Winter 2011 - Prof. Szala - POLS 1150 Course Notes
Chapter 1: Studying Politics
Political Studies: Formal study of politics with and among nations
Conflict Resolution: Process in domestic or international affairs where antagonism is sought to
be reconciled through the use of mediation and negotiation
Conflict: Differences in preferred outcomes among social groups
Socialization: Process whereby individuals act in a social manner; creation of social and political
authority and rules to regulate behaviour so as to permit operation of social units
Decision-Making: Mechanism or pattern of relations involving different levels of government
where determinations and judgments regarding the governance of political systems are made;
Also known as the “black box”
Public Goods: Resources that are present in a political system where use by one individual
should not affect use by others; including social welfare, money, protect from attack, etc.
Liberal Democracy:Apolitical system based on freedom based on freedom & individual liberty,
and on the principle that governance requires the assent of all citizens through participation
through the electoral process, articulation of views, and direct or indirect representation in
governing institutions- *more political freedom
Authoritarianism:Political system requiring absolute obedience to a constituted authority- *less
political freedom
17 century: Philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that without society and political authority,
people would be in “a state of nature”– “everyone for themselves” frame of mind- life would be
solitary, poor, nasty, brutish & short
Critical thought is a response to arguments, positions, evidence, experience & observations with
considered opinions about a proper course of action
Politics: Is a response to the natural tendency among human beings to come together & create
larger, organized groups, seeking a way to allocate the benefits & responsibilities that accompany
the social unit
Policies, laws, regulations & rules guide/shape society
Only humans possess ‘logos’- language & reason (Greek)
Social Sciences: The scientific study of human society & social relationships
Political science reflects the emphasis on social science methodologies that were popularized in
the post- WW2 era
AnalyticalApproach: Perspective that views politics as an empirical discipline (one that can be
observed) rather than a science; politics cannot be broken down into parts, but must be seen
comprehensively- *Most common & oldest approach
Empirical: Analysis based not on concepts and theory, but on what can be observed or
experimented on- *The analytical approach sees politics as an empirical discipline
TraditionalApproach: Method in politics drawing heavily on fields of law, philosophy and
history that relies on subjective evaluation of the observer- *AKA the analytical approach …?
Any observer of political activity will have his/her own views & bias
Behaviouralism: Perspective that concentrates on the “tangible” aspects of political life, rather
than values; the plan was to establish a discipline that was scientific & objective
The “Space Race”: After the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 1, governments &
universities put more money and time into science than things such as political studies
Political Science Research: Includes testing, making a hypothesis, conceptual development,
comparison and falsification
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Post-Behaviourism:Approach that attempted to reconcile the problems encountered by
behaviouralism by allowing for values &ideology in its analysis
Structural-Functionalism: Approach that focuses on the role of political structures and their
functions in society, such as legislature, bureaucracy, judiciary
Systems Theory:Approach that views politics as a system of interaction binding political
structures such as government to individual action; argues that politics is a dynamic process of
information flows & responses that encompasses political institutions, groups, and individuals-
try to understand decisions & reactions of people
Political Economy:Approach that views political & economic spheres as harmonious and
mutually dependent perceptions of the world; relationship between people, government, and the
economy- main concern was power & wealth
ComparativeApproach: Method of political analysis that compares different systems of political
authority based on system type, time period, or form of leadership
Levels of Analysis: Approach to political studies that suggests that accurate analysis must be
inclusive of international, domestic, and individual areas of interaction
Behaviouralism was said to be too focused on science; politics is also about views, opinions &
actions
Major Questions toAsk:
