POLI 2051 Exam 1 Study Guide Dr.
Kenny Questions and Answers
government - Answers -formally established way of making and carrying out political
decisions
politics - Answers -the competition to shape government's impact on society's problems
and goals
purposes of government - Answers -1. protecting life
2. rights and liberties
3. providing public goods
4. promoting equality
political ideology - Answers -a coherent set of beliefs about how politics affect society
and which policies are desirable
social contract theory - Answers -it is not a written contract, but rather, a general
agreement between the people and their government; the people agree to give up some
of their liberty, and in exchange, the government guarantees to protect what we called
"natural rights."
The Policy Process: People - Answers -interest, problems, concerns
The Policy Process: Linkage Processes - Answers -elections, polls, lobbying
The Policy Process: Linkage Institutions - Answers -political parties, interest groups,
media
The Policy Process: Governmental Agenda(s) - Answers -congress, president, courts
The Policy Process: Policies - Answers -expenditures, regulation, taxes, non-decisions
Requirements for Democracy - three factors: - Answers -1. popular sovereignty
2. political equality
3. political liberty
popular sovereignty - Answers -people are the ultimate source of all public authority
political equality - Answers -each person carries the same weight in voting and other
political decisions making
, political liberty - Answers -freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, etc. are
essential for democracy to work
seven conditions of popular sovereignty - Answers -1. Government policies reflect the
wishes of the people
2. Government leaders are elected
3. Elections are free and fair
4. People participate in the Political Process
5. High-Quality Information is available
6. The majority rules
7. Government Policies are Effective
individualism - Answers -the idea that people should take the initiative, be self-sufficient,
and accumulate the material advantages necessary for their well being
pluralism - Answers -a theory of American politics that holds that society's interest are
substantially represented through the activities of groups
constitutionalism - Answers -the idea that there are lawful limits on the power of
government
free-market system - Answers -an economic system based on the idea that government
should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible; free enterprise and self-
reliance are the collective and individual principles that underpin free markets
political thinking - Answers -reflective thinking focused on deciding what can resonably
be believed and then using this information to make political judgements
authoritarian government - Answers -a form of government in which those in power
openly repress their opponents in order to stay in power
Republicanism - Answers -a form of government in which power resides in the people
and is exercised by their elected representatives
Federalism - Answers -the division of sovereignty, and hence power, among two or
more governments - national and state governments in our case. Powers are derived
from the people, who are the ultimate sovereign
Separation of powers - Answers -the assignment of law-making, law-enforcing, and law-
interpreting functions to separate and independent legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of governments (powers aren't separated, they are shared)
Checks and Balances - Answers -give each branch some scrutiny and control over the
other branches
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