Chapter 1 – What Is Politics and What Is Political Science?

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing the key concepts, actors, institutions, and scientific terms introduced in Chapter 1’s exploration of politics and political science.

Politics

The process of deciding who gets what, when, how, and why; collective decision-making amid scarcity and conflicting preferences.

Political Science

The systematic, evidence-based study of political processes, behavior, institutions, and outcomes.

Public Policy

All decisions and actions taken by government to influence behavior or allocate resources.

Public Interest (Common Good)

The well-being of the public as a whole—what people should want, not merely what they do want.

Power

The ability to compel someone to do something they would not otherwise choose to do.

Sovereignty

Supreme, final authority within a territory; no higher power exists over the sovereign state.

Sovereign Power

The highest form of power in a state, ultimately controlling all other authorities.

State (Country)

A political entity with defined territory, population, government, and sovereignty.

Nation

A population connected by shared history, culture, or identity, usually occupying a specific area.

Nation-State

A sovereign country whose population largely shares a common national identity.

Government

The institution with legitimate authority to use coercive power within a defined area.

Authority

Power that is viewed as legitimate by those subject to it.

Legitimacy

Recognition that an exercise of authority is appropriate and lawful.

Police State

A regime that relies on force and surveillance to repress dissent and maintain order.

Welfare State

A government that provides extensive social benefits such as education, health care, and pensions.

Rules

Formal or informal guidelines that shape how power is exercised and decisions are made.

De jure Rules

Rules as they are written in law or policy.

De facto Rules

Rules as they operate in practice, regardless of formal wording.

Constitution

The fundamental set of rules defining a state’s structure, powers, and citizens’ rights.

Institution

An organization or enduring set of rules that structures social or political interactions.

Political Actor

Anyone engaged in political activity—individuals, groups, or institutions.

Politician

A person running for or holding elective office, or employing political skills in other contexts.

Incumbent

A current officeholder seeking reelection.

Status Quo

The existing set of circumstances or policies before change is attempted.

Bargaining

Negotiation among actors over whether and how to change the status quo.

Compromise

A bargaining outcome where each side gives up part of its demands to reach agreement.

Logrolling

Trading support across issues: actors swap favors so each gets what they value most.

Political Conflict

Disagreement arising from scarce resources and differing beliefs or preferences.

Political Polarization

Growing division into cohesive, distrustful camps that hampers compromise.

Political Game

A strategic interaction where outcomes flow from rules, reality, and participants’ choices.

Scarcity

Condition that resources are limited relative to human wants, driving political decisions.

Collective Choice

A decision made to address a problem affecting a group rather than only individuals.

Public Opinion

Aggregated views held by a population on political issues or actors.

Ideology

A coherent set of beliefs that helps individuals make sense of politics and guide actions.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms to think and act without government interference.

Civil Rights

Group entitlements that require government action for equal access or participation.

Interest Group

Organization of individuals united to influence public policy without seeking public office.

Political Party

Organization that seeks to gain power by running candidates for public office.

Legislature

Institution that proposes, deliberates on, and enacts laws.

Executive

Branch headed by a president, prime minister, or similar figure that implements laws and oversees government.

Bureaucracy

Professional administrative agencies that carry out government policy.

Judiciary

Courts that interpret and apply the law, sometimes reviewing constitutionality.

Media (Fourth Branch)

Channels of communication that inform the public and monitor other branches of government.

Unitary System

Government in which all legal authority resides with the national level.

Federal System

Government with power divided between national and sub-national levels.

Normative Political Science

Branch that asks how politics and institutions should operate; focuses on ethics, justice, and ideals.

Empirical Political Science

Branch that describes and explains political reality using observation, data, and the scientific method.

Scientific Method

Systematic process of formulating hypotheses, gathering data, and testing explanations.

Hypothesis

Testable statement predicting a relationship between variables.

Deterministic

Describes an event that is certain to occur given specified conditions.

Probabilistic

Describes an event that is likely, but not guaranteed, under certain conditions.

Generalization

A broad statement derived from typical or average cases within data.

Ceteris Paribus

Latin for "all other things being equal"—holding variables constant to isolate effects.

Hidden Curriculum

Informal, unwritten rules and expectations that shape behavior within an institution.

Robert’s Rules of Order

Widely used parliamentary procedure guide governing formal meetings and deliberation.