Define these Terms:
• Illiberal democracy
• Rentier State
• Bicameral
• Head of government
• Head of state
Important Points
• Political Cartoon is due on Wednesday
 Remember that it has to be based off a different
“academic summary” issue created by a
classmate.
• Vocabulary Test on Thursday
• No School Friday
• Unit Text next Monday
o Review sheet will be passed out on Wednesday
• Hamlet next Tuesday
o Mrs. Keefer needs Hamlet money
“V” Discussion
• Are there any links between characters that
we have studied and characters in this film?
• Think about the role of the individual or
“citizen”.
“V” Discussion
• What/who was the last domino?
• Is there hope for democracy and liberalism in
the final moments of “V”?
“V” Discussion
• Is “V” more hopeful than 1984?
If so, how?
• Does a dystopian novel work if it ends
“happily”?
Basic Government
Concepts
I. Terms
State: political power exercised over a defined
geographical area through public institutions
 Population, territory, government, sovereignty
 State vs. state
Nation: human community with shared culture and history
Government: collections of individuals who occupy
political office or exercise state power
Regime: sets of rules and institutions that control access
to, and exercise of, political power and that typically endure
from government to government
 E.g. Adams’ government gave way to Jefferson’s in compliance
with the Constitution
Sovereignty: government has final say over what happens
within its country
 Limited by international law, WTO, NAFTA, IMF, etc.
II. Regime Types
1. Who has power: Democracy vs. Dictatorship
 Liberal vs. illiberal democracy
Power from the people→ liberal democracy
 Direct vs. Representative (republic)
 Substantive vs. procedural democracy
Power withheld from the people→ authoritarian
dictatorship: autocracy, monarchy, aristocracy,
oligarchy, kleptocracy, theocracy
 Strive for totalitarian control; militaristic; outward
appearances of democracy (see J. Kirkpatrick)
2) Geographic Distribution
Where is power located: Unitary, confederate,
federal
 Britain→ Articles of Confederation→ Constitution
Unitary
 State governments; Danville exists at convenience of
Sacramento
Confederate
 Independent, sovereign states in loose alliance
 Key: cannot legislate over individuals
Federal
 Overlapping division central (federal) and regional
governments (State); separate and co-equal
3) Division of Power within
Government
Legislative (makes laws); Executive
(executes/carries out laws); Judicial (interprets
laws)
 Divisions not so clear cut: necessary overlap
Presidential: separate, independent, coequal,
checks and balances
Parliamentary: executive members of legislature:
chosen by, removable by, legislature
 No confidence votes; coalition governments
 Less likely to deadlock/fewer checks + balances
III. Principles of Democracy
1) Fundamental worth + dignity every person
2) Equality of all
 A) opp’y
B) law
3) Majority rule w/minority rights
 Madison: Tyranny of the majority
4) Necessity compromise (process, not end)
5) Widest degree indiv. freedom (while
protecting/serving public interest)
IV. Necessary Ideals
1) Effective participation
 In politics money is speech
2) Equality in voting
 But CA vs. ND?
3) Enlightened understanding
 TV make me stupid
4) Final control over agenda
 See: mobilization of bias
5) Inclusion of adults
 Immigration issues; 12 million+ excluded
V. Required Institutions
1) Elected officials
2) Free, fair, frequent, effective elections
3) Freedom of expression
4) Alternative sources information
5) Associational autonomy
6) Inclusive citizenship
Capitalism?
VI. Advantages of Democracy
1) Avoid tyranny
2) Essential rights
3) General freedom
4) Self determination
5) Moral autonomy
6) Human development
7) Protecting essential personal interests
8) Political equality
9) Peace-seeking
10) Prosperity
Academic Enrichment
• First twenty minutes is for ORB reading.
o Please grab your book from locker now.
• Thirty minutes to finish up homework, plan
week, and set yourself up for success this
week.
• Help me put up quizzes and tests for the
week.