Political Philosophy and Governance

Vocabulary flashcards covering Enlightenment and Renaissance political philosophers, their major works, core ideas, and key governmental terms.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Author of The Prince (1513-1514) who focused on how leaders get and keep power, concluding that whatever is most effective at keeping power is best.

The Prince

A political text written by Niccolo Machiavelli in 1513-1514 exploring how to get and keep power, and whether it is better for a leader to be loved or feared.

Thomas Hobbes

Political philosopher who wrote Leviathan (1651), favored a strong monarch, and held that citizens have no right to rebel.

State of Nature (Hobbes)

A condition described by Thomas Hobbes characterized by survival of the fittest.

Social Contract (Hobbes)

A quid pro quo ('this for that') arrangement between citizens and the monarch as defined by Thomas Hobbes.

John Locke

Philosopher who wrote Second Treatise of Government (1690), asserted natural rights, and maintained that government should protect property.

Second Treatise of Government

A 1690 work by John Locke presenting ideas on natural rights ('life, health, liberty, or possessions') and government based on the consent of the governed.

Consent of the Governed

The principle formulated by John Locke stating that people must continue to agree to follow their leader.

Montesquieu

Political thinker who wrote The Spirit of the Laws (1748) and advocated for limited government, rule of law, and separation of powers.

The Spirit of the Laws

A 1748 book by Montesquieu examining aristocratic vs. democratic governance, democratic republics, popular sovereignty, and separation of powers.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher who authored Second Discourse (1755) and The Social Contract (1762), supporting direct democracy and majority rule.

Second Discourse

A 1755 treatise by Jean-Jacques Rousseau discussing competition from limited resources and the division of labor.

The Social Contract (Rousseau)

A 1762 work by Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocating for direct democracy and majority rule while omitting minority rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The concept that political power is derived from the people.

Separation of Powers

A structure where power that was traditionally in the hands of one person is distributed evenly among three branches.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch has power over the other two branches to keep them from gaining too much power.

Limited Government

A political principle requiring that leaders must govern within the rule of law.

Natural Rights

Rights that every person is born with (life, liberty, health, and possessions…the pursuit of happiness).

Rule of Law

The idea that everyone must follow laws, regardless of class or status.