General Government Info
What are the 3 Branches of Government?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
What are the two major types of Governments?
Democracies and Dictatorships
What are forms of government?
The distinction between the different types of democracies and dictatorships. Explaining where is the power, who can participate in the government and what is the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in that form.
What is Force Theory?
When all the people of an area were brought under control of one person or group by force.
What does it mean to 'Maintain Social Order'?
We need laws to help regulate government and civilized life.
Government controls people and conflict by using laws to help limit what people can and cannot do.
What are the 3 Divisions of Government?
Federal
State
Local
What is a Democracy?
A type of government that is voted on by the people, has elections, freedom for citizens and the media.
What are the 3 forms of Power a country can have?
Unitary (power is central)
Federal (power is divided between Federal and State)
Confederacy (power is aligned between different states)
What is Divine Right Theory?
In many of the earliest civilizations the people believed that their rulers were chosen by God or the Gods.
Depending on the civilization the ruler may be descended from the gods or a god himself or herself
What does it mean to 'Provide Public Services'?
Provide things that makes community possible.
Federal, State and Local governments do this.
This is things like providing roadways, sewer lines, parks, libraries, and schools.
What is Supremacy?
Hierarchy of Laws
What is a dictatorship?
A type of government that is chosen by force. There are no elections or rigged elections. Citizens rights and media are severely restricted.
What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of a Presidential government?
The Executive and Legislative branches are elected separately (Ex: USA)
What is Evolutionary Theory?
The state naturally evolved from forms or social organizations, like clans and families gradually expanding.
Describes the state as the product of growth, a calm and composed evolution stretching over a long period of time and ultimately shaping itself into the complex structure of a modern state.
The central tenet of this theory is that preferences and behaviors are at least partially shaped by evolutionary forces and therefore by genetic heritage.
What does it mean to 'Provide National Security'?
The government must protect its people from internal and external attacks.
Also maintain relationships with other nations so we can have allies.
What is the difference between a state and a State?
small s states are nations/countries
big S States are States like Idaho
What are the 3 different forms a Dictatorships can take?
True Dictatorship (Autocracy) - Single person
Absolute Monarchy - Single person w/royalty
Oligarch - small group of dictators
What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of a Parliamentary government?
Legislative and Executive branches are elected together (Ex: England/Great Britain)
What is Social Contract Theory?
The power to govern is given to the government by the people. They have agreed to give up some rights for the benefit of all through a social contract.
Should the government not preserve those rights the people could simply “break the contract”
What does it mean to 'Make Economic Decisions'?
Laws are passed to help shape the economy.
This includes things like establishing a currency, regulating banks and having protections for people around money and the stock market.
What are the 4 characteristics of a state?
Population
Territory
Government
Sovereignty
What are the 2 forms of government a Democracy can take?
Direct Democracy
Indirect or Representative Democracy (Republic/Constitutional Monarch)
What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of a Dictatorship government?
There is no relation, sometimes a Dictatorship can have branches but really the Dictator makes all of the decisions.
What Theory is the US mostly associated with?
Social Contract Theory
What are the Concepts of Democracy?
Worth of the Individual
Necessity of Compromise
Majority Rules, Minority Rights
Equality of all Persons
Individual Freedom