Vocabulary
Institutions and officials organized to establish and carry out public policy
What is government
the misuse of authority for harmful, unethical, or illegal ends
What is abuse of power
What are 3 examples of public goods? What are three examples of private goods?
Answers will vary.
Public goods: Parks, roads, national defense, streetlamps are available to everyone.
Private goods: Cars, food, and houses are private goods because if one person buys a car, another cannot.
True or False: Politics is the process and method of making decisions for groups. Although generally applied to governments, politics is also observed in all human interactions.
True
What are the 5 political games people play?
1. Horse Trading: Winning by Giving to Get
2. Walkout: Winning by Refusing to Play
3. Power Struggle: Winning by Being Smarter and Stronger than the Opposition
4. Demolition Derby: Winning by Wiping Out the Opposition
5. Civil Disobedience: Winning by Refusing to Comply
The legal right or power to give orders and enforce rules
What is authority
Explain the difference between power and authority. Give an example of someone who has power vs someone who has authority.
Power is the ability to make others do something they might not otherwise do. Authority is the recognized, legitimate right to give commands, make decisions, and enforce rules.
For example, a citizen has the power to protest and influence others/businesses/government, but a police officer has the authority to arrest someone for breaking a law just like an elected official has the authority, granted by the people's votes, to represent their constituents and make policy decisions.
What are the two key building blocks of government?
What is a means of coercion and a means of collecting revenue
Which of the following best describes political activity?
a) Random and spontaneous
b) Purposeful and goal-driven
c) Limited to elected officials
d) Always involves protests
b) Purposeful and goal-driven
The objective of the horse-trading game is to achieve a...
"win-win situation," in which both players walk away satisfied.
the use of force or threats to make people do things against their will
What is coercion
The theory that suggests that rulers gain legitimacy through an agreement with the people to protect their rights
What is Social-Contract Theory
What did Aristotle believe to be the most practical form of government for most societies?
Aristotle believed a polity, ruled by a well-intentioned middle class, was practical because it reduced the chances of tyranny and division among citizens, and was more attainable than ideal forms like monarchy.
What is a key feature of collective political action?
It involves working with others toward a shared goal
Who successfully used walkout tactics in his struggle to improve the lives of California farm-workers?
Who is César Chávez
a form of protest in which people disobey a law they consider unjust
What is civil disobedience
What are some ways rulers have used their power for both positive and negative purposes throughout history?
Response can vary.
Rulers have used power positively by building cities, promoting the arts, and helping the poor. Negatively, some have abused power by stealing from citizens, enslaving people, or committing mass murder.
What is a polity, according to Aristotle?
A government ruled by the middle class for the common good
What challenges can arise during collective political action, and how are they resolved?
People may disagree on how to achieve shared goals, like where to build a skateboard park. These conflicts can be resolved through negotiation and compromise.
Who is famous for his phrase "the end justifies the means."?
Who is Niccolò Machiavelli
an ancient Greek concept of representative government in which the well-intentioned many rule for the benefit of all
What is polity
The doctrine that the Zhou dynasty used to justify their rule over the Shang
What is the Mandate of Heaven
What are the four characteristics of a modern nation-state?
A modern nation-state has (1) territorial integrity, (2) a stable population, (3) a code of laws, and (4) national sovereignty.
How do institutions influence political activity?
They create rules and routines that guide participation
When politicians and citizens engage in political activity, they must choose which political game will provide them with the best result for the given circumstances. Consider a situation where your local community instituted a rule that sets an 8 p.m. curfew for teenagers. What would you do?
You could choose a horse-trading approach by negotiating with the local government. In searching for a win-win, you may choose to negotiate for an 11 P.M. curfew, but in return, teenagers will volunteer their time in the community once a week. In this scenario, both the community and the teenagers gain something valuable.
You may also wish to take a civil disobedience approach toward the situation. In this approach, you could organize sit-ins at the local town hall or protest the unfair treatment on the streets. This will bring attention to the issue, and the government may choose to reverse the decision. You could also choose not to spend any of your money at local stores or stage a walkout during class as a form of protest. This walkout approach could also bring attention to the issue.