Flashcards › Test Prep & College › Political Science

Intro Political Science Terms

Ideas, systems and theories used to study government and politics around the world.

94 cardsCollege, Adult#political-science#college

0 of 94 known
94 cards
  • PoliticsTerm
    The process of deciding who gets what, when and how in a society
  • StateTerm
    An organization with authority over a territory and population
  • SovereigntyTerm
    Supreme authority within a territory
  • LegitimacyTerm
    Widespread belief that authority is rightful
  • Weber's three types of authorityTerm
    Traditional, charismatic and legal-rational
  • PowerTerm
    The ability to get others to do what they otherwise would not
  • Social contractTerm
    Idea that government rests on an agreement among the governed
  • Thomas HobbesTerm
    Wrote Leviathan; argued strong rule prevents chaos
  • John LockeTerm
    Argued for natural rights to life, liberty and property
  • Jean-Jacques RousseauTerm
    Wrote about the general will and popular sovereignty
  • MontesquieuTerm
    Advocated separation of powers
  • DemocracyTerm
    Government by the people, directly or through representatives
  • Direct democracyTerm
    Citizens decide issues themselves
  • Representative democracyTerm
    Citizens elect officials to decide for them
  • AutocracyTerm
    Rule by one person with unlimited power
  • OligarchyTerm
    Rule by a small group
  • MonarchyTerm
    Rule by a king or queen
  • Constitutional monarchyTerm
    A monarch whose powers are limited by a constitution
  • TotalitarianismTerm
    A government seeking total control of public and private life
  • AuthoritarianismTerm
    Strong central power with limited political freedom
  • TheocracyTerm
    Government ruled by religious authorities
  • LiberalismTerm
    Ideology stressing individual liberty and limited government
  • ConservatismTerm
    Ideology valuing tradition and gradual change
  • SocialismTerm
    Ideology favoring collective or public ownership
  • CommunismTerm
    Ideology of classless society with common ownership
  • FascismTerm
    Ultranationalist, authoritarian ideology
  • AnarchismTerm
    Opposition to all forms of government
  • LibertarianismTerm
    Ideology maximizing individual freedom and minimizing the state
  • NationalismTerm
    Devotion to one's nation and its interests
  • CapitalismTerm
    Economic system with private ownership and markets
  • Parliamentary systemTerm
    Executive is chosen by and accountable to the legislature
  • Presidential systemTerm
    Executive is elected separately from the legislature
  • Semi-presidential systemTerm
    Shares power between a president and a prime minister
  • Unitary stateTerm
    Power concentrated in a central government
  • Federal systemTerm
    Power divided between national and regional governments
  • ConfederationTerm
    A loose league of independent states
  • Bicameral legislatureTerm
    A legislature with two chambers
  • Proportional representationTerm
    Seats awarded in proportion to votes
  • Plurality systemTerm
    The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority
  • Majority systemTerm
    Winner needs more than half of votes
  • Duverger's lawTerm
    Plurality systems tend toward two parties
  • Coalition governmentTerm
    Several parties share power
  • Vote of no confidenceTerm
    Legislature's vote to remove a government
  • Political partyTerm
    Group that organizes to win elections
  • Interest groupTerm
    Organization seeking to influence policy
  • Civil societyTerm
    Voluntary associations outside government and business
  • Political cultureTerm
    Shared attitudes about politics
  • Political socializationTerm
    How people acquire political beliefs
  • Civil libertiesTerm
    Freedoms protected from government interference
  • Civil rightsTerm
    Guarantees of equal treatment
  • Rule of lawTerm
    Everyone, including officials, is subject to the law
  • Judicial independenceTerm
    Courts free from political pressure
  • ConstitutionalismTerm
    Government limited by a constitution
  • BureaucracyTerm
    Appointed officials carrying out policy
  • PatronageTerm
    Rewarding supporters with jobs or favors
  • CorruptionTerm
    Misuse of public office for private gain
  • ClientelismTerm
    Exchanging benefits for political support
  • Public policyTerm
    Government decisions and actions on public problems
  • Public goodTerm
    A good available to all, like national defense
  • Collective action problemTerm
    Individuals benefit from a shared effort without contributing
  • Rational choice theoryTerm
    People act to maximize their own benefit
  • Median voter theoremTerm
    Parties move toward the center to win the median voter
  • RealismTerm
    International relations theory: states seek power in an anarchic world
  • Liberalism in IRTerm
    Cooperation and institutions can produce peace
  • ConstructivismTerm
    Ideas and identities shape international politics
  • Anarchic international systemTerm
    No higher authority above states
  • Balance of powerTerm
    States counter strong rivals to prevent domination
  • HegemonyTerm
    Dominance of one state over others
  • Soft powerTerm
    Influence through attraction and culture, not force
  • Hard powerTerm
    Influence through military or economic force
  • DeterrenceTerm
    Preventing attack by threatening retaliation
  • Security dilemmaTerm
    One state's defense measures make others feel less secure
  • Collective securityTerm
    States agree to respond together to aggression
  • AllianceTerm
    Formal agreement for mutual support
  • TreatyTerm
    Binding agreement between states
  • SanctionsTerm
    Penalties used to pressure a country
  • International organizationTerm
    Group of states or bodies cooperating, such as the UN
  • Nongovernmental organizationTerm
    Private group working on public issues across borders
  • Human rightsTerm
    Rights belonging to all people
  • GlobalizationTerm
    Increasing connection of economies, cultures and politics
  • DiplomacyTerm
    Managing relations between states by negotiation
  • Foreign aidTerm
    Assistance given by one country to another
  • RevolutionTerm
    Fundamental change of a political system, often rapid
  • CoupTerm
    Sudden seizure of power by a small group
  • Failed stateTerm
    A state unable to provide basic order and services
  • DemocratizationTerm
    Process of becoming more democratic
  • Political efficacyTerm
    Belief that one's participation matters
  • TurnoutTerm
    Share of eligible citizens who vote
  • GerrymanderingTerm
    Drawing district lines to benefit a party or group
  • ReferendumTerm
    Direct popular vote on a question
  • InitiativeTerm
    Citizens propose laws by petition
  • RecallTerm
    Voters remove an official before the term ends
  • Federalism and subsidiarityTerm
    Decisions made at the lowest level able to handle them
  • Comparative politicsTerm
    Comparing political systems across countries

Download this deck

Want paper cards? Paste the plain-text download into the flashcard maker.