POLS 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Supreme Court Act, Constitution Act, 1982, Liberal Democracy
Document Summary
Politics: greek: to influence, refers to the practise of choosing a government or elections, struggle for power in the purest form, canadians like democracy, but hate politics, yet free and fair elections are required for democracy. Power: ability to influence what happens brooks, compliance comes through: Authority: recognition that command comes from someone who is in a position of power: not only political. The state: government can be corrupt, or wasteful but it does not call into question the legitimacy of the state, three main characteristics. Complex set of institutions that hold power (courts, legislature, police) Authority to use power: power and the state. Controlled by wealthy minority of maintaining economic dominance. State is oppressive and/or regressive, but target is not class or economics, but race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual preference. Ancient greece, every citizen goes themselves to vote on legislation. American ballot: long with many questions about legislature.