Poli. Sci. Terms: exam 1
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Government- institutions and people that rule over a territory and
people
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Autocracy- individual rules
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Oligarchy- small group rules
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Constitutional- formal and effective limits placed on
government powers
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Authoritarian- no formal limits, yet restrained by power of
other institutions
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Totalitarian- no formal limits, eliminate any challenges
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Limited- written constitution, formal limits on power
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Federal- power divided between national and state
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Representative- legitimacy derived from popular consent
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Current: constitutional, representative government
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Politics- distribution of advantages and disadvantages; who gets what,
when, and how
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Political science- social science interested in human behavior, cause
and effect
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Political culture- orientation of citizens toward political system and
themselves within system
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Liberal consensus/American creed: equal treatment and opportunity
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Individualism- allow individuals to succeed to max. extent,
equal chance rather than equal result
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Property- right to acquire and use private property with minimal
restrictions, use as part of society
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Liberty- freedom from government restraint, rights our
inherently ours
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Democracy- government actions reflect will of the people
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Religion- freedom to practice religion, US exception to trend of
economic success, less religion
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Challenges to liberal consensus
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Anti-liberalism- hierarchy, racism, inequality
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Multiculturalism- group focus, group heritage, cultural unity;
eliminates American uniqueness
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Libertarianism- few, if any government limitations
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Classical republicanism/communitarianism- for good of community,
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sacrifice private interest
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Constitutional process: 5 key problems
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Resolve basic elite divisions
Big states v. small states
Pragmatism- balance needs of big states and small states
Great compromise- constitutional convention 1787; gave
each state equal number of senators regardless of
population
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Protect commerce and property: national control over
commerce and finance, supremacy of national laws and treaties,
contracts must be honored
Shay’s rebellion- Daniel Shays led farmers in rebellion
against government. Made congress reconsider
A.O.C….constitutional convention…Constitution
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Establish legitimacy: representativeness of government, direct
election of house of rep.s, promise of bill of rights
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Prevent excessive democracy: not to be entirely overrun or
determined by people
Bicameral legislature: legislature must go through both
house and congress
Checks and balances- no one has ultimate sovereignty
Staggered terms- different length and times for election
Indirect election: presidency
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Join adaptability with stability: difficult amending procedure
Constitutional interpretation- meaning of document
changed by supreme court’s interpretation
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Federalists- prefer government and constitution
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Popular view: liberty is safest in small, direct democracies or
republics with small districs
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- Spring '08
- Coleman
- Government, Liberal Consensus
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