...1 American Government Study Guide Vocab Terms: Authority- | | bureaucratic view- | | Democracy- | | direct(participatory)democracy- | | Elite- | | Legitimacy- | | Marxist view- | | power elite view- | | pluralist view- | | Power- | | power elite- | | representative democracy- | | Questions for Review: 1. What are the two ways a person can show power? Give examples of each. 2. What is the right to use power as expressed by a government office?________________ 3. What gives the U.S. Government its legitimacy? Why? 4. What element does government need to have in the U.S. to be perceived as legitimate? 5. What are essential elements to have representative democracy?____________________ 6. Why is direct democracy impractical? 7. Does the U.S. Constitution contain the word democracy? (Yes/No) 8. What does the Constitution refer to as the U.S. system of government? 9. Why did the Framers of the Constitution favor representative republicanism as a favorable form of government. 10. When leaders follow the wishes of the people it is called ____________________ politics. (Polling-ex. Clinton) 11. What is the elitist theory that basically says corporate interests control all of the elements in government? 12. The Marxist pits those who own the factors of production called _______________ vs. those who are the workers called __________________. 13. Who was the founder of the Power...
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...Democracy and participation: Democracy = a political system based on the idea that government should serve the interests of the people. Legitimacy = the extent to which a government has the right to rule and exercise power. Power vs. Authority: * Power= the ability to make someone do something that they would not do of their own free will * E.g - Coercion – the use of force to achieve ends – the military * Authority = the right to exercise power (based on the consent of those being ruled) * E.g - Legal/rational – HOC * E.g – Traditional – HOL Modern democracies have: Political tolerance Peaceful transition of power Free, fair and regular elections The government is accountable to the people The rule of law Freedom of the media Modern democracies have: Political tolerance Peaceful transition of power Free, fair and regular elections The government is accountable to the people The rule of law Freedom of the media What makes a government legitimate? * Referendums (‘Yes’ answers) * High turnout * Free, fair and regular elections * Lack of dissent * Displays of public support How legitimate is the UK? Legitimate | Not legitimate | * House of Commons is elected | * Electoral system unfair and distorts political representation (FPTP) | * Government elected with mandate to govern | * Every government elected has only achieved the minority of the popular vote | * House of Lords has traditional authority...
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...Abstract This paper seeks a philosophical insight of democracy in general and American democracy in particular by unfolding the paradoxes entailed to whittle a credible conclusion. It attempts to explore contradictions of democracy whether democracy is a best system of governance? Is true democracy possible? Has it to be moral in character? Why other systems of governance tend to challenge the basic fabrics of democracy? Why democracy has turned out to be more productive than other forms of government? Then focus shifts to paradoxes entailed in self evident truth of American democracy. Is American democracy a representative of a true democracy? Does it cater the smaller factions of society? Has the democratic system fostered the rights of liberty, justice, life and pursuit of happiness to good effect for masses once challenged by terrorism, racism, poverty and recession? What good it has brought to its people? Why does America deserve to lead world community? Finally, conclusion is inquired about by addressing the question that How American dream can be pursued in its true democratic meaning? Isn’t it strange that few render democracy as the bludgeoning of the people, by the people, for the people? On the other hand, for some, it is a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people; a government after the principles of eternal justice, the unchanging law of God; the idea of freedom. Idea of democracy as rule of people traces its expression from Athens...
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...ANCIENT VS MODERN GOVERNMENTS 1 Presented By: Jessie Randle Submitted to: Professor Lawrence Vellucci HS101 World History: Ancient to Renaissa Grantham University November 24, 2014 ANCIENT VS MODERN GOVERNMENTS 2 Although wars nowadays are battled in the name of democracy as if it were ethical model as well as an effort less recognizable administration elegance, it is not actually that gloomy and snowy. The discoverers of egalitarianism were the Greeks who existed in trivial city-states named poleis. Interaction with the extensive biosphere was gentler. Life needed contemporary amenities. Balloting machineries were embryonic, at greatest. The public the ones who form the demo- in democracy, were closely complicated in choices that exaggerated them and would be shocked that bills to be chosen on now need interpretation over thousand-page books. They may be even more horrified that individuals really vote on those bills without doing the interpretation. American self-governing organizations may have their skeptics and their detractors, but the country has quietly voted new administrations meanwhile its start and we see no main replacements to our government. Confidently, Americans are set in their self-governing ways, and balloting, that is, making political selections, is the keystone of democracy. In forming the vote, they make a significant administrative excellent for our nationals and themselves and make a significant declaration about anthropological...
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...The United States has changed over time making the American citizens question what power of government they are being ruled under. The changes this country has gone through can show the development of the different government powers. The main three: Oligarchy, Democracy, and Plutocracy. The basic definition of an Oligarchy is when a small group, or a few people, has control over a country or organization. Specific groups in the US have had problems with the top 1% and the fairness between different groups. Democracy is when the power is vested within the people through elected representatives. The majority of Americans already believe that the United States is a democracy, but some believe that there is too much liberty within the people....
