ch 1 gov

ch 1

state

political community that occupies a definite territory and has organized government (country)

sovereignty

the supreme and absolute authority withing territorial boundaries

nation

group of people united by bonds of race, language, religion, and/or custom/tradition

evolutionary theory

idea that it evolved from the family and was needed for organization (origins of the state)

force theory

says that states developed when people needed to cooperate to survive and one or more people gained authority by force

divine right theory

refers to rulers that claimed their right to rule came from God

social contract theory

concept from two philosophers (Thomas Hobbes and John Locke)

Thomas Hobbes

wrote that people must surrender freedoms to the state in return for security

John Locke

wrote that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property and thus this relationship is a contract

leadership

sets priorities, makes decisions

public services

to promote welfare of the public

national security

from enemy nations (or terrorism)

anarchy

a state without law

unitary

gives all key powers to the national or central government

federal

divides powers between national and state (provincial) governments

confederacy

a loose union of independent states (confederation)

constitution

a plan which provides the rules for government

constitutional government

a government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on those who govern

authoritarian

controls all aspects of citizens’ economic, political, and social lives

totalitarian

total control including society

dictatorship

power in the hands of one person

oligarchy

power in the hands of a small group

monarchy

power is inherited

democracy

government in which the people rule

republic

government in which voters hold power and elect representatives

principals of democracy

1 Citizen Participation

2 Regular and free elections

3 Accepting the results of the elections

4 The rule of law

5 Majority rule with minority rights

6 Accountability

7 Transparency

8 Limited government and a Bill of Rights

9 Control of the abuse of power

10 Economic freedom

11 Equality

12 Individual or Human Rights

13 Independent Judiciary

14 Competing political parties

economics

the study of how people and nations use their limited resources to attempt to satisfy wants and needs

capitalism

economic system that emphasizes private ownership, freedom of choice, and individual incentives

free market (enterprise)

government places no restrictions on the freedom of buyers or sellers

laissez-faire approach

government takes a hands-off approach to the economy

mixed economics

contain elements of both capatilism and socialism

socialism

economic system in which the government plays a significant role in the economy

industrial revolution

rising poverty and poor conditions for the working class

karl marx

German philosopher and author

communist manifesto

contained Marx’s main economic theories

proletariat

the working class

bourgeoisie

the ownership class

industrialization

created a class struggle

command economy

production decisions made at the upper levels of government

Aristotle

believed “the state” was the territory of a town and it’s surrounding area where face to face communication was possible