizens ability to act virtuously, not just for his or her own good but the common good as well. immigrants citizens or subjects of one country who move to another country to live or work -Have due process and is illegal to discriminate against them naturalization the legal process of acquiring citizenship for someone who has not acquired it by birth asylum protection or sanctuary, especially from political persecution refugees individuals who flee an area or a country because of persecution on the basis of race, nationality, religion, group membership, or political opinion; fear of persecution must be "well-founded" political culture the broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population values central ideas, principles, or standards that most people agree are important normative describes beliefs or values about how things should be or what people ought to do rather than what actually is procedural guarantees government assurance that the rules will work smoothly and treat everyone fairly, with no promise of particular outcomes individualism belief that what is good for society is based on what is good for individuals ideologies sets of beliefs about politics and society that help people make sense of their world conservatives people who generally favor limited government and are cautious about change liberals people who generally favor government action and view change as process economic liberals those who favor an expanded government role in the economy but a limited role in the social order -hands-off in individuals private lives economic conservatives those who favor a strictly procedural government role in the economy and the social order -just regulation in the market libertarians those who favor a minimal government role in any sphere social liberals those who favor greater control of the economy and the social order to bring about greater equality and to regulate the effects of progress communitarians those who favor a strong, substantive government role in the economy and the social order in order to realize their vision of a community of equals social conservatives those who endorse limited government control of the economy but considerable government intervention to realize a traditional social order; based on religious values and hierarchy rather than equality feudalism a social system based on a rigid social and political hierarchy based on the ownership of land slavery the ownership, or forced labor, of one people by another racism the belief that one race is superior to another French and Indian War a war fought between France and England, and allied Indians, from 1754 to 1763; resulted in France's expulsion from the New World popular sovereignty the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power Common Sense 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that persuaded many Americans to support the Revolutionary cause Declaration of Independence the political document that dissolved the colonial ties between the United States and Britain constitution the rules that establish a government Articles of Confederation the first constitution of the United States (1777) creating an association of states with weak central government confederation a government in which independent states unite for common purpose, but retain their own sovereignty popular tyranny unrestrained power of the people Shay's rebellion a grassroots uprising (1787) by armed Massachusetts farmers protesting foreclosures Constitutional Convention the assembly of fifty-five delegates in the summer of 1787 to recast the Articles of Confederation; the result was the U.S. Constitution federalism a political system in which power is divided between the central and regional units Federalists supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government Anti-Federalists advocates of states' rights who opposed the Constitution Virginia plan a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation be based of population, thus favoring large states New Jersey plan a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation be equal, thus favoring the small states Great Compromise the constitutional solution to congressional representation: equal votes in the Senate, votes by population in the House Three-fifths Compromise the formula for counting five slaves as three people for purposes of representation, which reconciled northern and southern factions at the Constitutional Convention ratification the process through which a proposal is formally approved and adopted by vote The Federalist Papers a series of essays written to build support for ratification of the Constitution factions groups of citizens united by some common passion of interest and opposed to the rights of other citizens or the interests of the whole community Bill of Rights a summary of citizen rights guaranteed and protected by a government; added to the Constitution as its first ten amendments in order to achieve ratification Civil Rights Citizenship rights guaranteed to the people (primarily in the 13th, 14th, 19th, and 26th Amendments) and protected by the government. Civil Liberties Individual freedoms guaranteed to the people primarily by the Bill of Rights. Habeas Corpus The right of an accused person to be brought before a judge and informed of the charges and evidence against him or her. Bills of Attainer Laws under which specific persons or groups are detained and sentenced without trial. Ex Post Facto Laws Laws that criminalize an action after it occurred. Incorporation Supreme Court action making the protections of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states. Selective Incorporation Incorporation of rights on a case-by-case basis. Establishment Clause The First Amendment guarantee that the government will not create or support an official state church. Free Exercise Clause The First Amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice. Separationists Supporters of the "wall of separation" between church and state. Accomodationists Supporters of government non preferential accommodation of religion. Lemon Test Three-pronged rule used by the courts to determine whether the establishment clause is violated. Compelling State Interest A fundamental state purpose, which must be shown before the law can limit some freedoms or treat some groups of people differently. Police Power The ability of the government to protect its citizens and maintain social order. Freedom of Assembly The right of the people to gather peacefully and to petition government. Clear and Present Danger Test Rule used by the courts that allows language to be regulated only if it presents and immediate and urgent danger. Imminent Lawless Action Test Rule used by the courts that restricts speech only if it is aimed at producing or is likely to produce imminent lawless action. Sedition Speech that criticizes the government. Miller Test Rule used by the courts in which the definition of "obscenity" must be based on local standards. Fighting Words Speech intended to incite violence. Political Correctness The idea that language shapes behavior and therefore should be regulated to control its social effects. Prior Restraint Censorship of or punishment for the expression of ideas before the ideas are printed or spoken. Due Process of the Law Guarantee that laws will be fair and reasonable and that citizens suspected of breaking the law will be treated fairly. Exclusionary Rule Rule created by the Supreme Court that evidence illegally seized may not be used to obtain a conviction. Libel Written defamation of character. First Amendment Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion (exercise clause and establishment clause), and Freedom of Assembly. Second Amendment gives the right to bear arms and have militias. 6th Amendment Right to counsel. Public defenders in criminal cases but not civil cases. 8th Amendment defense against cruel and unusual punishment Civil War Amendments Includes 13-15th Amendments. They outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude. Equality amendment - everyone is protected under the law. Voting allowed for african american men. Civil Rights Citizenship rights guaranteed to the people (primarily in the 13th, 14th, 19th, and 26th Amendments) and protected by the government. Suspect Classifications Classifications, such as race, for which any discriminatory law must be justified by a compelling state interest. Strict Scrutiny A heightened standard of review used by the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of laws that limit some freedoms or that make a suspect classification. Intermediate Standard of Review Standard of review used by the Court to evaluate laws that make a quasisuspect classification. Minimum Rationality Test Standard of review used by the Court to evaluate laws that make a nonsuspect classification. Racism Institutionalized power inequalities in society based on the perception of racial differences. Reconstruction The period following the Civil War during which the federal government took action to rebuild the South. Poll Taxes Taxes levied as a qualification for voting. Literacy Tests Tests requiring reading and comprehension skills as a qualification for voting. Grandfather Clauses Provisions exempting from voting restrictions the descendants of those able to vote in 1867. Jim Crow Laws Southern laws designed to circumvent the 13th,14th, and 15th Amendments and to deny blacks rights on bases other than race. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) An interest group founded in 1910 to promote civil rights for African Americans. Boycott Refusals to buy certain goods or services as a way to protest policy or force political reform. De Jure Discrimination Discrimination arising from or supported by the law. De Facto Discrimination Discrimination that is the result not of law but rather tradition and habit. Busing Achieving racial balance by transporting students to schools across neighborhood boundaries. Affirmative Action A policy of creating opportunities for members of certain groups as a substantive remedy for past discrimination. Equal Rights Amendment Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender.