PSC 101 EXAM 1 2024
Cultural Ideals - ANSWERS-Political Culture:
DEFINITION: shared set of values, beliefs, and attitudes of a particular people
3 Core values: make up the American Culture
Liberty
Equality
Democracy
Political Efficacy - ANSWERS-Political efficacy is the belief that one has the
ability to influence what government does.
Citizenship - ANSWERS-Citizenship: derived from the Greek ideal, refers to
"enlightened political engagement."
Nature of Political Conflict- 2 sources - ANSWERS-Conflict rooted in two general
conditions of society:
Scarcity of Resources
Difference in values
Government defined - ANSWERS-institutions, processes, and rules designed to
facilitate control over a particular geographic area
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, PSC 101 EXAM 1 2024
Autocracy/Oligarchy/Democracy - ANSWERS-Autocracy: government by a
single, nonelected leader (e.g., a king, queen, or dictator).
Oligarchy: government by a small group that is not accountable to the citizens
(e.g., military officers or landowners).
Democracy: a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the
governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials.
Constitutional/Authoritarian/Totalitarian governments - ANSWERS-Totalitarian
governments recognize no limits on their authority.
Authoritarian governments recognize no limits on their authority, but they are
constrained by other institutions, such as business or a church.
Constitutional governments are limited both in what they can do (substantive
limits) and the methods they can employ (procedural limits).
Representative Democracy (Republic) v. Direct (pure) democracy - ANSWERS-
Pure: people directly make policy
Forms of direct democracy in Nevada:
Initiative
Example: recreational marijuana
Gun control background checks
Referendum: uphold or reveal existing laws
Recall: remove officials prior to the expiration of their term (only state officials)
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, PSC 101 EXAM 1 2024
Representative: people vote for representatives who serve their interests
Power/Authority - ANSWERS-Power
Ability to influence governmental decisions
Authority
Recognized right to make binding decisions
Politics-Lasswell and text definition - ANSWERS-Harold Lasswell (famous
political scientist)
defines politics as: the process of deciding "who gets what, when & how"
Pluralism - ANSWERS-Groups and organized interests also participate in politics.
Groups and organized interests provide funds for candidates, lobby, and try to
influence public opinion.
The pattern of struggles among interests is called group politics, or pluralism.
Equality of opportunity v. Political equality - ANSWERS-Political Equality
"One man, One Vote"
We're all equal in the political process
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Cultural Ideals - ANSWERS-Political Culture:
DEFINITION: shared set of values, beliefs, and attitudes of a particular people
3 Core values: make up the American Culture
Liberty
Equality
Democracy
Political Efficacy - ANSWERS-Political efficacy is the belief that one has the
ability to influence what government does.
Citizenship - ANSWERS-Citizenship: derived from the Greek ideal, refers to
"enlightened political engagement."
Nature of Political Conflict- 2 sources - ANSWERS-Conflict rooted in two general
conditions of society:
Scarcity of Resources
Difference in values
Government defined - ANSWERS-institutions, processes, and rules designed to
facilitate control over a particular geographic area
END OF
PAGE 1
, PSC 101 EXAM 1 2024
Autocracy/Oligarchy/Democracy - ANSWERS-Autocracy: government by a
single, nonelected leader (e.g., a king, queen, or dictator).
Oligarchy: government by a small group that is not accountable to the citizens
(e.g., military officers or landowners).
Democracy: a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the
governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials.
Constitutional/Authoritarian/Totalitarian governments - ANSWERS-Totalitarian
governments recognize no limits on their authority.
Authoritarian governments recognize no limits on their authority, but they are
constrained by other institutions, such as business or a church.
Constitutional governments are limited both in what they can do (substantive
limits) and the methods they can employ (procedural limits).
Representative Democracy (Republic) v. Direct (pure) democracy - ANSWERS-
Pure: people directly make policy
Forms of direct democracy in Nevada:
Initiative
Example: recreational marijuana
Gun control background checks
Referendum: uphold or reveal existing laws
Recall: remove officials prior to the expiration of their term (only state officials)
END OF
PAGE 2
, PSC 101 EXAM 1 2024
Representative: people vote for representatives who serve their interests
Power/Authority - ANSWERS-Power
Ability to influence governmental decisions
Authority
Recognized right to make binding decisions
Politics-Lasswell and text definition - ANSWERS-Harold Lasswell (famous
political scientist)
defines politics as: the process of deciding "who gets what, when & how"
Pluralism - ANSWERS-Groups and organized interests also participate in politics.
Groups and organized interests provide funds for candidates, lobby, and try to
influence public opinion.
The pattern of struggles among interests is called group politics, or pluralism.
Equality of opportunity v. Political equality - ANSWERS-Political Equality
"One man, One Vote"
We're all equal in the political process
END OF
PAGE 3
