1 Foundations of Political Science Free Online FlashCards

What is politics?

Politics is the process through which people make collective decisions, resolve conflicts, and distribute resources, rights, and responsibilities.

What does political science study?

Political science systematically studies political institutions, behavior, ideas, and outcomes using empirical methods.

What is power in politics?

Power is the capacity to influence decisions or shape what other people can do.

What is coercive power?

Coercive power influences behavior through force or penalties, such as fining people who violate a regulation.

What distinguishes authority from power?

Authority is power understood as a recognized or claimed right to make decisions and issue rules within a particular sphere.

What does descriptive legitimacy measure?

Descriptive legitimacy concerns people’s beliefs that a ruler or political order has a right to govern.

What is a state?

A state is a political organization that claims authority over a population and territory.

How does a government differ from a state?

A government is the set of institutions and officeholders currently exercising state power; it can change while the state persists.

What is a nation, and how can it differ from a state?

A nation is a community whose members share a sense of identity, often connected to history, culture, or language; it is not necessarily a state.

What is a political regime?

A regime is the durable set of rules and institutions that organizes access to political power and governs how it is exercised.

What does de facto authority mean?

De facto authority is accepted or obeyed in practice, whether or not it is morally justified.

What does normative legitimacy ask?

Normative legitimacy asks whether the exercise of political power is justified, for example by fair procedures or respect for rights.