1. What is the political issue at hand?
2. Who is involved?
3. How did the events unfold?
4. Why did the events take place?
5. How was society affected?
Three Main Approaches to these questions:
1. How politics is integral to modern life/directly affect our lives, neighbourhoods,
relationships
2. Comparative approach
3. Levels of analysis
Today’s youth are not less involved politically- That’s a myth
Globalization: The intensification of economic, social, cultural and political relations across
borders- Includes internet & communication
Ethnic & Religious Conflict: War or opposition among different racial, linguistic or religious
groups
Protectionism: Tendency of countries to safeguard their own economic sectors or industries using
tariffs, quotas or other forms of trade/investment legislation
Connection and division influence political change
Domestic Politics: Concerns itself with national governments and individual countries- ex. Our
class is mostly on the Domestic Politics of Canada; where you live highly influences what you
learn
International Politics: Political relations that exist at an international level
Citizenship: Status granted to citizens that comes with responsibilities and duties, as well as
rights; people are entwined with their birth nation or nation of adoption
Approx. 250,000 people become Canadian citizens each year (throughimmigration)
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship:
• Legal rights
• Equality rights
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• Mobility rights
• Aboriginal’s rights
• Freedom of thought
• Freedom of speech
• The right to peaceful assembly
Responsibilities of Canadian Citizenship:
• Obey the law
• Respect rights & freedoms of others
• Preserve Canada’s heritage & environment
Multiculturalism: Where several racial, cultural & ethnic identities co-exist peacefully in one
nation
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FROM LECTURE:
• Cynicism is common, but healthy skepticism leads to better informed citizens
• Politics is a progressive discipline
• Greek politikos: politics, pertaining to civic affairs; The root is polis or city-state
• David Easton: “Process by which values are authoritatively allocated in society.”
• Harold Lasswell: “Who gets what, when, and how.”
• Vladimir Lenin: “Who does what to whom.”
• Mao Tse Tung: “Bloodless war.”
• Bismarck: “The doctrine of the possible”
• Aristotle: “We are political animals”
• The ideas of values, power, relationships, and action.
• Politics is part of the social sciences
• Politics helps us organize ourselves
• Politics allows for distribution of benefits and wealth, and public goods
•
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Chapter 2: Political Concepts
Concept: General idea emerging from an instance or event
Order: Condition in which both units & interaction within a political system are marked by
regularity & stability with the imposition of accepted & enforced rules, practices & structures
• One of the basic preconditions for civilization is order
• It’s difficult to establish order without sacrificing other desired conditions
• Political order is the collection of rules, laws, norms, customs & conventions that delimit
& hold together a society
System:Agroup of individual entities or actors that interact with each other to form an integrated
whole
• Systems are connected & organized, representing collective wholes
• Change in one part usually means change in all
• Apolitical system is a series of many political structures that work together to drive the
politics of social interaction
Organizations: Structured relations existing within a political community that are established to
distribute both the responsibilities & the privileges that arise from formal association with others
• May range from political parties, to interest groups, to private groups that allocate
resources
• Can be local/national/international
• Can be public/private
• Can be based on politics, economy, religion, ethnicity, knowledge, culture
Institutions:Groupings that have developed & are to attend to particular needs for society
• International level: United Nations
• National level: Courts
• Strong institutions are durable, transparent, autonomous & accountable
• Weak institutions often contribute to political instability, corruption & underdevelopment
State: Arecognized political unit, considered to be sovereign, with a defined territory & people
& a central government responsible for administration
• Astate is distinguished from the gov’t of a country by its more permanent nature
• State & institutions generally remain constant
Nation: Agroup of persons who share an identity that is based on, but not limited to, shared
ethnic, religious, cultural or linguistic qualities
• People of a nation are part of largely unacquainted groups, they just share characteristics
that bring them together
• People who share a sense of identity
Nov. 2007: House of Commons recognized Quebec as its own nation within Canada
Sovereignty: Recognition by other political authorities that a government is legitimate and
rightful for a political economy
• An attribute that is solely held by states
• Allows a state to be in absolute control of its territory
Power: Ability to achieve goals in a political system& to have others do as you wish them to
• Dynamic power—Active, ex. The waging of war
• Static power—Passive, ex. Power seen as a measure of status in society
