Political Science Definitions Lecture 1

American politics

examines political behavior and institutions in the United States.

Comparative politics

analyzes and compares political systems within and across different geographic regions.

International relations

investigates relations among nation states and the activities of international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and NATO, as well as international actors such as terrorists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multi-national corporations (MNCs).

Political theory

analyzes fundamental political concepts such as power and democracy and foundational questions, like "How should the individual and the state relate?"

Political methodology

deals with the ways that political scientists ask and investigate questions.

Public policy

examines the process by which governments make public decisions.

Public administration

studies the ways that government policies are implemented. Public law focuses on the role of law and courts in the political process.

Anthropology

the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences.

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political policy.

Realpolitik

politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives.

Think tank (or policy institute)

an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues, industrial or business policies, or military advice.

Political party

a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office.

Electoral politics

the informal process of influencing the public opinion to determine which individual wins the most votes for public office.

Partisan

literally means organized into political parties. The expression “partisan politics" usually refers to fervent, sometimes militant, support of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.

Lobbyist

a person who operates on behalf of a company, interest group, or organization to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies.

The Constitution of the U.S.

the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.

The Declaration of Independence

announcement that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire.

Liberal

a person or ideology that favors progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

Conservative

a person or ideology that is disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

Libertarian

a person or political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the organizing principle of society. Libertarianism includes diverse beliefs, all advocating minimization of the state and sharing the goal of maximizing individual liberty and political freedom.

The 4th Estate

a societal or political force or institution whose influence is not consistently or officially recognized. It now most commonly refers to the news media, especially print journalism.

The permanent government

the bureaucrats who, regardless of who is elected, remain a part of the government and its operations.

Republic

“a public affair,” and is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, retain supreme control over the government, at least in theory, and where offices of state are not granted through heritage.

Democracy

“rule of the people,” and is a form of government in which all eligible people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.

Executive branch

the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy.

Legislative branch

is the deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and other money bills.

Judicial branch

the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes.

Popular vote

the vote for a candidate, issue, etc., made by the qualified voters, as opposed to a vote made by elected representatives.

Electoral College

the body of electors that chooses the president and vice president. The Constitution, in Article 2, Section 1, provides

Referendum

the vote for a candidate, issue, etc., made by the qualified voters, as opposed to a vote made by elected representatives.