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...Jordan Gabson Writing and Rhetoric Tuesday April 30, 2015 Democracy vs. Communism Communism has always been used as secret weapon to make the poor believe that being rich is inappropriate, and that the poor have less because the rich people took the money away from them. In reality, the communist government wants to take the money from the wealthy to make the governing body itself rich. Democracy, on the other hand, promotes capitalism, which allows economic freedom, which helps political freedom; efficiency, economic growth, and everybody having the opportunity to start the business that he or she desires. Communism and democracy are two different ideologies that have each had a great impact in the world. Communism can be defined as a socioeconomic structure that stands for the establishment of classless, egalitarian and stateless society. Democracy, on the other hand, is a political system of governance either carried out by the people directly or by elected representatives. “Democracy may not be the perfect form of government, but sure it is way better than communism” said Jones in his journal, Power and Democracy Education Every single human being in the world knows that this is not true. Everybody knows that communism is a secret weapon that the rulers in the countries where communism is practiced use it to enrich themselves, their families and their friends. Communism is...
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...The Nevada Constitution Jeff Dunham Political Science 100 Professor: Mark Peplowski November 14th, 2013 The United States has a federal style of government that was created by the foundations of the U.S Constitution in which rule of law is used to manage society and the country. The way government oversees there own activities is through the distribution of authority within the different branches of government, called separation of powers. Separation of Power is a way for each branch of government to have enough power to not over dominate over another and thus keep an eye on each other. This process is used to moderate branches of government through a structure called checks and balance. The state and national level use the same structure to govern themselves; the differences and similarities between both of them come down to the way the rule of law is used in the democratic process. An example of this would be through comparing those differences and similarities between the political power that Nevada’s governor and the Presidents hold; along with the political power. The title of governor provides leadership in the state by representing its interest within the Federal Government. The responsibilities for governor, as stated in the Nevada State Constitution under Article 5 sections 8 through 9 are to appointing leaders, fill vacancies, commissioning people to different departments, and holding memberships on several important boards and commissions. He is also responsible...
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...Democratic peace theory, in its wider interpretation, is the empirical observation that democracies rarely, if ever, fight one another and it is this empirical dyadic observation that that has been described as the “closest thing we have to empirical law” in international relations. [1] Although what is meant by democratic peace is contested, and indeed as its validity as this essay will explore, the theory has been previously under Woodrow Wilson and more currently the Presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, a significant conceptual factor in the formation of American foreign policy.[2] Our aim is a democratic peace, a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this course with friends and allies at our sides, yet we understand our special calling: this great republic will lead the cause of freedom. In light of this statement, ongoing U.S. policy and its likely persistence an examination and understanding of the democracy peace proposition is clearly with merit. This essay will look at the democratic peace proposition at a several levels of analysis: at the monadic level of interstate war on whether democracies generally are more peaceful and whether transitional democracies are more inclined to war; and at the intrastate level as to whether democracies experience more or less civil war. It will examine the validity of the proposition(s), reasons for is occurrence and postulate on what implication there may be for...
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...Anguiano Socialism vs. Capitalism December 21st, 2014 Socialism vs. Capitalism Socialist is not state presidency. It does not law over individuals and places, but it could inspire us citizens to decree over things. Socialism signifies a government in which the society together own and constitutionally function the businesses and social services through a financial fairness and the things required to create and issue households, automobiles and all the necessities we need and want. In socialism the workers who control the businesses and services work together. Owning shops and other workplaces. Rankings would designate our direct managers and organization groups and also elect reps to local and national meetings of the business or service. Work with all- manufacturing congress to organize and distribute of all goods and amenities through the nation. Socialism would replace the biased government that is ran by representatives of an industrialized government operated by workers. Instead in its place of a representative from California or New York, there would be employee representatives from the motorized industry, from the transport systems, from the mines, from the clothes factories, from services such as diners, hospices, schools and so on. These representatives would have the single duty of determining what should be manufactured and how best to manufacture it. Today we have political equality only. Labors don’t have economic democracy. The owners of the...
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...differences in political economy. This chapter discusses differences in national political, economic, and legal systems, highlighting the ways in which managers in global settings need to be sensitive to these differences. Political differences are described along two dimensions: collectivist vs. individualist and democratic vs. totalitarian. Economic systems are explored in terms of market characteristics: market economies, command economies, and mixed economies. Legal systems are discussed in terms of the protections they offer for business: intellectual property, product safety, liability and contracts. The opening case explores the political and economic situation in Venezuela since Hugo Chavez was elected president in 1998. The closing case describes the challenges facing Indonesia, a vast country populated mainly by Muslims that stretches over 17,000 islands. Indonesia, after decades of corruption and a near dictatorship, now has a newly elected president. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2: NATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Opening Case: Chavez’s Venezuela Introduction Political Systems Collectivism and Individualism Democracy and Totalitarianism Economic Systems Market Economy Command Economy Mixed Economy Legal...
