US gov exam 1

Critical thinkers

Know how to raise questions

Know how to use critical thinking skills and insights to reveal and reject irrational beliefs

Do not passively accept the beliefs of others in forming new thoughts, and try to figure things out for themselves

Not easily manipulated

can catch their own mistakes

Critical thinking is

Independent thinking, thinking for oneself

Normative thinking

what we believe is true (opinion)

Empirical thinking

what is true (facts)

Aristotle states

we are all political animals

Political science (Nicomachean Ethics)

the ruling science studying the highest good

The word politics comes from what

The green work for city (polis)

Harold Lasswell said

“Politics is who gets what, when, and how”

David Easton said

“Politics is the authoritative allocation of values for a society”

Mark Elrod said

“Politics is the systematic process of resolving conflicts within any given society”

Electoral college

the number of “electors” each state has equal to their number of senators and representatives

Article one of the constitution

Power of congress (longest most detailed)

Article two of the constitution

Power of president/executive, and how they are selected

Article three of the constitution

Describes the judiciary (federal) court system

Total number of electors

538

candidate must win majority of electors which is

270

amount of states who award electoral votes to the winner of the state popular vote

48

How many electoral votes does Arkansas have

6

states who do not do the popular vote

Maine, Nebraska

how to find the # of electoral votes

2 (50 states) + # of house of representatives (435) + 3 (for DC) = 538

how many seats are in the house of representatives

435

Years the winner of the electoral college vote lost the popular vote

1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, 2016

Politics

Who gets what, when, and how; a process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society without recourse to violence

Power

the ability to get others to do what you want

Government

a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people

Rules

directives that specify how resources will be distributed or what procedures govern collective activity. (how of who gets what and how

Most important set of rules

The US Constitution

Institutions

organizations in which government power is exercised. (The where of political struggle)

what are political scientist committed to

scientific method

Non-Science

is normative, non-methodological, and is subjective.

Non-science examples

Religion, philosophy, astrology, art, music, literature, and psychics

Science

Empirical, fact based, uses a methodology, is objective

Science examples

mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, and engineering

Capitalism

Market determines production, distribution, and price decisions

Regulated capitalism

has government procedural guarantees

Laissez-faire captilasm

does not have government procedural guarantees

Socialism

The state determines production, distribution, and price decisions; property is government owned

A.Smith wealth of nations

K.Marx, DAS (capital), published 1776, Mercantilism

Social democracy

a hybrid of capitalism and socialism

Procedural guarantee

Rules are the same for everyone

Substantive guarantee

Guarantee outcome (guarantee of a job or housing) (guarantee free trial)

Authoritarian system

State holds all the power

Authoritarian system powers

Monarchy, theocracy, fascist governments, oligarchy, and totalitarian government

Monarchy

government power vested in a king or queen (usually eldest male child)

Theocracy

Government claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority (Iran)

Fascist governments

Policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state (Nazi Germany)

Oligarchy

rule by a small group of elites

Totalitarian government

A system in which absolute control is exercised over every aspect of life (North Korea)

Non-authoritarian systems

Anarchy, democracy

anarchy

The absence of government and laws

Democracy

government that vests power in the people based on popular sovereignty

Popular sovereignty

concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power

Theories of democracy

Elite democracy, pluralist democracy, and participation democracy

Elite democracy

Ruled by the wealthy, well-educated, and connected

Pluralist democracy

Ruled by the citizens in groups (parties, interest groups)

Participatory democracy

Ruled by mass-participation by citizens at all levels of government

Social contract

society is based on an agreement between government and the governed in which people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of others

Authoritarian systems

Individuals are subjects of their state governments

subjects

individuals who are obliged to submit to a government authority against; which they have no rights

Democratic systems

people are citizens

Citizens

members of political community having both rights and responsibilities, which include obeying laws, paying taxes, owning businesses, participation in government

Thomas Hobbs

Governments do not exist due to diving right, people agree to be governed for protection

John Locke

governments exist to protect “Life, liberty, and property”. biggest influence on the constitution and commandments

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

governments corrupt the noble savage

James madison

he feared “Pure democracy” because people may create factions

Fractions

groups that might pursue only their self-interest

Republic

a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people

The 14th admendent

if born in the 50 states, in the district of Columbia, or in americas overseas territories (Puerto Rico, and Guam) you are an American citizen

Americas overseas territories

Puerto Rico, Guam

Immigrants

Citizens or subjects of one country who move to another country to live or work

15th amendment

gave slaves the right to vote

Literacy test

Southern states gave to African Americans to keep them from being able to vote

Naturalization

Process in which immigrants can apply for citizenship, have legal permanent or resident visa

USCIS

US citizenship and immigration services

when did Dred Scott vs Sanford occur

1857

Why could Dred Scott not sure Sanford

He was considered property keeping him from having freedom

Jus Soli

Law of the soil, citizenship follows the country in which you are born in

Jus Sanguinis

Law of blood, citizenship follows the country your parents are born in

Political refuges

Come to US seeking asylum or protection and not legal permanent residents

Political culture

The broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government help by a population

Most Americans focus on

Rules and process

Liberals and conservatives different views

different views on economic, social, and critical issues

Americans key values

democracy, freedom, and equality

Economic dimension

Conservatives prefer little government involvement in economy

Social order dimension

economic security has led Americans to become more concerned with quality of life and moral issues

Ideological groups

Economic liberals, social liberals, economic conservatives, social conservatives, libertarians

is generally considered to be the “father” of the US Constitution.

James Madison

is the absence of government and laws

Anarchy

In apparent support of the elite perspective, one-third of U.S. presidents have attended _________________ schools, a much higher percentage than the rest of the U.S. population.

Ivy League schools

Based on the theories of democracy, which of the following emphasizes the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems?

Participatory Democracy

In what years did feminism in the United States advance in large parts by liberal feminist organizations

1960s and 1970s

T/F. Power may derive from a number of sources, including social class (material wealth can equal power), resource currency, personal or group charisma, ascribed power, social influence of tradition, etc. 

True

Many fundamental elements of modern society have what kind of roots

Liberal

What was social democracy influenced by

Socialism

How does socialism distinguish themselves from liberalism by what

Opposing capitalism, hierarchy, and private property

What did William J. Novak believe

Liberalism in the United States shifted in the late 19th and early 20th century from classical liberalism to democratic social welfarism

When did both modern American conservatism and social liberalism split from classical liberalism

In the early 20th century

classical liberalism is a political philosophy and ideology belonging to liberalism in which primary emphasis is placed on what

Securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government

What does classical liberalism advocate for

civil liberties with a limited government under the rule of law, private property, and belief in the laissez faire economic policy

The revolutionaries in the American and France used what to justify the armed overthrow of what they saw as tyrannical rule

Liberal Philosphy