Definition: The activity of resolving conflict and allocating values in society.
State-Centric View
Concept: Politics is considered to occur only within government institutions.
Power-as-Distribution
Definition: Politics as the struggle over "who gets what, when, and how."
Radical View
Explanation: This perspective holds that personal life is shaped by power relations.
Legislative Branch
Function: This branch is responsible for making laws.
Executive Branch
Function: This branch implements laws created by the legislative body.
Judicial Branch
Function: This branch interprets laws and ensures they are applied fairly.
State
Definition: A political organization that possesses sovereignty over a defined territory.
Government
Definition: The institution that manages and runs the affairs of the state.
Sovereignty
Definition: The supreme authority of the state within its territory, allowing it to govern without external interference.
Theories of the State
Pluralist Theory: The view that the state serves all groups within society equally.
Marxist Theory: The perspective that the state primarily serves the interests of the ruling class.
Elitist Theory: The belief that power is held by a small, elite ruling group, often disregarding the majority's interests.
Power
Definition: The ability to influence behavior or outcomes in political contexts.
Dimensions of Power
Decision-Making Power: Observable power manifested in actual decisions made.
Agenda-Setting Power: The capability to control which issues are prioritized and discussed in political discourse.
Thought Control: Power that shapes beliefs and perceptions, influencing how individuals view social and political matters.
Authority
Definition: The recognized right to rule or govern.
Traditional Authority: Authority that is legitimized through customs and long-standing traditions.
Charismatic Authority: Authority derived from the extraordinary personal qualities or leadership traits of an individual.
Legal-Rational Authority: Authority grounded in established laws and rules that dictate political legitimacy.
Legitimacy
Definition: The acceptance and recognition of authority as rightful and just.
Forms of Government
Monarchy: A form of government led by a monarch.
Absolute Monarchy: A monarchy in which the monarch holds unlimited power.
Limited Monarchy: A monarchy that shares power with legislative institutions or other governing bodies.
Oligarchy: A government run by a small group of wealthy individuals.
Aristocracy: Government controlled by the elite, often determined by noble or hereditary status.
Democracy: A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives.
Totalitarianism: A dictatorial system of government that regulates every aspect of public and private life.
Ideology
Definition: A system of beliefs that guides and informs a political system or movement.
Government Systems
Unitary Government: A structure where power is centralized within a single authority.
Federal Government: A political system where power is divided between central and regional authorities.
Presidential System: A system of governance led by an elected president, separating powers amongst branches of government.
Parliamentary System: A system led by a prime minister, often reliant on the support of the legislative branch.
Principles of Governance
Majority Rule: The democratic principle that the majority should have the authority to make decisions affecting the political system.
Minority Rights: The protections and rights afforded to individuals and groups who do not constitute the majority, ensuring their voices and needs are represented.
Civil Society: Organizations and institutions that operate independently of the government to check state power and promote accountability.
Consent: The idea of public approval and acceptance of governing authority, fundamental for legitimate rule.
Legitimation Crisis: A situation where there is a significant loss of belief in the legitimacy of authority, potentially leading to political instability or change.
Separation of Powers: The division of government functions into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from consolidating too much power, typically dividing responsibilities among executive, legislative, and judicial branches.