POLI 2051 Exam 1 Study Guide Dr. Kenny Questions & Answers

government - ANSWERSformally established way of making and carrying out political decisions Answerpolitics - ANSWERSthe competition to shape government's impact on society's problems and goals Answerpurposes of government - ANSWERS1. protecting life 2. rights and liberties 3. providing public goods 4. promoting equality Answerpolitical ideology - ANSWERSa coherent set of beliefs about how politics affect society and which policies are desirable Answersocial contract theory - ANSWERSit is not a written contract, but rather, a general agreement between the people and their government; the people agree to give up some of their liberty, and in exchange, the government guarantees to protect what we called "natural rights." AnswerThe Policy Process: People - ANSWERSinterest, problems, concerns AnswerThe Policy Process: Linkage Processes - ANSWERSelections, polls, lobbying AnswerThe Policy Process: Linkage Institutions - ANSWERSpolitical parties, interest groups, media AnswerThe Policy Process: Governmental Agenda(s) - ANSWERScongress, president, courts AnswerThe Policy Process: Policies - ANSWERSexpenditures, regulation, taxes, non-decisions AnswerRequirements for Democracy - three factors: - ANSWERS1. popular sovereignty 2. political equality 3. political liberty Answerpopular sovereignty - ANSWERSpeople are the ultimate source of all public authority Answerpolitical equality - ANSWERSeach person carries the same weight in voting and other political decisions making Answerpolitical liberty - ANSWERSfreedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, etc. are essential for democracy to work Answerseven conditions of popular sovereignty - ANSWERS1. Government policies reflect the wishes of the people 2. Government leaders are elected 3. Elections are free and fair 4. People participate in the Political Process 5. High-Quality Information is available 6. The majority rules 7. Government Policies are Effective Answerindividualism - ANSWERSthe idea that people should take the initiative, be self-sufficient, and accumulate the material advantages necessary for their well being Answerpluralism - ANSWERSa theory of American politics that holds that society's interest are substantially represented through the activities of groups Answerconstitutionalism - ANSWERSthe idea that there are lawful limits on the power of government Answerfree-market system - ANSWERSan economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible; free enterprise and self-reliance are the collective and individual principles that underpin free markets Answerpolitical thinking - ANSWERSreflective thinking focused on deciding what can resonably be believed and then using this information to make political judgements Answerauthoritarian government - ANSWERSa form of government in which those in power openly repress their opponents in order to stay in power AnswerRepublicanism - ANSWERSa form of government in which power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives AnswerFederalism - ANSWERSthe division of sovereignty, and hence power, among two or more governments - national and state governments in our case. Powers are derived from the people, who are the ultimate sovereign AnswerSeparation of powers - ANSWERSthe assignment of law-making, law-enforcing, and law-interpreting functions to separate and independent legislative, executive, and judicial branches of governments (powers aren't separated, they are shared)