Chap 1 Vocab and Beginning Notes

gov. means government; pop. means population

Government

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Public Policies

all things that a gov. decides to do

Legislative Power

power to make and frame laws

Executive Power

power to execute, enforce, and administer laws

Judicial Power

power to interpret laws

Dictatorship

power is held by a single person

Democracy

power is held by the people, ruled by majority

Aristotle

a greek philosopher who said “man is by nature a political animal”; set the stage for ideas about government

State

a body of people, with a defined territory, with the power to make and enforce laws

What four components make a state?

1) people/population

2) territory

3) government

4) sovereignty

Sovereign

absolute power within the state to make policies, no need for extra permission from a larger body

Thomas Hobbes

an english man who wrote Leviathan who advocated for the separation of church and state, as well as the need for rule over chaotic people

Force Theory

idea that states are born of force, where a group/person claims control over an area and establishes rule

Evolutionary Theory

idea that states develop naturally out of family

family→clan→tribe→state

Divine Rights of Kinds Theory

idea that god made the state and gave a ruler “divine right”; people must obey or they are sinning

John Locke

an english man who wrote The Two Treaties of Government who belived in peoples natural rights (life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness) and the separation of church and state

Monarchy

ruled by one (also applies to dictatorship)

Oligarchy

ruled by a small body of people

Republic

ruled by laws

Anarchy

ruled by no one

Ordered Government

gov. with orderly regulations between all parts of gov. and state

Limited Government

gov. is restricted and people have rights the gov. can’t take away

Representative Government

gov. serves will of the people and represents their interest.

Social Contract Theory

idea that the people form a contract with their government that tells their rights and the government’s power

Theocracy

a deity/god is the ruling authority, and laws are interpreted and enforced by religious leaders or clergy

Indirect Democracy

a system of government where citizens elect representatives to run the government on their behalf

Direct Democracy

a system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies instead of electing politicians to make choices for them