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What is a government?
institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people under its control
What are the functions of government?
providing leadership, maintaining order, providing public services, providing national services, providing economic security/assistance
What is a nation?
sizable group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition or religion
What is a state/country?
a political community that occupies a definite territory & has an organized government
What are some factors that define a state/country?
population, territory, sovereignty, government
What is sovereignty?
supreme power within its own land
What is the evolutionary theory?
head of family = head of state (like in a monarchy)
What is the force theory?
state created by force (like the US)
What is the Divine Right Theory?
gods (or God) choose ruler (like in Ancient Egypt)
What is the social contract theory?
people make “contract” with government
Who are two “sides” (people) to the social contract theory?
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke
What did Thomas Hobbes say/believe in?
People surrender freedom to the state, in return they receive order & security. The ideal government is an absolute monarchy
What did John Locke say/believe in?
People had natural rights; government protects those rights or people can/should rebel. The best form of government is a democracy
What is a unitary government and give some examples?
central/national gov’t with all key powers (Japan, France, Bolivia)
What is a confederacy government and give some examples?
a loose union of independent states (U.S. under Articles of Confederation, Confederacy, Micronesia)
What is a federal government and give some examples?
power divided between national, state & local governments (US)
What is an authoritarian/totalitarian government?
government controls all political, economic & social lives of citizens
What are two forms of authoritarian/totalitarian governments?
dictatorship and oligarchy
What is a dictatorship and give some examples?
one person has control (Nazi Germany, North Korea)
What is an oligarchy and give some examples?
small group has control (Vietnam, Soviet Union)
What is a monarchy and give some examples?
King/Queen/Emperor rules (medieval England/France, Swaziland)
What is a democracy and give some examples?
rule by the people, either directly or indirectly (US, ancient Greece)
What are the principles of democracy?
Citizen participation
Free & fair elections
Accepting the election results
The Rule of Law
Majority rule with minority rights
Accountability
Transparency
Limited government & a Bill of Rights
Control of abuse of power
Economic freedom
Equality
Individual rights
Independent judiciary
Competing political parties
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Flashcard (27)