COMP POLI TEXT PGS 7 14 HOMEWORK NOTES Definitions Power The ability to get someone to do something that they would not otherwise do Often means firm enforcement by compulsion or the threat of sanctions Authority Power that is viewed as proper and is voluntarily accepted by those who are governed Legitimacy When the power people wield over other people is accepted Max Weber says that political legitimacy entails tradition charisma or rationality legality Usually comes from rational legal strengths of the leaders However it is more recently linked with democratic principles The presence of a govt that is accountable to the people and observant of basic human rights is now considered the idea for legitimacy Sometimes regimes lose legitimacy but just coerce their people into following them State A set of political institutions legislatures executives armies leaders lobbyists which make authoritative and binding decisions over the people in a specific geographic area Nation An ethnic group whether or not it has its own political country Country A geographic area whether or not it has a political entity Regime A set of leaders or institutions holding power in a state Sovereignty When decisions made by a state are final and cannot be overruled by other states Not as meaningful todays since many states are interdependent on one another Popular Sovereignty Those who govern derive their authority from the people Supranational Bodies Organizations that hold power over states such as the EU or the UN A self government as citizens directly or indirectly govern themselves Modernly Democracy it is mostly indirect as most democracies elect representatives Other requirements free elections guarantee of civil liberties and limited governmental powers Within democracy Free Elections Held on a regular basis alternative candidates representing different political viewpoints voting must be universal for all adults secret ballots and election results must be honestly tabulated and elected officials placed in elected offices Rule of Law Everyone is subject to laws Equally applied to all Limited Government Limit on scope and means of govt Pluralism The presence of numerous autonomous entities that divide power over society with government Think churches businesses labor unions Causes fragmentation of society and conflicts Pluralism reduces absolutism in govt
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