Study Notes - C963

Study Notes - C963 What is the definition of Government ○ Describes the means by which society organizes itself and allocates authority, accomplish goals and provides benefits that the society as a whole needs. What do government benefits provided depend on ○ All government benefits depend on the type of government. What is the definition of Politics ○ Process of gaining and exercising control within a government ○ Purpose of setting and achieving particular goals, related to the division of resources. When and where did the idea that people should govern themselves developed ○ 18th century, in North America and France. What is an Oligarchy ○ Only the ruling elite or certain members of a political party can participate in government. What are private goods ○ Food, clothing and housing provided by private businesses, in exchange for profit. What are public goods ○ Goods and services available to all without charge. What are toll goods ○ Goods available to many, but only few can afford it. What are common goods ○ Free of charge, but of limited supply. ○ Example, fish or clean drinking water. ○ Government protects common goods. What is Civic Engagement ○ Participation that connects citizens to politics. What are some forms of Civic Engagement ○ Reading ○ Discussing politics ○ Attending political debates ○ Donating money to political campaigns ○ Handing out flyers for candidates ○ Voting ○ Joining protests ○ Contacting elected representatives What is the form of government of the US ○ Republic, or Representative Democracy ○ Citizens do not govern directly. ○ Representatives pass laws on behalf of people. What is a democracy ○ Political power rests in the hands of the people What are some examples of Direct Democracy ○ A referendum, or proposed law, that is voted for on the ballot, rather than leaving it up to representatives. What is a monarchy ○ Only one ruler holds power. What is the Enlightenment ○ One of the greatest influences of American government ○ Took place in Europe from ○ Transitioned from religious absolutism to human individuality and liberty. ○ Gives government by consent. What are natural rights ○ God given rights to life, liberty and property. What are the Two Treatises of Government ○ John Locke rejects the idea of kings ○ Defines what it means to be human ○ Specified proper structure in civil society What is due process ○ Government's obligation to treat citizens fairly. What is the social contract ○ Obligations we are expected to bear for the roles we play in the social order. ○ Is the product of human desire and effort. What is the state of nature ○ Acknowledged fiction ○ Assume it does exist to make it easy to understand. ○ Condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily prior to the existence of society. What did John Locke view as the most important protections under the social contract ○ Life, Liberty, and Property. ○ He viewed them as natural rights. ○ He believed that it was the government's job to protect them. How much authority did John Locke believe society should have over citizens in the social contract ○ Limited Authority What was John Locke's belief about the state of nature ○ He believed the state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational human beings. ○ He also believed the state of nature was inconvenient. What are examples of challenges to the social contract ○ Civil War ○ Labor Movement ○ Civil Rights Movement ○ Women's Suffrage ○ Women's Liberation How is society formed ○ Society is not natural or God-given. ○ Society is the product of human intention for the purpose of a collective interest. What is the definition of society ○ Society is defined by a social contract, which is based on an understanding of that it means to be human and of what human rights we poses. What is the optimal form of government ○ Representative Democracy What is the purpose of a social contract ○ Enhance the potential of human nature. ○ Done through the protection of human rights. In what way is state of nature important for constructing social contract ?? ○ Definition of what it means to be human. ○ Gives definition to natural rights. What are the characteristics of a social contract ?? ○ Collective expression of share interest. ○ Specification of natural rights ○ Definition of human nature Why is it important to understand the quality of life in the state of nature ?? ○ It explains incentive for working cooperatively with others. ○ It helps frame the type of social contract that is needed to make individual life better What is an important weakness of the social contract ○ It requires consensus. Statements that define natural rights ?? ○ Impart equality of being among all people. ○ They let you do what you need to survive. Statements that define state of nature ?? ○ Permits philosophical definition of human nature ○ It is a thought experiment upon which society and government are built. What conditions are required for a social contract to work ○ Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract. ○ Consensus. What describes the theory of the social contract ○ Society is not natural, but created by the people. What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with ○ Human nature and natural rights. What expression is the Declaration of Independence similar to ○ Ideas of John Locke in The Two Treatises of Government. Which natural right was explicitly protected in the declaration of independence ○ Liberty What is Rousseau's point in Discourse on Inequality ○ Those without property seek to take it from those who have it. What does Montesquieu argue for in The Spirit of the Laws ○ Representative rather than popular rule. ○ Division of political powers to lessen the impact of popular will. ○ The Constitution embodies Montesquieu's principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial powers. What does the constitution do for Natural rights ○ The constitution is largely silent on natural rights. ○ The constitution does have a prohibition against religious tests for office. Which constitutional principle, as suggested by Montesquieu, lessens potential harm of national gov over people ○ Separation of powers. What was the Bill of rights ○ First Ten Amendments to the Constitution. ○ They are the declaration for the protection of natural rights. ○ Protection of individual conscience and democratic participation. ○ Institute the due process of law. What is the constitution designed to be a concern for ○ Tyrannical Majority What is the Enlightenment ○ Period of Western European history following Middle Ages. ○ Source of ideas about natural rights. How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence American gov and politics ○ The Constitution sets up a system of gov that isn't favorable to the democratic expression of popular will. ○ Protection of private property can interfere with the gov dealing with important social needs. Which ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence ○ Natural rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness ○ Idea that governments are created by people to protect their natural rights. In what ways does the constitution differ from Declaration of Independence ○ Constitution makes justice more important than liberty. ○ Constitution is more concerned with controlling rather than expressing free will. What type of rights are contained in Bill of Rights ○ Natural Rights ○ Procedural Rights What were framers more interested in when creating the Constitution ○ Practicality of government. The ideas of the enlightenment are foundational to the development of ○ American society, economy, and politics. The Enlightenment sees democracy as ○ Strength and weakness in the political process. What can make it difficult for government to respond to important social issues ○ Enlightenment ideas of individualism, equality, liberty, and property. What were the powers under the Articles of Confederation ○ Power to Borrow and Coin money ○ Power to Declare war ○ Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with other Nations ○ Power to regulate Trade with the Native Americans ○ Power to settle disputes among other states Describe the Articles of Confederation