• Hard power—The ability to provide incentives & punishments in order to get what you
want
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• Soft power—Ideology, culture, media, ideas
• Relational power—Getting someone to do something they wouldn’t normally do
• Structural power—The ability to change social/political/legal environments for others
Influence: The ability to change behaviour in others without exerting direct power over them
Authority: The power or right to force obedience
Joseph Stalin—Controlled the Soviet Union from 1924-53 by using propaganda to build up his
cult of personality
• TraditionalAuthority—when power is passed down through generations
• Rational-LegalAuthority—derived from the acceptance/respect of laws/norms/rules
• CharismaticAuthority—The person rules because of specific qualities they have
Leadership: Group of individuals that lead society
Charisma examples: Bill Clinton,Adolf Hitler
Legitimacy: What is lawful, appropriate, proper, and conforms to the standards of a political
system
Laws: Rules imposed on society by the governing authority
• Enforced by threat of punishment by organized authorities
• Also provide incentives to do good or to rebel
Legislation: Laws enacted by governing authority
Policy: Laws or principles of performance adopted by a government
Policy in general, is a coordinated plan of action designed to achieve a predetermined set of
goals
Equality: Parity in a political system
Political Equality: The right to participate in politics
Social Equality: Equal status – ex. Suffragette movement
Economic Equality: Distribution of benefits
Social Order: Recognized structure of power, responsibility & liberty
Absence of chaos
Recognized structure of power/liberty/responsibility
Security: Freedom from danger or injury
We take for granted
International security; terrorists
Progress:Advancement in society towards a better & improved state of affairs; an integral part of
liberal political theory
Justice: State of affairs involving the maintenance of what is morally right & fair
Ajust system- the pursuit of equitable aspirations
Most commonly associated with legal affairs
Social Justice: An equitable distribution of goods & values in society
The principles we structure our society upon
Economic Justice:The redistribution of economic resources from certain groups in society to
others
In a country/region/globally
Liberty: Freedom from despotic control
Freedom: Ability to act without constraint
Areas of action that aren’t prohibited in law
Rights/freedoms act
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Negative Liberty: Areas of activity in which governments do not interfere, where an individual is
free to choose
Example:Aperson’s own choice of how they live their life
Rights: Socially acceptable, morally correct, just & fair privileges granted to members of a
political community
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights- ex. To be free from slavery
Positive Liberty: Freedom to achieve one’s full potential
Licence: Unlimited freedom to do as one pleases
Duties: Responsibilities to protect rights
Community: Social, political, cultural &economicties that bind individuals to one another
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Chapter 3: Political Thought, Philosophy & Ideology
Ideology: Set or system of ideas that form the basis of a political or economic system & provide
guidance & direction for political leadership
Images Attitudes Values Beliefs Ideology
Philosophy: Study of questions about existence & knowledge, ethics, justice & morality based on
logical reasoning rather than observation
Comes from Greek word meaning “love of knowledge”
Plato: Ideas about the role of gov’t & good society, a just society & a search for true knowledge
& good
Political Philosophy:An endeavor to understand the meaning of political life across the spectrum
of human experience
Analyzing what happens in politics & what can be improved
Utopian: Idealized place or system; an ideally perfect society; impractical perfection
Social Constructivism: Asociological & political meta-theory that explains the interactions
between individual agents, their social groupings, & their environment
Marx: Says that society can be improved by analyzing the social/economic/political conditions
that have prevailed human society throughout history
Political Realism:An approach to politics that emphasizes power & interests over ideas or social
constructions
Niccolo Machiavelli’s theory, which stated that there should be a definite separation from
morality in politics
Values: Principles, standards; what an individual or community esteems as meaningful
Self-Determination: Ability to act in free choice without external compulsion
General Will: The will of the community as a whole
To reflect the people’s wills, true interests, & what is good for them
Particular Will: The will of the individual; as expressed by Rousseau
Not in harmony with general will; domination of self-desires & passion
Democracy: Political system based on the principle that governance requires the assent of all
citizens through participation in the electoral process, articulation of views, and direct or indirect
representation of governing institutions
Each individual exercises the right to self-determination
Invisible Hand: Adam Smith’s notion that economic forces left on their own would lead to
maximize efficiency & economic growth over time as they engage in competition against each
