4 year First Term End Exam Reviewer Social Studies I. i.

Nature and Scope of Political Science

th

Politics Derived from the Greek word polis (city-state) Process by which groups of people make decisions ii. Early and Modern Trends of Politics a. Early Trends Middle Ages: o Church Dominated the state Plato o Father of Political Philosophy o Put values (morals) ahead of facts Aristotle o Father of Political Science o man by nature is a political animal o everyone is a politician o Ethics and politics are linked; true ethical living is found in political relationships Jean Bodin o French lawyer/philosopher who coined the term political science Baron de Montesquieu o French philosopher who said that the functions of the government fall under Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary b. Modern Trends Renaissance o Church was overthrown by the interests in Roman and Greek political philosophies Isaac Newton, Rene Descartes o Influenced Modern political scientists through their discoveries and theories Sociology o Its development led political scientists to give more attention to the impact on government of social forces Niccolo Machiavelli o Separated politics and religion Charles Darwin o Exerted a powerful influence to political science through the Theory of Evolution which reinforced the history of political institutions iii. Study Matter of Political Science Political Philosophy o Study of fundamental question about the state, government, politics, property, liberty, rights, law, justice, and the enforcement of a legal code o Every act has an underlying political value o Deals with the ethics in politics Executive Process o Holds the instruments of war and peace o Exercises control over economy o Classifies citizens o Controls departments and agencies in the government

iv.

Judicial/Legislative Process o Creation and implementation of laws Administrative Organization and Behavior o Study of administrators at all levels of the bureaucratic hierarchy Political and Interest Groups o Helps create policy and provides framework for opposition Voting and Public Opinion o The mindset of the public are its attitudes, opinions, and beliefs Comparative Politics o Pretty straightforward, really. Comparing the political systems of different organizations International Politics o Concerned with the output of a political system o Focuses on resources that help explain the differences in the distribution of international power Political Development o Urbanization and its effects o ALL societies are under development Political Theory and Methodology o Theories undergo empirical testing before becoming acknowledged as basis for understanding. o The systems theory and structural functionalism call attention to the various ways in which all societies organize and carry out the political process Uses of Political Science Enables the understanding of society Creates a more tolerant citizen mind Leads to a wider range of job opportunities and investments The State

II. i.

Elements a. People All individuals who inhabit the territory in a permanent way Nationals/foreigners b. Territory Geographical area that is owned and controlled by the government Used to exercise sovereignty c. Government The executive branch of the state Has the role to administer political, social, cultural, environmental, defense, foreign affaris, and natural resourceal processes d. Sovereignty Supreme, independent authority over a territory Sometimes synonymous to Independence ii. Theories of State Origin a. Divine Theory A supreme being appoints power Usually a theocracy (church and state are one) Examples are Egypt, Aztecs, and anyone else who says they are the *insert name of object* King and commands authority because of that (ex. The Sun King, Aiwanasandwych)

b. Social Contract Leaders are given power by the people Involves democracy A contract between the leader and people is made when he is elected: the leader will rule justly while the people will obey c. d. e. f. g. Force Power = authority Invasion, colonization through war, etc. Natural The state grows from a single group, branching into other departments Likened to a living organism Patriarchal A social system where man dominates woman (hence Patriarchal, from latin Pater meaning father) Instinctive Rationality > morality type of system Mans instinct to survive manifests itself through his political actions Economic The state was a result of the need for an economic hub. A place where countries can trade and share their resources

III. Government 1) Classifications Of Government a. Monarchy Single-ruler system where leaders are appointed by birth-right 2 types o 1.Absolute The monarch (ruler) has full power o 2. Limited/Constitutional A government where a monarch agrees to share power with a parliament b. Dictatorship Single-ruler system where people get little or no freedom Usually follows the Force theory Fascism, Theocracy, Communism = Dictators o Benito Mussolini (fascist dictator in WW2) everything for the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state o Authoritarianism Extremely limited freedom o Totalitarian Government uses an ideology to control the entire state c. Democracy Derived from Greek demos meaning people and kratos meaning rule Follows the Constitution, the rule of the land o Majority Rule power of the people o Minority Rights candidates get peoples support for voting Democracy only works when o Citizens have an active participation in the government o You have Suffrage, or elections o Political Parties, which are candidates running with each other, exist

Interest Groups (kinda like Political Parties, except for the running part) try to influence the government

d. Presidential vs. Parliamentary

Executive power Period of Office Position Powers Presidential Single president elected by popular vote Fixed period of time by the Constitution The Pres appoints the cabinet members Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary Parliamentary Prime minister and his/her cabinet Remain in office so long as they have the confidence and support of the parliamentary majority The PM and cabinet members are removable by a noconfidence vote Execu-Legislative, Judiciary

IV.

Things not in the coverage, but you may want to read up just in case they suddenly appear out of nowhere in the test Aristocracy o Derived from greek aristo meaning best o Rule of the best o An expanded Monarchy where several dynasties rule Oligarchy o Kinda like Aristocracy, but one must have power/ wealth to rule Ideologies o The ideals used by totalitarians 1. Marxism Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels Workers > everyone e;se 2. Nazism Guess who Belief in the supremacy of the Aryan race Classification according to distribution of power o 1. Unitary 1 central government o 2. Federal Many local governments, 1 central government to represent them all The local governments are independent, meaning they have their own laws, are sometimes self-sustaining, etc. o 3. Confederation Complete opposite of a unitary government, with local governments having most of the power Happens a lot when several sovereign states move under a single goal