Foundations of Gov - USGOV

Government

institution or system that makes and enforces rules for a society

Thomas Hobbes

believed people could be selfish and without a government, the society could become disorderly and unsafe. supported a central authority to maintain peace and order

John Locke

believed people have natural rights(life, liberty, and property). government should protect those rights and if the government violates people’s rights, then people can change or replace it.

Montesquieu

supported separation of powers(legislative, executive, judicial), checks and balances(each branch has ways to limit the power of other branches → no single branch becomes powerful), favored monarchies with limited powers.

Direct Democracy

citizens vote directly on decisions

Representative Democracy

citizens elect representatives to make decisions

Authoritarianism

power’s concentrated in a leader/small group, political freedoms and competition

Egalitarianism

lack of social classes, nobility, social hierarchy

Populism

representation of ordinary people and no elites

Liberty

power to voice out their opinion

Individualism

everyone should have their own thoughts and should be free thinkers

Laissez-Faire

government interferes as little as possible in the economy

Civic Duty

citizens responsibility to participate/contribute to society

Rule of Law

everyone’s accountable and must obey the law(including government officials)

Radical

(LEFT most) - sweeping, radical change

Liberal

(LEFT) - promote social welfare and gradual change

Moderate

(CENTER) - favors cautious change and avoids extreme

Conservative

(RIGHT) - preserving traditions, with cautious/ limited change

Reactionary

(RIGHT most) - wants to reserve changes that we've already happened and return to an earlier system.

Socialism

shared ownership, major businesses are owned collectively, run for political good. (but individuals can own private property).

Communism

classless society; the public owns the mean of production.

Capitalism

companies’ are privately owned property

Fascism

a leader demands extreme loyalty to nation

Absolutism

doesn’t focus on national unity, a king holds nearly all political power.

Federalism

power’s divided between the national and state government