other; benefits to society as a whole exist without political interference
Toleration: The acceptance or protection of individuals, groups, & types of behaviours that may
be disapproved of by the majority of society
Bourgeois:According to socialists such as Marx, the property-owning class that exploits the
working (proletariat) class
Materialist: Understanding the economical & physical basis for society (in Marxism)
Dialectics:Where ideas & thoughts throughout history come up against each other, and, from the
class of ideas/economic processes, a new reality is born (in Marxism)
Sustainable Development: Model of economic growth that seeks to use renewable resources so
as not to destroy the environment in which we have to live
Recycling, re-using, cutting down, new inventions
Propaganda: Spreading of information, true or otherwise, for the purpose of aiding a cause or to
make an audience react in a certain way
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Caliphate: Government inspired by Islam that rules over its subjects using Islamic law
Sharia Law: Sacred law of Islam
Jihad: (two meanings)
1) Amoral struggle/ a struggle for righteousness
2) Aform of holy war
ISM’S
Capitalism: Economic system where production & distribution of goods relies on private capital
& investment
System that rewards competitiveness & efficiency
Communism: Apolitical theory based on writings of Marx & Engels, that adopts class conflict to
form a system where all property is publicly owned & each citizen works to his or her own best
ability & is compensated equitably
Utilitarianism: Abranch of political thought that states that the worth of a particular action is
determined by its contribution to overall utility, meaning the balance of happiness & unhappiness
in society
Liberalism: Calls for equal rights & freedoms for all human individuals
• Progress
• Rights/freedoms – LIBERTY
• Self-determination
Nationalism:
• Seeks the separation of nations from eachother
• Seeks to protect political institutions & mechanisms that ensure that nations are
prosperous
• Most common: Demands by certain groups for independence & sovereignty; ex. Quebec
Socialism:
• Bourgeious vs. Proletariot
• Marx
• Humans are simply a part of society
• Everyone deserves equal treatment no matter what
• Attacks capitalism due to horrific factory and work life and living conditions due to it
Conservatism: Cautious, resistant to change in favour of established methods & lifestyles
• Society is absolutely crucial to human development—MAIN difference to liberalism
• Society is hierarchal in nature
• Some preform more important functions in society than others
• Traditions & customs
• Social classes
Feminism: EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
• Jobs
• Voting
• Suffragette movement
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Environmentalism: THE GREEN MOVEMENT\
• Sustainable development
• Arose in 1980s
• Destruction of the biosphere is imminent unless we create change
Islamic Fundamentalism: Religious movements advocating a return to the “fundamentals” of
Islamic religious text
Fascism:
• Nations should be organized with one leader who has absolute authority & makes all
decisions
• This leader represents the will of the people 1 --Structure of the state is
hierarchal
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Chapter 4: The Role of Government
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT:
1) To provide necessary security for its citizens
2) Concerns of welfare of citizens: Social conditions, opportunities & benefits
Sovereignty: Recognition by other political authorities that a government is legitimate & rightful
for a political community
Laissez-Faire: “To let be”—Economic theory that suggests that a reduction in political control
would benefit the economic system
A“free market” system
Citizens could strive for their own pursuits
Would allow competition, persistence & self-interest
Capitalistic**
Libertarianism: Ideology based on freedom of speech, action & thought; the role of government
should be limited
Liberal Democracy:
1) Equality of political rights: Every member of society may participate in political events
2) Political Participation: Distributes responsibilities among the ruling + others such as Interest
groups
3) Majority Rule: Recognizes that all votes are held equally, & the majority of votes governs
4)Political Freedom: Citizens don’t have to participate but can if they choose to; CHOICE.
Constitution: Sets out basic law for the country, outlines rights, & outlines the mechanisms of
gov’t
Canadian Constitution: ^ Does this, is composed of ConstitutionActs of 1867 & 1982 +
unwritten amendments & constitution elements
Monarchy: Form of government with monarch as head of state
Theocracy: Political system ruled by religious leaders
Aristocracy: Political system ruled by a hierarchical elite
Despot: Political leader who rules with absolute power & authority
Junta: Military government, usually a dictatorship
Authoritarianism:Political system requiring absolute obedience to a constituted authority
Common in many countries
Driven by powerful, wealthy elites
Totalitarianism: Authoritarian political system that not only controls most social interaction, but
is also marked by a desire by the government to force its objectives & values on citizens in an
unlimited manner
Authoritarian + an emphasis on ideology
Control most social interaction, & desire to force gov’t objectives & values upon all citizens,
unlimitedly
INTENSE.
