American Government Lecture Notes

Flashcards on American Government

Government of Virtue

The concept that elected officials will act appropriately simply out of respect for those who elected them.

Political Efficacy

Our trust in government, and our belief that we can understand and influence government.

Ancient Greece definition of citizenship

Knowledge and participation equals citizenship. Those who do not participate in government.

Power

Having a share in politics, or having influence.

The first face of power

Person A makes person B do something that is not in their best interest.

The second face of power

A uses its power to create barriers against participation by B and B therefore doesn’t participate due to fear of inevitable defeat.

The third face of power

A influences and shapes the consciousness of B about existing inequalities through the use of myths, information control, and ideologies, etc.

Government

Institution through which its land and people are ruled—to govern is to rule

Autocrat

An absolute monarch.

Totalitarian Government

Government recognizes no formal limits on its power.

Authoritarian Government

May be retrained by a social institution-- such as a parliament.

Oligarchy

Rule by a council or by a few.

Democracy

The people—when they participate

Republic

A system of government that gives citizens a regular opportunity to elect government officials.

Constitutional government

Governmental power is both described in and limited by a governing constitution.

Politics

Narrow definition--politics means having a say in what happens.