ch. 6 political science

What are the two primary criteria used to evaluate state policies?

Justice(treating people as they deserve) and effectiveness(producing the greatest good at least cost)

How is an “effective” policy defined in public policy evaluation?

A policy that produces the greatest good or service at the least possible cost

Why do the criteria of justice and effectiveness frequently conflict in policy-making?

Because the most effective outcome economically may not be the most just, and vice versa

According to Socrates, what is the core concept of justice?

Giving each person what they deserve or what is owed to them

How did Plato define justice in “The Republic?”

A social order where everyone receives their due and occupies their correct position

On what principle did Aristotle base his theory of justice?

Reciprocity, where individuals are treated fairly based on their merits and contributions

What is Aristotle’s fundamental rule regarding equal treatment?

Only equals should be treated equally

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs, what constitutes the first bottom level of human needs?

Physiological needs, such as breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep

What forms the 2nd level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Safety and security needs, including health, employment, property, and family stability

What constitutes the third level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Love and belonging needs, such as friendship, family, intimacy, and sense of connection

What needs are categorized under the 4th level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self esteem needs, including confidence achievement, respect of others, and personal uniqueness.

What defines the top-level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Fulfilling inner potential, morality, creativity, spontaneity, and experiencing purpose

What is substantive justice?

The allocation of goods and services to people based on what they need and deserve according to formula

What does institutional justice assess?

The fairness of a society’s or state’s basic institutions in distributing resources

What is the primary focus of procedural justice?

The fairness of the processes and procedures used to reach decisions about people

What characterizes an arbitrary government policy or action?

Decisions made and communicated without people knowing in advance what to expect or the grounds for the decision

What is the principle of due process in policy administration?

The requirement to follow standard, established procedures, failing which a policy or ruling is voided

Under due process in criminal trials, when can an individual be legally accused of a crime?

Only if they could have known of the law’s existence and meaning before committing the act.

What are special basic rights in the context of procedural justice?

Non-absolute rights recognized by states, such as the rights to survival, free speech, and privacy.

What is meant by “overriding social needs” in procedural justice?

Compelling collective social priorities that can temporarily supersede individual standard justice claims

In political analysis, how does an empirical question differ from a normative question?

An empirical question examines what IS, whereas a normative question examines what ought to be.

What defines governmental authority-based policy making?

Policy made by government commands dictating what citizens may do, spend, or invest.

What are two major problems associated with authority-based policy-making?

Sub-optimal resource allocation and inefficient use of resources

What defines market-based policy-making?

Policy outcomes determined by individual decisions and voluntary exchanges through supply and demand.

What are 3 major drawbacks of market based policy-making?

Unequal wealth distribution, failure to produce public goods, and neglect of transaction externalities.

In policy analysis, what is an externality?

A social cost or benefit resulting from a transaction between individuals that impacts outside third parties.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

A collective action failure where unmanaged individual self-interest leads to depletion or damage of a shared public resource.