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...lowering of voting age, deputation of Election Commission is included. The power of Election Commission accompanies the above lines in the essay. Further, the method of free and fair elections forms a part of it. The elections held at regular intervals, that is, after every five years forms a part of our democratic structure. Auxiliary, the next part deals with criminalization in politics leading to an unfair election. Few instances aiding such criminalization in politics add to it. Use of money power to win elections has also been discussed in this essay. The subsequent part enumerates the issues and challenges before the Election Commission. It also includes criminal charges against the politicians already holding their posts as the representatives of the government. At the end, a short assessment of the current situation is discussed. It entails the failure of our political structure together with a suggestive approach and the need for bringing more electoral reforms in the present system. Electoral Reforms in...
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...COMPARATIVE FOREING GOVERNMENT The US Political system- principles, institutions, rules and performance * A Democratic Republic * Political power, authority and legitimacy resides in the ¨we the people¨ * Officeholders serve specified terms and face regularly schedule elections * Political office cannot be inherited or conferred (no monarch, no nobility) * A constitutional system * A single document defining government powers, institutions and their functions, electoral procedures * Short and difficult to amend * Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances (¨living document¨) * Widely perceived as legitimate by ¨we the people¨ * A representative democracy * Elected representatives –not ¨we the people¨-- make national law and policy (no referenda, recall, or ballot initiative) * The rule of law * Power of government over citizens explicitly limited (bill of rights) * The judiciary (federal courts) is on independent brunch of government whose members are protected by interference * All the elected are subjected to the law * Appointed officials are accountable to elected officials and to the courts * Institutional characteristics * /Separation of power/ divides political power and governmental authority among three branches having distinctive powers * Checks and balances allows each branch to offset the powers of the others * A powerful bicameral legislature with a meaningful upper house *...
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...CHAPTER 5 The American Revolution, 1763-1783 Chapter Study Outline I. The crisis begins A. Pre-1763 consolidation of imperial authority B. Emerging split over British-colonial relations 1. British perspective a. Subordinate position of colonies b. Obligation of colonies to share in cost of empire c. "Virtual representation" 2. American perspective a. Equality of colonies and mother country b. No taxation without representation C. Initial skirmishes 1. Writs of assistance against smuggling 2. Proclamation of 1763 3. Sugar Act 4. Revenue Act 5. Currency Act D. Stamp Act crisis 1. Provisions of Stamp Act 2. Indignation in colonies 3. Taxation and representation; increasing opposition a. Virginia resolutions b. Stamp Act Congress c. Boycott of British goods d. Public demonstrations e. Committees of Correspondence f. Sons of Liberty g. Crowd actions 4. Breadth of opposition a. Colonial elites b. Middling ranks c. Laboring classes 5. Repeal of Stamp Act; passage of Declaratory Act E. Internal colonial disputes 1. Tenant uprising in Hudson Valley 2. Tenant uprising in Green Mountains 3. Regulators in South Carolina 4. Regulators in North Carolina II. The road to revolution A. Townshend crisis 1. Provisions of Townshend duties 2. Colonial response, home-spun virtue a. Revival of boycott on British goods b. American-made goods as symbol of resistance c. Reawakening of popular protest B. Boston Massacre 1. Stationing of troops in Boston 2...
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...other states—that the current system was designed to handle (Electoral Vote vs. Popular Vote). While the Electoral College supporters of using, the electoral vote argue that it protects the rights of smaller states, critics say that the system is undemocratic because the number of electoral votes is not directly proportional to the population of the state (Electoral Vote vs. Popular Vote). So, either system has its strengths and flaws I just think that they both need to be revamped and reimagined for today’s...
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...Jassi Sikand Dr. Douglas Dow DATE \@ "M/d/yy" 2/9/14 A Discussion about Framed A Précis of Framed: America’s 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance In Framed: America's 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance, Sanford Levinson evaluates the current standing of the Constitution. He sets aside what most people would think of as ‘constitutional law’. He is not interested in discussing topics of major debate, calling them the ‘constitution of conversation,’ but rather, wishes to discuss those topics which have already been, for the most part, settled, aptly called the ‘constitution of settlement.’ Topics such as whether Congress should be a bicameral legislature, or whether judges should be appointed for life, or whether the electorate should be able to vote on constitutional amendments. Topics that are not questions of interpretation, but rather, questions of the wisdom of the structural decisions of the Constitution itself, most of which were made way back during the Philadelphia Convention. His purpose in doing so is not so much to answer questions, but rather to ask them. He seldom gives his own positions on the questions that he asks - more so, he wishes to open up the public’s mind about such questions. In order to do so, he seldom uses expert jargon, preferring to explain himself as much a common man (or woman) would. His point throughout the entire book is not to chastise the Framers of the Constitution, but to explain how while decision made back...
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