CompGov Unit 1 Test

Everything covered up until 9/20

Government

The leadership and institutions that make policy decisions for a state

Politics

The struggle for power within a state/government

State

Has a monopoly of violence over a territory

Regime

The rules and norms that set up where power comes from and the balance between freedom and equality

Most to least institutionalized on pyramid

State, regime, government

Democratic regime

Power held by the people

Authoritarian regime

Power held by the elite

Sovereignty

The ability of states to carry out actions independent of internal and external threats

Formal vs. informal institutions

Institutions that are clearly defined (written down) or less so

Institution

An organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake

Legitimate

An institution that is recognized and accepted as right and proper by the public

Traditional legitimacy

“It’s always been that way”/part of historical identity of citizens (ex: the constitution)

Charismatic legitimacy

Based around a person who gathers crowds for their ideas and often dies with the person who has it

Rational-legal legitimacy

Based on laws or ways of doing things that are rational (modern states based on rational-legal but politicans may use traditional or charismatic)

Confederal system - still federalism (power-sharing) but regions have more power

Federalism - power-sharing

1. Central government can tax

2. More regional representation

3. Possibly more individual freedom

4. More bureaucracy 

5. Keeps federal power in check

Unitary system - more power at national level

1. More autonomy

2. More efficient

3. Fewer checks and balances

Asymmetric federalism

Power divided unevenly between regional bodies

Decentralization

Moves power closer to people

Ethnic identity

Institutions that bind people together through common culture

National identity

Institutions that bind people together through common political aspirations (collective desire for sovereignty) 

Nationalism

Stems from national identity - pride in own people + belief in their sovereignty 

Citizenship

Individual or group’s relation to state, social contract, purely POLITICAL

Patriotism

Pride in one’s state, stems from citizenship

Civil society

Organized life outside of state

1. Promotes democratization because allows people to identify + defend what’s important to them

Most to least institutionalized on pyramid (ethnicity one)

Ethnicity (culture), nationality (political aspirations), citizenship (state relationship)

More individual freedom = 

smaller role for state

Nations are…

inherently political

Political attitudes

how fast political change happens and what we do to make it happen

Political ideology 

our values about freedom and equality (the balance of the two)

Liberalism (ideology)

high individual freedom (low capacity + autonomy for state)

Communism (ideology)

individual freedom will benefit few, state control + ability to limit individual rights

Socialism (ideology)

strong role for private ownership + market but wants ECONOMIC EQUALITY (strong capacity and autonomy to ensure this). may limit freedom more through taxes and restrictions but individual freedom + equality complement each other

Prime ministers

1. Elected from legislature

2. No set term

3. Can be removed easily through vote of no confidence

4. Has a cabinet

Parliamentary legislature

• Upper houses can be overruled by lowers

• Largely controlled by the pm & his cabinet

Presidential systems

• Minority parties have less power

• Separation of powers

• President doesn’t rely on party support

Semi-presidential systems

• Hybrid of parliamentary and prez

• Head of state + gov both have direct power

• President

  • Foreign relations

  • Sets policy

• Prime minister

  • Executes policy

• Risk of conflict btwn prez + pm

Republicanism

idea that government power comes from the people