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
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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 –
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HOW? Passing of laws and rules
Punishments and penalties
Rewards
II. PURPOSES OF
GOVERNMENT
• B. Provide public services
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Can anyone give me examples:
II. PURPOSES OF
GOVERNMENT
• C. Provide protection and
national security
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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
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5 – Mandatory Obligations:
Pay taxes
Obey laws
Jury Duty
Selective Service
III. CIVICS / CITIZENSHIP
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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
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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
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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
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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
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2A. AUTOCRACY
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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
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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
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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
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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
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2A. AUTOCRACY – Types:
MONARCHY – EXAMPLES:
V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
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2A. AUTOCRACY – Types:
THEOCRACY - Government controlled
by religious leader
EX: THE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI IN
IRAN
V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
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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
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2B. OLIGARCHY – EXAMPLES:
CHINA and IRAN TODAY
V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
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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
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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
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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
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2C. DEMOCRACY – Types:
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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
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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
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2C. DEMOCRACY
TECHNOLOGY TODAY: Can we be
more like a Pure Democracy with
technology?
Possible with computers some day
V. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
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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
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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
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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)