Politics Test Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering political foundations, key thinkers, theories, economic systems, citizenship, rights, types of power, and media influence from the politics test review.

Authority

The recognized right to make decisions, give orders, and expect people to obey.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that the government gets its legitimate power from the agreement of the people.

General Will

Rousseau's idea that laws should reflect what is best for society as a whole.

Legitimacy

The acceptance that a government has the rightful authority to rule.

Natural Rights

Basic rights people are born with, such as life, liberty, and property.

Political Power

The ability to influence political decisions, government actions, or society.

Political Theory

The study of ideas about government, political power, justice, and rights.

Sovereignty

The supreme authority to govern a state independently.

State of Nature

A hypothetical situation in which people live without an established government.

Hobbes

Believed people need a strong government to maintain peace and prevent conflict.

Locke

Believed people have natural rights and governments must protect them. People can replace governments that violate their rights.

Marx

Criticized capitalism and argued that conflict between owners and workers drives social change.

Mill

Supported individual freedom as long as people do not harm others.

Nozick

Supported individual rights, private property, and limited government.

Rawls

Believed a just society should protect equal basic freedoms and benefit the least advantaged.

Rousseau

Believed legitimate government should reflect the social contract and the general will of the people.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class that owns businesses and the means of production.

Class Conflict

The struggle between social classes with different economic interests, especially owners and workers.

Elite Theory

The theory that a small, powerful group controls most political decisions.

Feminist Political Theory

The study of gender inequality in politics and ways to achieve equality.

Harm Principle

Mill's principle that freedom should only be restricted to prevent harm to others.

Justice as Fairness

Rawls's theory that society should protect equal basic rights and treat disadvantaged people fairly.

Libertarianism

An ideology that emphasizes individual freedom, private property, and limited government.

Means of Production

Resources used to produce goods and services, such as factories, machinery, and land.

Pluralism

The idea that political power is shared among different groups in society.

Proletariat

The working class that earns wages by selling its labour.

Social Contract

The idea that people accept government authority in exchange for protection, order, and security.

Veil of Ignorance

Rawls's idea that fair rules should be created without knowing your own position in society.

Capitalism

An economic system where individuals and businesses privately own property and operate for profit.

Collectivism

The belief that group or societal interests should take priority over individual interests.

Equality

The principle that people should have equal rights, opportunities, and fair treatment.

Communism

An ideology that aims for a classless society with collective ownership of the means of production.

Conservatism

An ideology that values tradition, stability, established institutions, and gradual change.

Democratic Socialism

An ideology that supports achieving socialist goals through democratic political processes.

Environmentalism

A movement focused on protecting the environment and using natural resources sustainably.

Liberalism

An ideology that emphasizes individual rights, personal freedom, equality, and democracy.

Nationalism

A belief emphasizing national identity, unity, and loyalty to one's nation.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about how government, society, and the economy should operate.

Political Spectrum

A model used to organize political beliefs, often from left-wing to right-wing.

Social Democracy

An ideology supporting democracy, a market economy, social programs, and reducing inequality.

Social Conservatism

A viewpoint that emphasizes traditional social and family values.

Socialism

An ideology supporting social or public ownership or control of major economic resources to reduce inequality.

Fiscal Conservatism

A viewpoint emphasizing responsible government spending, controlling public debt, and balanced budgets.

Citizenship

Legal membership in a country that provides rights and responsibilities.

Active Citizenship

Participating in society through voting, volunteering, community involvement, and advocating for change.

Majority Rule

The principle that decisions supported by more than half of the voters are accepted.

Minority Rights

Protections that prevent smaller or less powerful groups from being treated unfairly by the majority.

Responsibility

A duty to act appropriately, respect others, and contribute to society.

Right

A legal or moral entitlement or freedom that a person is allowed to have.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including government officials, must obey the law.

Freedoms

The ability to think, speak, believe, and act without unjustified interference.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Part of Canada's Constitution that protects fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, and language rights.

Equality Rights

Charter protections guaranteeing equality before and under the law and protecting against discrimination.

Formal Equality

Treating everyone the same under the same rules.

Human Rights

Basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person.

Substantive Equality

Achieving genuine fairness by recognizing different circumstances and removing barriers to equality.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

A 1948 United Nations declaration outlining fundamental human rights and freedoms for everyone.

Notwithstanding Clause

Section 33 of the Charter, allowing governments to temporarily override certain Charter rights for up to five years at a time.

Oakes Test

A legal test used by Canadian courts to determine whether limiting a Charter right is justified under Section 1.

Section 1

The Charter section allowing reasonable legal limits on rights and freedoms when justified in a free and democratic society.

Coercive Power

The ability to make people obey through threats, punishment, or force.

Collective Power

The ability of people working together to achieve shared goals or influence decisions.

Economic Power

The ability to influence people or decisions through money, wealth, jobs, or resources.

Hard Power

Using military force, threats, or economic pressure to influence others.

Soft Power

Influencing others through persuasion, culture, diplomacy, and shared values rather than force.

Structural Power

The ability to shape institutions, rules, and systems that influence people's choices and opportunities.

Interest Group

An organized group that attempts to influence government policies and decisions about specific issues.

Lobbying

Communicating with politicians or government officials to influence laws, policies, or decisions.

Agenda Setting

Influencing which issues the public and government consider important.

Algorithm

A set of computer instructions used to process information or determine what content users see.

Disinformation

False or misleading information deliberately created or shared to deceive people.

Framing

Presenting an issue in a particular way to influence how people understand it.

Misinformation

False or inaccurate information shared without necessarily intending to deceive.

Propaganda

Information designed to influence people's opinions or behaviour, often through biased or one-sided messaging.