Ch1 principles of government test

Government

The institution through which a society makes an enforces its public policies

Policies

All the things of government decides to do (ex: immigration, wage…)

Legislative power

Power to make laws and to frame public policies

Executive power

Power to execute enforce and administer laws

Judicial power

Power to interpret laws to determine their meaning to settle disputes that arise within society

Four characteristics of a state

Government population territory and sovereignty

Force theory

One person took control of an area and forces all within it to submit to that rule

Evolution theory

The state evolved naturally out of the family

Divine right theory

God created the state and gave those a divine right to rule

Social contract theory

State arose out of a voluntary act free people

Aristotle

Greek philosopher believed man by nature is a political animal

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker argued divine rights vs natural rights (Life, liberty, and property) & the social contract theory

Thomas Hobbes

Social contract theory, and also believes that government is necessary as it would be continual fear and danger without it

Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker, responsible for the separation of powers

Three classifications of government

1) Who can participate in the government process?

2) The geographic distribution of government power within the state

3) Relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the government

Direct democracy

Pure democracy, people themselves formulate public policy only works at a small local level

Indirect democracy

Representative democracy, (United States) Group of persons chosen by the people which formulates public policy and works at all levels