Transitional Government:Political system in which the move from authoritarianism to liberal
democracy results in elements of both, with a gradual change towards democracy
GOVERNMENT IN CANADA
• Canada’s a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY : British monarch grants ultimate
authority to head of state
• Also a LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
• Prime Minister heads Canadian gov’t
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• Governor General represents the monarch within Canada
• Each province has a Lieutenant Governor, but not Territories
• Territories each have a Commissioner (represents the federal gov’t instead of the
monarch)
• Canada’s also a PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY- the legislature (federal parliament)
has elected members (House of Commons)
• Senate is not elected; Governor General, with advice from Prime Minister, appoints
members
• Capitalist economy with large gov’t involvement
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Chapter 5: Branches of Government
Government:The institutions and people responsible for carrying out the affairs and
administration of a political system
The Crown: Queen, Governor General, Lieutenant Governors
Member of Parliament:Representative of voters in a parliamentary system
Cabinet:Members of the executive level of government responsible for decision-making &
administration of the bureaucracy
Cronyism:In politics, the practice of choosing or preferring friends or associates
Nepotism: The practice of choosing or preferring relatives
Opposition: One or more parties that are not part of government but keep the ruling power of the
elected party on their toes
They vocally, constantly keep the ruling party in check even though they have no real power
Electorate: People in a political system with the right to vote in elections; enfranchised citizens
Bureaucrats: Those responsible for carrying out public policy; public employees
Gov’ts make laws, oppositions criticize & look for improvements, judges interpret & advise, &
bureaucrats implement
Executive: Usually the top level of government, or the leader; maintains leadership of the entire
political system, and often reflects the leadership & preoccupation of the dominant political party
Legislative: Referring to a body of a political system with the responsibility to make laws,
known as the legislature
Judiciary: Courts level of governance
Review, interpret, arbitrate (settle/determine)
Congress: Legislative chamber of government in the United States
Separation of Powers: Division of powers among several institutions in government, (ex.
Legislature/executive) to avoid concentration of authority
Fusion of Powers: Political system where legislature & executive powers are combined, though
specific powers may be granted to each level
Political Culture: Set of attitudes, beliefs & values that undermine any political system
Question Period: Time allotted in the House of Commons for members of the house to ask
questions to the Prime Minister or Cabinet Ministers
Shouting match, 45 minutes
Ministerial Responsibility:Principle in parliamentary systems that requires members of the
political executive, both individually & as a group, to remain accountable to the legislature
Westminster System: British model of parliamentary representative government
Caucus: Group of elected representatives, usually based on party membership, but which also
may be grouped by race, gender, geographic representation, etc.
Legitimation:Providing legitimacy or legal force/status to political decisions; in accordance with
established or accepted standards & patterns
Bicameral: Legislative or parliamentary body with 2 assemblies ex. Canada’s Senate & House of
Commons
Unicameral: Legislative or parliamentary body with 1 assembly
Representative Democracy: Political system in which voters elect others to act on their behalf
Common Law: Legal system where decisions are made on the basis of precedent, case law, or
previous decisions
Civil Law: Legal system where legislative bodies enact laws through statutes, ordinances, &
regulations
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Veto: The blocking of/ refusal to endorse a decision
Checks & Balances: System of inspection & evaluation of different levels & branches of
governments by others
Federalism: Form of governance that divides powers between the central government & regional
governments; often, particular roles & capacities are given to regional governments
Confederalism:Political system of divided powers where added power is given to the non-central
governments, & limited authority & power is conferred to the central government
Patriation/Repatriation: Process of transferring power from one government to another
LEGISLATURE
• USAlegislature is Congress- Splits power between legislative (congress) & executive
(President)
• Canada legislature is Parliament- Mixed system legislature
• British legislature is the Westminster model- Sovereignty/supremacy (legislative branch
is most powerful)
• Set out laws
• Control/scrutinize/audit the executive & the bureaucracies
• Control gov’t budgets
− Charter of Rights & Freedoms- 1982, Repatriation
− Canada practices common laws
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Chapter 6: Political Systems
Decentralization: Process where power & authority is taken from the central government &
conferred to non-central (ex. State, regional, provincial) governments
This divides power & responsibility among the land so that power isn’t just in a small group of
hands
DelegatedAuthority: Situation where some powers may be given to sub-national authorities by
the national government in a unitary system
Federalism:Guaranteeing certain rights & responsibilities to certain areas of gov’t
Confederalism: Giving most of the power to additional gov’ts and giving a limited amount to the
centralCanada doesn’t really count because the majority of power is still in Ottawa**
Unitary Systems: Political systems that concentrate political powers and authority within one
central government, which is singularly responsible for the activities of the political unit, both
domestic & foreign
Criticisms:
1) Less democratic because they don’t fulfill the wishes of other sections
2) One central gov’t couldn’t possibly be in touch with alllll the citizens of the state
3) The gov’t itself doesn’t reflect cultural diversity
Solution: DEVOLUTION.
