Transcript-based Study Notes: Government, Politics, and Public Goods — Flashcards

A comprehensive set of QA flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on government, politics, and public goods.

What important feature of democratic life in the United States links government to civic engagement?

The right to vote.

How does government affect daily life, according to the notes?

It affects what we eat, where we go to school, the kind of education we receive, and how tax money is spent.

How do the notes define the term 'government'?

The goals governments seek and the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits.

What are the primary aims of government mentioned in the notes?

Economic prosperity and the provision of core public goods (e.g., secure borders, safety, education, health).

What does the term 'politics' refer to?

The process of gaining and exercising control within a government to set and achieve goals, especially regarding resource division.

How are politics and economic systems related according to the notes?

Politics involves distributing resources and influencing decision-making; political thought and economic organization often develop together.

What is the relationship between capitalism, democracy, and liberty as described in the notes?

Capitalism and ideas about democratic republics and natural rights developed in tandem; liberty became an important topic, and political thought and economic organization influence each other.

Who was John Locke and what rights did he argue people have?

A 17th-century English philosopher who argued natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

In the 18th century, what political development did the notes say emerged in Great Britain and the North American colonies?

The idea that people should govern themselves through elected representatives; only representatives chosen by the people have the right to make laws.

What is the key takeaway about government legitimacy mentioned on Page 3?

Legitimacy arises from the consent of the governed and the protection of natural rights.

What did Adam Smith argue about property and competition?

Laws should allow individuals to acquire property freely; free competition would keep prices low, eliminate faulty goods, and meet consumers’ needs, leading to prosperity.

What are the core ideas associated with Smith's economic thought?

Property rights, free markets, and competition as drivers of economic prosperity.

How did Smith's ideas influence political economy?

They contributed to the development of representative government and capitalism and helped lay the groundwork for Industrial Capitalism; Wealth of Nations (1776) articulated these ideas.

What historical coincidence is noted about 1776?

Wealth of Nations was published and the Declaration of Independence was written; democracy and capitalism developed together.

How is a Democratic Government defined in the notes?

A government that emphasizes individualism and freedom to act, relying on individual initiative rather than centralized state control.

Where is socialism positioned relative to capitalism in Page 8?

As an alternative to capitalism.

Who typically owns the means of wealth generation in socialist societies?

The government.

How does a socialist government distribute wealth?

Through social programs that provide free or inexpensive health care, education, and other services.

Which sectors are commonly owned or controlled by the government in socialist-leaning contexts?

Transportation, telecommunications, and utilities (e.g., electricity).

What is an oligarchy as described in the notes?

A system where only members of a certain political party or ruling elite can participate in government.

How do government and the market interact in the United States?

The interconnection between government and the market; the market is capitalist and private goods are excludable and rivalrous; government provisions reflect this interaction.

Define a private good.

Excludable and rivalrous.

Why can't the market provide everything, according to Page 12?

Because some goods are provided by the government funded by taxes and guided by public policy (e.g., national security and education).

What is a toll good? Give examples.

A good that is excludable and non-rivalrous (until congestion); examples include Cable TV, private schools, and turnpikes.

What is a public good? Provide examples.

Non-excludable and non-rivalrous; examples include public education, mail service, and national security.

What is a common good? Provide examples.

Non-excludable and rivalrous; examples include fish in the ocean and clean drinking water.

Name the four categories of goods and a key feature of each.

Private: excludable and rivalrous; Toll: excludable and non-rivalrous (until congestion); Common: non-excludable and rivalrous; Public: non-excludable and non-rivalrous.

What is the purpose of the four-category goods framework?

To illustrate why different governance approaches are needed for different types of goods.

What is the distinction between government checks on business and politics?

Government checks regulate business; politics decides how resources are allocated and which policies to pursue.

What regulatory tendency in capitalism is noted in the notes?

A long-standing tendency toward regulation, with ongoing debates about the extent of regulation.

What are the two ideological tensions described on Page 20?

Individualism vs Egalitarianism.

What does Egalitarianism advocate?

Equal treatment and government intervention to reduce socioeconomic inequalities, such as funding public goods through taxes for education, transportation, housing, and elderly care.

What is the Security vs Liberty trade-off described in the notes?

Prioritizing national security may lead to greater intrusion into private life; prioritizing liberty aims to protect civil liberties and limit intrusion.

How does the notes define a Republic (representative democracy)?

Power rests in the people, but citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf; not a direct democracy.

How is Democracy defined in the notes?

A government in which the people govern themselves directly.

What is majority rule with minority rights?

Most representative governments favor majority rule while protecting minority rights; formal protections for minority rights are essential.

What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

Direct democracy involves citizens voting directly; representative democracy uses elected officials; the Constitution requires representative forms, with some direct-democracy elements like ballot initiatives.

What are examples of elite-driven forms of government?

Monarchies and some oligarchic structures; constitutional monarchies are ceremonial while absolute monarchies are unrestricted.

What is Totalitarianism?

A non-democratic form of government where the state controls all aspects of public and private life and suppresses political criticism; example: North Korea.

What is the Majority Rule formula for policy passage?

Policy passes when S_P / N > 1/2 (more than half of votes supporting the policy).