polisci test 1

What are some goals that governments seek to accomplish?

Economic prosperity, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens.

What services do governments commonly provide?

Education, health care, and infrastructure for transportation.

What does politics refer to?

The process of gaining and exercising control within a government to set and achieve goals, especially regarding resource division.

How does a democratic government promote individualism?

By allowing freedom to act as one chooses instead of being controlled by the government.

What is the relationship between capitalism and individualism?

Capitalism relies on individualism, and successful capitalists prefer political systems where they can exert influence.

Do democracy and capitalism always go hand in hand?

No, they do not have to go hand in hand.

In socialist societies, who owns the means of generating wealth?

The government owns the means, such as factories and banks.

What is an oligarchy?

A government where only members of a certain political party or ruling elite can participate.

What are private goods?

Goods that individuals can purchase in the quantity they need.

What are public goods?

Goods or services available to all without charge.

What are toll goods?

Goods available to many people, but only if they can pay the price.

What are common goods?

Goods that all people may use free of charge but are of limited supply.

What is egalitarianism?

The belief in equal treatment for all and the destruction of socioeconomic inequalities.

What forms can political engagement take?

Reading about politics, discussing politics, voting, and attending political debates.

What is a representative democracy?

A government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

What is majority rule?

The principle that the opinions of the majority have more influence in government than those of the minority.

What is a direct democracy?

A form of democracy where people participate directly in making government decisions.

What is the elite theory of government?

The belief that a set of elite citizens is in charge of government, with others having no influence.

What does pluralist theory state?

Political power rests with competing interest groups that share influence in government.

What is social capital?

The collective value of all social networks.

What is committed partisanship?

The tendency to support a particular political party, often blindly.

What factors influence political engagement?

Age, wealth, and education.

What is the significance of the Magna Carta?

It laid the foundation for the rights of freemen and limited the power of the monarchy.

What is the English Bill of Rights?

A document that outlines the liberties and protections of citizens, influenced by Locke's ideas.

What did John Locke theorize about government?