Political Science Foundations
Page 1: Basic Political Terms
Politics: The process by which groups of people make collective decisions.
Political System: The set of formal legal institutions that constitute a government or a state.
Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself or another state. It represents the ultimate power of a political entity.
Stability: The endurance of a political system’s structure and its ability to maintain order and continuity.
Power: The capacity of an individual to influence the actions, beliefs, or conduct of others.
Authority: The recognized right or ability of an individual or institution to enforce rules or give orders.
Legitimacy: The general belief among the citizenry that a government has the right to use power.
Pluralism: A political system in which multiple groups coexist and compete for power.
Page 2: Three "We the People" Terms
Agency: Capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices.
Efficacy: The ability to produce desired outcomes.
Creativity: The inherent ability of individuals to develop new ideas and innovative solutions.
Page 3: Agency
Definition: The capacity of people to purposefully and constructively direct their lives and influence those around them.
Key Point: Individuals cannot control external factors but can control their responses and choices.
Page 4: Efficacy
Definition: The ability to produce a desired result or effect.
Self-efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to make a difference.
Political efficacy: Understanding and engaging with political systems to promote change, primarily through voting.
Page 5: Creativity
Definition: The innate ability of humans to conceive and implement new ideas and interpretations.
Adaptation: Creative expressions lead to innovative applications in life.
Page 6: We the People Factors (Micro +)
Social Movements: Collective efforts to promote or resist change.
News/Social Media: Platforms that shape public opinion and awareness.
Public Opinion: General attitudes and beliefs of the population regarding political issues.
Interest Groups: Organizations that seek to influence policy.
Elections: Mechanisms for selecting representatives.
Political Parties: Organizations that represent specific ideologies and interests.
David Easton’s Dynamics:
Ideas shape political action ("Energy follows thought").
Questions addressed include: What constitutes a good life? How can humanity collaborate? How can agency, efficacy, and creativity be balanced in public service?
Government Factors: Influences including the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, and Bureaucracy.
Inputs: Needs and concerns from the public.
Outputs: Government actions, such as laws and orders.
Environment: Refers to the economic, societal, political culture, and international system.
Page 7: Continuum of Political Systems
Democratic Systems: Characterized by responsiveness and accountability.
Authoritarian Systems: Centralized power with limited accountability.
Page 8: Types of Democracy
Direct Democracy: Citizens directly participate in decision-making.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Voting: A critical mechanism in both forms of democracy.
Page 9: Political Truths
Observation: While truths may seem self-evident, they require active effort from the populace to be realized daily.
Flashcards: A study aid consisting of a card bearing information, used for testing knowledge. They usually have a term or question on one side and a definition or answer on the other.
Purpose: Enhance memorization and retention of information.
Usage: Commonly used for language learning, vocabulary building, and preparation for exams.
Formats: Can be physical cards or digital (e.g., apps like Anki, Quizlet).
Effectiveness: Promote active recall, spaced repetition, and self-assessment.