Devolution: Political systems where some authority is given to regional governments, but the
power to oversee, dismiss, or entrench these authorities is still held by the central government
Reserved Matters: Powers not given to the Northern IrelandAssembly, that may be transferred to
the region at a later date
Excepted Matters: Powers not given to the Northern IrelandAssembly, that will remain
permanently under the control of the central Government in Westminster
Lander: “States” in German
Concurrent Powers: When control is shared between provincial & federal levels of governments
Peace, Order, & Good Government (POGG): Clause in the Canadian constitution that specifies
that powers given to the provinces are reserved for the federal government
Reservation: When provincial legislation is put up for consideration by the federal cabinet
Disallowance: When provincial legislation is rejected or vetoed by the federal cabinet
Declaratory Power: Federal government power to take control of any local project if it decides
that this would be for the greater National good
Centralized Federalism: Process where federal gov’t increases its power relative to the provinces
Cooperative Federalism:Cooperation & coordination of policy between federal & provincial
levels
Executive Federalism: Agenerally conflictive relationship between the provinces & the federal
gov’t when provinces attempt (often successfully) to achieve greater autonomy from the federal
gov’t, which resists such attempts
Conditional Grants: Funds given to provincial authorities but with controls & conditions on how
the money can be spent
Equalization Payments: Compensation given to more needy regions in a political system in order
to create a general state of parity
Transfer Payments: Funds given by the federal gov’t to provincial gov’ts on a conditional or
unconditional basis
Unconditional Grants: Payments from the federal gov’t that may be spent by the provinces in any
way they see fit
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FEDERAL
Responsible for:
-Trade & commerce
-Indian reserves
-Fishing & coastal
-Taxation
-Unemployment
-Military
-Census & statistics
PROVINCIAL
Responsible for:
-Hospitals
-Asylums
-Charities
-Education
-Prisons
-Property/civil rights
SHARED
-Agriculture
-Immigration
-Old age pensions
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Chapter 7: Political Participation; Elections & Parties
Socialization: Process where individuals act in a social manner; the creation of social & political
authority and rules to regulate behaviour so as to permit operation of social units
Participation in a social unit is a product of how we are socialized
Direct Democracy: Political system in which citizens are directly involved in the decision-
making process
Indirect/Representative Democracy:Political system of representation in which citizens elect
delegates to act on their behalf
Election: Aform of choosing governors where individual citizens cast their vote for candidates
running for office
Suffrage: Granting of the right to vote
Independents: Candidates for office belonging to no political party
Constituencies: Territorial or geographical localities (ridings) represented by a political chosen
through the electoral process
Enumeration: The process of determining the number of individuals eligible to vote in a
constituency
Rotten Boroughs: In Britain, areas with very small populations & electorates that were given
equal standing with normal-sized constituencies
Pocket Boroughs: In Britain, areas where very small electorates were controlled by (or in the
pocket of) the major local landowner
Gerrymandering: Controversial method of grouping together, or dividing, groups of voters in
order to maximize or reduce their power—Ex. Ethnic minorities – Highly controversial
VoterApathy: Condition in which individuals do not vote, or do not follow the election process,
because they believe elections do not affect or influence them, or that they themselves will have
little influence over outcomes anyway
Ballot: Card used to cast a vote
Suffragette: Female advocate of women’s right to vote
Voter Turnout: Number of voters who show up to the polls on Election Day
In some countries if over ½ show up it’s considered a GOOD turnout
Education & awareness can change this
All people +18 in Canada can vote, including the mentally ill & prisoners. But many don’t.
