Mod 1: Politics

• Politics as Public Interest


  The conduct and management of public interest; relates to anything that concerns people in general (such as laws, welfare and safety)
• Politicsas Compromise and Consensus


  Attempts to resolve conflict through discussion, compromise, bargaining, and consensus, wherein people arrive at a binding decision
• Politics as Power


  Involves the use of authority and influence to advance interest, perform functions in the state, or distribute resources
• Politics as the Art of Government


  Concerns the structure, function, process, and practice of the government; how leaders perform their vital roles in the society
• Politics


  Defined as the activities and affairs of the state and government; it is a social activity associated with the practice of government, search for conflict resolution, administration of public affairs, and assumption of power or authority
• Aristotle stated that "man is by nature a political animal"
• Natural Science


  Deals with the natural and physical world. Includes disciplines such as biology, physics, and chemistry
• Social Science


  Deals with the people, relationships, and society. Includes disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, and political science
• Political Science


  Systematic study of the state and government; a social science that deals with the theory and practice of government in the local, national, and international levels
• Government


  A body of people that performs administrative duties such as making collective decisions and enforcing rules to serve the general interest or will of the state
• Functions of the Government


  • Constituent Function - maintenance of order and security of the state by crafting and enforcing rules or laws
  • Ministrant Function - promotion of welfare of the state by providing projects such as public works and public education
• Basic Structure of Government

  • Legislative Branch
  • Executive Branch
  • Judicial Branch
• De Jure or Legitimate Government


  Refers to the status achieved when the government is established according to the constitution of a state, and is officially recognized by the other states
• De Facto or Illegitimate Government


  Refers to the status achieved when the government is not established according to the constitution of a state, and is not officially recognized by the other states
• De Jure or Legitimate Government


  Government established according to the constitution of a state, and is officially recognized by the other states
• De Facto or Illegitimate Government


  Government established by force and other unconstitutional methods such as revolution, secession, and conquest
• Forms of Government (According to the Number of Rulers)


  • Monarchy
  • Aristocracy
  • Democracy
• Monarchy


  Government in which the power is vested in a single person (the monarch) who has divine and hereditary rights to rule as head of state
• Absolute Monarchy


  • Power of the monarch is boundless or not restricted by any law
• Constitutional Monarchy


  • Power is limited because of the constitution/charters
• Aristocracy


  Government in which power is vested in a class or persons who are believed to be superior and best qualified to rule
• Democracy


  Government in which power is vested on the people
• Direct Democracy


  • People directly participate in all government processes such as the creation of law and making decisions for the state
• Indirect/Representative Democracy


  • People give authority and power through election to representatives that will serve the interest of the state
• Presidential


  Form of government that applies the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, in which the executive branch exists separately from the legislature
• Parliamentary


  Form of government that applies the Doctrine of Fusion of Powers, in which the members of an executive branch are nominated to their positions by a legislature called parliament
• Head of the State


  Public representative of the country who usually has few or no real political powers
• Head of the Government


  Holds political power such as administration of the government
• Unitary Government


  Form of government in which the governmental powers are concentrated on the national government; only minimal power is granted on the local governments
• Federal Government


  Form of government in which the governmental powers are shared by the local government and the national government
• Authoritarianism


  Form of government which requires obedience to the government and limits dissent by minimizing political and personal liberties
• Totalitarianism


  Extreme form of authoritarianism; form of government that tries to control all aspects of private and public life