poli sci final

what is power

the ability to influence others behaviour or outcomes

how is power exericised

through force,persuasion, authority, laws, institutions, or influence

what is legitmacy

the belief that a government has the right to rule

what is authority

accepted and recognized power

what makes government legitimate

consent of the governed, fair laws, elections, and effective institutions

how do institutions shape political outcome

they determines rules, distrubute power, and structure decision making

why does institutional design matter

different strutures create different political results and balances of power

how can legislative power be strengthened

through stronger oversight, budget control, and independence from the executive

why do political systems differ

due to history, culture, economics, geography, and conflict

what is regime

the form and structure of government

what is democracy

a system where citizens participate in free and fair elections

what is authoritarianism

a system with concentrated power and limited political freedoms

what is a hybrid regime

a system combining democratic and authortiarian features

what is competitive authoritarianism

a regime with elections that exist but are unfair or manipulated

what is personalist rule

a system where power is centered around one leader

what is state capacity

a governments ability to enforce laws and provide services

what are civil liberties

fundamental freedoms protected from government interference

what is the canadian charter of rights and freedoms

a part of the canadian constitution protecting individing rights and freedoms

what is negative liberty

freedom from government interference

what is due process

fair legal procedures before someone can be punished

what are reasonable limits

restrictions on rights that can be justified in a free and democratic society

why is political behaviour only partly predictable

because emotions, identity, media, and social influences affect decisions

how do emotions shape political

fear, anger, and hope influence voting and political opinions

what is political socialization

the process of developing political beliefs and values

what agents shape political socialization

family, school, peers, religion, and media

what is political culture

shared beliefs and attitudes about politics within a society

what are forms of political participation

voting, protesting, campaigning, donating, and activism

what barriers affect participation

income, education, discrimination, and lack of time/resources

what is participation inequality

unequal levels of political participation among groups

why is public opinion powerful

it influences leaders, elections, and policy decisions

why is public opinion imperfect

it can be uninformed, unstable, or manipulated by media

what is collective action

group efforts to acheive shared groups

what is the free rider problem

people benefit from collective efforts w/o contributing

how do interest groups connect citizens to the state

the advocate for policies and represent specific interests

what do political parties do

organize candidates, shape policy agendas, and mobilize voters

what is a democratic deficit

a lack of fairness representation or accountability in democracy

what strengths do elections provide

accountability, partipation, and peaceful transfer of power

what weakness can elections have

low turnout, misinformation, and unequal influence

are judges policy makers

sometimes, because interpreting laws can shape policy outcomes

why is judical independence important

it protects courts from political pressure

how much judicial independence is too much

too much may reduce accountability to the public

can justice ever be fully neutral

ideally yes, but judges may still be influenced by values and context

who should control constitutional interpretation

courts, elected offiicals, or both depending on the system

how can media strengthen democracy

by informing citizens and increasing participation

how can media weaken democracy

through misinformation, polarization, and manipulation

who benefits most from todays media environment

organized groups, political elites, and digitally connected citizens

what is liberalism in politics

a belief in rights, democracy, cooperation, and free markets

what is populism

politics framing ‘ordinary people’ against ‘elites’

what is democrastic blacksliding

the gradual weakening of democratic institutions and norms

is global governance becoming stronger or weaker

mixed—cooperation exists, nationalim is rising

who benefits most from current global institutions

wealthy countries, coporations, and global elites

what reforms are considered most urgent globally

reducing inequality, improving democracy, and addressing climate change

what should the global economy priortize

sustainability, equality, and economic stability

what does realism emphasize

power, conflict, and national interest

what does liberalism emphasize in international relations

cooperation, institutions, and human rights

what does constructivism emphasize

ideas, identity, and social norms shape politics