politics unit 1 terms

power

The ability to influence outcomes or control the actions of others,

it does not need to be formally granted

authority

justifies the excerice of power, is the legal right to use power by a political actor or group

-formally granted

legitimacy

is the beliefs that a person’s power and authority are justified and should be excepted

eg: Government

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and smaller political units,

such as states in Australia, each with their own responsibilities and autonomy.

Responsible government

means that the executive government is drawn from Parliament and is accountable to it. Ministers in Government must therefore answer any questions and justify their decisions, maintain the confidence of those seated in the Lower House.

Popular sovereignty

The “power of the people” expressed through the electorate, who by exercising their right to vote in free, fair

and regular elections are empowered to influence and ultimately confer a government with a “mandate” to

govern.

Mandate

A contentious term, politicians and political parties will use election results to legitimise their actions.

representative democracy

citizens elect someone on their behalf to speak or exercise power for them.