UNIT I – VOCABULARY TERMS

4. GOVERNMENT

• The Institutions and individuals through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions.

4. GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT

1. AUTOCRACY

• Rule by 1 in a country

• EX: Monarchs (who rule by heredity or by divine right) and Dictators (who take power though the military)

2. CAPITALISM

• An economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for a profit in competitive markets.

3. DEMOCRACY

• Rule by the Many in a country

• A country in which the people hold the power over the government either directly or indirectly

5. LEGITIMACY

• The general acceptance that people have for their form of government and their political leaders.

• Do the people accept their government as legit?

5. LEGITIMACY

6. NATURALIZATION

• The process by which an alien becomes a new citizen in the United States

7. OLIGARCHY

• Rule by a few or a small group of people in a country who take power through heredity, connections, strength, or religion

• EX: China

8. POLITICAL CULTURE

• A way of thinking about how politics and government should be handled

• Think about the argument over health care

9. POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

• A shared and consistent set of beliefs that people hold about the type of government in a country as well as about the policies the government ought to pursue

10. POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

• The process by which we pass along our beliefs about government and our attitudes about American Political Culture to the youth of society.

11. POLITICAL SPECTRUM

• The wide range of beliefs / ideology that people hold about the proper role and form of government

12. POLITICS

• The art of running a government.

• Any attempt to control the decisions and policies made by a government

13. PUBLIC POLICY

• THE FINAL DECISIONS (laws, rules, and regulations) made by a government.

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY

• 14. PURE / OR DIRECT / OR PARTICPATORY DEMOCRACY

• A form of democratic rule in which ALL of the people hold the power and are directly active in the day-to-day operation of and running of the government

• No country today but Initiative / Referendum / and Recall move us closer to a Pure Democracy

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY

• 15. REPUBLIC - INDIRECT OR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

• A form of democratic government in which the citizens hold the power but exercise their power by voting in elections to choose representatives who then run the day-to-day operations of government

16. SOCIALISM

• An economic system in which the means of production are either state owned or controlled

• It is also a political theory advocating a socialistic economic system

II. GOVERNMENT

WHAT’S IT REALLY GOOD FOR???

II. GOVERNMENT

• 1. What are the purposes of government?

• So what is it really good for? Edwin Starr would say “Absolutely Nothing! Say it again!”

II. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

• A. Maintain Social Order –

• HOW? Passing of laws and rules

• Punishments and penalties

• Rewards

II. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

• B. Provide public services

• Can anyone give me examples:

II. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

• C. Provide protection and national security

• POLICE, FBI, ARMY/NAVY/MARINES/AIR FORCE

• FIRE DEPARTMENTS

• AMBULANCE

II. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

• D. Make economic decisions – control economic environment

II. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

• E. Settle Disputes

III. CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP

• 1. CIVICS = Study of the rights and duties of citizens

• 2. CIVIC DUTY = Belief that citizens should be knowledgeable and participate in political affairs

• 3. CIVIC COMPETENCE = Belief that one can affect government policies

• 4. POLITICAL EFFICACY = One capacity to understand and to take part in political affairs

III. CIVICS / CITIZENSHIP

• 5. What are the major responsibilities of good citizens?

III. CIVICS / CITIZENSHIP

• 5 – Mandatory Obligations:

• Pay taxes

• Obey laws

• Jury Duty

• Selective Service

III. CIVICS / CITIZENSHIP

• 5. Things citizens SHOULD DO:

• Register to Vote

• Vote

• Serve in the Military

• Be Informed

• Work and be productive

• Volunteer (community service and political organizations)

III. CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP

• 6. How many ways can a person be active in their society and democratic government?

III. CIVICS = ACTION

• 6. Voting = most common method

• Obey laws

• Join Political party or Interest Group

• Run for Political Office

• Volunteer in a political campaign

• Volunteer in a community program

• Donate time and/or money

• Keep Informed

III. PENNSYLVANIA VOTING

• What are the requirements that a person must meet in order to vote in PA?

III. PENNSYLVANIA VOTING

• In order to vote in PA, a person must be:

• 1.) at least 18 years of age

• 2.) A citizen of the USA

• 3.) Resident of PA and of the district in PA in which they vote for 30 days prior to the election.

• 4.) Must be registered to vote 30 days before the election

III. PENNSYLVANIA VOTING

• SEE THE HANDOUT IN YOUR NOTES PACKET FOR MORE DETAILS

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• 1. BASIC RULE – Every country has the right to make its own rules for citizenship. In the US system, that power falls to the US Congress.

VI CITIZENSHIP

• 3A(1) Jus Soli – Citizenship is conferred by the place of one’s birth.

• If you are born on US soil, then you are automatically a US Citizen

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• 3A(2) Jus Sanguinis – By Blood connection

• If one or more parents OR grandparents were US citizens at the time of your birth, then you are a US citizen regardless of where you are born

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• 3.) NATURALIZATION – The process by which citizenship is conferred (given) to a legal alien in the USA.

• Congress sets the rules for naturalization.

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• 3B – NO

• Citizenship cannot be revoked by the US government.

• 3C - BUT citizens have the RIGHT OF EXPATRIATION = The right to voluntarily give up their citizenship in the USA.

