Unti 1 vocab

Politics

The process and method of making decisions for groups.

Values

is an idea or ideal that a person believes is important.

Political culture

a society's framework of shared value, beliefs, and attitudes concerning politics and government.

Government

institutions and officials organized to establish and carry out public policy

Democracy

a system of government in which citizens exercise supreme power, acting either directly on their own or through elected representatives

Authoritarianism

system of government in which the state exercises broad control over the lives of its citizens.

Pluralism

the idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups in a society

State of Nature

A hypothetical situation without government, employed in social contract theory in order to justify political authority.

Social contact

Idea that legitimacy of a government comes from an agreement between the ruler and ruled outlining the rights and responsibilities of either party.

Liberty

the state of being free from a government restriction imposed on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.

Natural law

set of moral principles believed to come from a basic sense of right and wrong that can be applied to social and political systems.

Natural rights/ individual rights

rights and liberties claimed by individuals by virtue of existing; also called individual or human rights

Security

the state of being free from danger or threat

Rule of law

The principle that government is based on fair laws and that no one is above the law

Popular Sovereignty

principle that the people are ultimate source of the authority and legitimacy of a government.

consent

to give permission or to agree

common good

that which is shared and beneficial for all or most members of a given community.

consent of the governed

idea that the people of a society must agree to being governed.

power

the ability to cause others to behave as they might not otherwise choose to do

Authority

legal right to establish and enforce rules.

Rewards

power derived from the ability to give something of value, such as money, responsibility, or praise.

Coercion

power derived from the ability to punish or penalize others through the use of force.

Persuasion

power derived form the ability to convince others to identify with the power holder.

expertise

power derived from the power holder's specific skill or experience.

legitimate

power comes from the power holder’s position and duties within an organization.

legitimacy

the quality of being accepted as an authority within a organization.