Compulsory Voting: System in which citizens have a legal obligation to vote in elections—ex.
Brazil, Australia, Turkey
Election Platforms: Positions of political parties or individuals regarding issues and political
intentions
Simple Plurality (First-past-the-post): Electoral system where the winner receives the most (but
not necessarily a majority) of votes
Minority Government: Government by party that received the most votes, but not exactly the
majority of votes, in an election—Simply the result of how many parties are involved.
Run-Off System (Two-Round System):Aform of electoral system in which a first round of
voting takes place & the two (or three) candidates receiving the most votes pass to a second
round of voting to determine an outright winner
Proportional Representation:Electoral system in which seats are designated according to the
party’s popular vote; used in countries as a whole in order to institute proportions between votes
allotted for all the parties
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Party List: Voting system in which voters in multi-member constituencies choose from a list of
candidates; parties are rewarded with a percentage of the seats available in each constituency
Single Transferable Vote (SFV): Voting system in which voters cast their ballot in multi-member
constituencies, expressing their 1 & 2 choice for candidates; the people who get sufficient votes
from the 1 round are elected; however 2 choices may be transferred & counted if all seats are
not filled in 1 vote
Additional Member: Mix of simple plurality & proportional representation voting; voters elect a
representative & also cast a vote for a political party
Political Party: Organization that seeks to gain & maintain political power
Ideology: Set or system of ideas that form the basis of a political or economic system & provide
guidance & direction for political leadership
One-Party System: Political system in which only 1 political party is allowed to form the
government, or compete in elections
Competitive Party System: Electoral system found in liberal democracies in which political
parties are permitted to compete with one another for support from the electorate
Two-Party System:Competitive party system marked by 2 political parties
Multi-Party System: Competitive party system with more than 2 parties
Cadre Party: Party created & directed by a small elite group; tends to control much power within
legislatures
Mass Party: Party organized in society at large, rather than within a government, that has public
influence through the power of memberships, rather than in the hands of a small minority elite
group
Umbrella Parties: Political parties that cover a wide range of ideologies & beliefs in society, with
the idea of incorporating as many different groups in society as possible
Militia Party: Party system with a centralized leadership system; often having martial leadership;
frequently found in one-party systems
Recruitment Function: Role played by political parties to help bring new voters into the political
process
Attack Ads: Negative/aggressive television & media advertising by one political party or
organization against another
Direct Democracy: Political system in which citizens are directly involved in the decision-
making process
Referendum (Plebiscite): When citizens vote to express their opinions on a particular policy, the
results of which will determine whether or not that policy is adopted by the government
www.uofgexamnetwork.com Winter 2011 - Prof. Szala - POLS 1150 Course Notes
Chapter 8: Political Socialization & Culture
Symbols of Canada: Flag, beaver, maple leaf, national anthem
Political Socialization: The process in which individuals are assimilated into political culture
Ex. Singing the anthem … waving the flag … learning the history … voting
Political Culture: Set of attitudes, beliefs, & values that underpin any political system
Opinion Poll: Investigation of public opinion conducted by interviewing a sample of citizens
Fourth Estate: Media (with the other 3 estates being clergy, nobles & commoners)
Most persuasive
Shows things we wouldn’t normally see, such as Iraq soldiers & inside Parliament
Helps advocate
Follows conflict
Editorial Line: Particular perspective on world events offered by news outlets
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO): Non-profit group organized on a local, national or
international level
TheAnti-Globalization Movement: Protests against things such as the World Bank, multi-
national corporations, the Group of 8, & The World Trade Movement
Interest Groups (Pressure Groups): Groups in a political system that seek to either alter or
maintain the approach of government without taking a formal role in elections or seeking an
official capacity in government
EXAMPLES
-Greenpeace
-National RiflesAssociation
-Commonwealth Fund (improving medi-care in the USA)
PoliticalAction Committees: Conglomerates of several interest g
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