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• DUAL CITIZENSHIP means having citizenship in more than 1 country at the same time. (See Jus Sanguinis).

• The US does not embrace this but it is possible.

• Countries that recognize Dual Citizenship include Germany, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Italy, France, and India

VI. CITIZENSHIP

• 5D – No - states cannot deny an illegal alien a free public education or access to welfare.

• The US Supreme Court has made this ruling saying that they do not want to punish children for the improper decisions of their parents.

IV. GOVERNMENT

• 1. What is government?

• The body within a political entity which has the authority to make and enforce laws, rules, and regulations.

• It can also be used to refer to the people that hold authority in state.

IV. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

• 2. When looking at a government, you must figure out how the power is distributed.

IV. GOV’T ORGANIZATION

• 2A. A UNITARY SYSTEM

• ALL GOVERNMENT POWER IS CENTRALIZED IN A NATIONAL OR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

• EX: UNITED KNIGDOM (PARLIAMENT)

2A. Unitary Government

IV. GOV’T ORGANIZATION

• 2B. A FEDERAL SYSTEM OR FEDERALISM

• DIVISION OF POWER BETWEEN NATIONAL AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• EX: USA

2B. FEDERAL SYSTEMS

IV. GOV’T ORGANIZATION

• 2C. CONFEDERACY – CONFEDERATION

• A loose association of states with a common goal or purpose

• Examples?

IV. GOV’T ORGANIZATION

• 2C. CONFEDERACY – CONFEDERATION

• Examples? USA Under the Articles of Confederation and the Confederate States of America

• SWITZERLAND – EUROPEAN UNION – UNITED NATIONS

CONFEDERATION

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 1. Basic Test:

• WHO GOVERNS THE STATE? HOW MANY PEOPLE GOVERN?

• 3 TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY • RULE BY THE ONE - Any system of

government in which the power and authority to rule are in hands of 1 single individual

• -Oldest and most common form of government

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY – Types:• TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP• -IDEAS OF A SINGLE LEADER CONTROL• -TOTAL CONTROL OF ALL ASPECTS OF

POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE• -USE OF FEAR, INTIMIDATION AND FORCE• -GOV’T IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO THE

PEOPLE

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY – Types:• TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP• EXAMPLES:• NAZI GERMANY• STALINIST RUSSIA• CASTRO’S CUBA• HUSSEIN IN IRAQ• Kim Jung Il in North Korea

FAMOUS DICTATORS

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY – Types: MONARCHY - RULE BY A KING OR QUEEN WHO EXERCISES SUPREME POWER

• -ABSOULTE MONARCHS HAVE COMPLETE AND UNLIMITED POWER

• -DIVINE RIGHT: POWER TO RULE IS GIVEN BY GOD

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY – Types: MONARCHY – EXAMPLES:

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2A. AUTOCRACY – Types:

• THEOCRACY - Government controlled by religious leader

• EX: THE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI IN IRAN

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2B. OLIGARCHY - RULE BY THE FEW - ANY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH A SMALL GROUP HOLDS POWER

• -GOV’T BY THE PRIVILEGED• -POWER DERIVES FROM WEALTH,

MILITARY POWER, SOCIAL POSITION, RELIGION, OR A COMBO THEREOF

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2B. OLIGARCHY – EXAMPLES:

• CHINA and IRAN TODAY

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY - RULE BY THE MANY –

• ANY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH RULE IS BY THE PEOPLE

• POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY – power to rule comes from the people

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – Types:– a. Direct Democracy (Pure or

Participatory Democracy)– ALL CITIZENS GOVERN THEMSELVES

BY VOTING ON ISSUES INDIVIDUALLY AS CITIZENS IN TOWN MEETINGS

– The will of the people is transformed into public policy directly in mass meetings

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – Types:– a. Direct Democracy (Pure or

Participatory)– PROS: More Democratic and more

responsible to the will of the people – CONS: Inefficient / Impractical /

Impossible today with large populations – EX: Ancient Athens & New England

Town Meetings

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – Types:– B. Representative Democracy / Indirect

Democracy / Republic – PEOPLE HOLD SOVEREIGN POWER BUT

ELECT REPRESENTATIVES IN FREE, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS AND GIVE THEM RESPONSIBILITY AND POWER TO CONDUCT DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT

– -ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE REPSONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – Types:– B. Representative Democracy / Indirect

Democracy / Republic – EX: USA– PROS: It is democratic and people still

control government when they vote and it is more efficient

– CONS: APATHY AND NON-VOTERS

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY

• TECHNOLOGY TODAY: Can we be more like a Pure Democracy with technology?

• Possible with computers some day

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – There are new developments that make us more like a Pure Democracy.

• INITIATIVE: Power of citizens of some states to draft new laws or amendments to the state Constitutions by use of a Petition with required number of signatures – If done, then the proposed amendment automatically goes on the ballot for voter approval in next election

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – There are new developments that make us more like a Pure Democracy.

• REFERENDUM: THE PEOPLE’S VETO – Power granted to citizens of some states to vote no to laws passed (usually tax and spending bills) by the state or local legislatures

V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• 2C. DEMOCRACY – There are new developments that make us more like a Pure Democracy.

• RECALL: Power of citizens of some states to vote to remove elected officials prior to the end of their term of office (EX: Grey Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger in CA)