EXAM 1 American Government

Unit Flashcards derived from the study guide, textbook, slides, and quizzes.

Where did democracy originate?

Athens, Greece

What is the main purpose of government?

To protect life, liberty, property, and common welfare

What is Anarchy?

The absence of government

Biological Theory

Identified by Aristotle, said that human naturally want to form hierarchal social structures since we are animals

Rational Theory

Identified by Thomas Hobbs, said humans create government out of reasoned self interest since it helps promote and protect the interests of society

Protection Of Life

Introduced by Thomas Hobbs, said that without gov life is nasty, poor, and short

Protection of Liberty

Introduced by Jefferson, Locke, and Matesqieu, said that freedom is an essential right and the government should be structured in a way that protects said right

Protection of Property

Introduced by John Locke, said that this protected is needed for a functional society since businesses need to have reassurance that their investments are protected

Promotion of Common Welfare

Introduced in the 19th/20th century, ab commonly accepted ideology that the government has the fundamental vote of enhancing the wellbeing of society. Economic prosperity & equality, education, transportation, healthcare & medical research, science, parks & recreation, and arts

Autocracies

A form of government where there is only one ruler (ie. totalitarian dictatorships)

Oligarchies

A form of government ruled by a small group of people (ie. Russia)

Democracy

A form of government ruled by all citizens, this form generally out performs non-democracies with it’s SOL (ie. America, Japan, Switzerland)

Protection of Liberty vs. Promotion of common welfare Debate

Freedom vs. Equality (economical vs. social)

Protection of Life vs. Protection of Liberty

Freedom vs. Order (Privacy vs. Security)

Protection of Propety vs. Promotion of common welfare

MAintaing low taxes vs. promoting common welfare

Values pursued by government

Freedom, Order, and Equality

Two models of democracy

Majoritarian & Pluralist

Total elimination of government

Anarchism

The growing interdependence of people and nations across the world

Globalization

Generalized ideas about government and politics

Concepts

Liberalism

The belief that states should leave individuals free to follow their individual pursuits.

Social Equality

Equality in wealth, education, and status

Socialism

A form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in regulating existing private industry and directing the economy, although it does allow some private ownership of productive capacity

Democratic Socialism

A social form of government that guarantees civil liberties such as freedom of speech, and religion. Citizens determine the extent of government activity through free elections and competitive political parties.

Capitalism

The system of gov. favors free enterprise (privately owned business operating without gov. regulation)

Libertarians

Treats freedom as a pure goal; liberalism on steroids

Conservatives

Those who are willing to use gov. to promote order but not equality.

Liberals

Those who are willing to use gov. to promote equality but not order.

Communitarians

Those who are willling to use gov. to promote both order and equality

Political Rights within Democracies

Free & Fair elections, universal participation, power is controlled by elected officials, institutions under civillian control, executive power

Fair Elections in a Democracy

States do not select names on the ballot, ballot are secret, votes are not subjected to harassment or intimidation upon casting their vote, opposition has equal access to media

Universal Participation

Entire adult population eligible to vote

Civil Liberties/Individual Freedom

Free speech, Press, assembly, of ( and from) religion, protection of minorities, absence of systematic corruption, due process & personal freedom

Direct Democracy

All citizens vote directly on each issue, Switzerland is the closest to this in the modern day

Representative Democracy

People elect politicians to represent them in the government, most modern democracies

Issues with a Direct Democracies

The problem that comes with the feasibility of a direct democracy, and the common person in a democracy doesn’t know enough about politics to make rational decisions for a nation

Central Government

A single national government wields power throughout the country

Federal Government

Power is shared between national government & regional gov (ie. states)

Pros of a federal governemt

Greater local representation & experimentation

Cons of a federal government

Gives certain regulations more power & impediment to rapid response in crisis

Presidential Democracy

President is the head of state, with significant powers, directly elected by citizens, there is a division of power between different branches, elections are typically majoritarian, and is common in the Americas

Parliamentary Democracy

Greater concentration of power, single party controls the legislative and executive , and parliament elects the head of government (Prime Minister), and there are two types

Procedural Democracy Theory

A view of democracy as being embodied in a democracy that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, a responsiveness

Participatory Democracy

Gov. where rand-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing rep

E-Gov

Online community channels that enable citizens to easily obtain information from gov. & facilitates the express of opinions to gov officials