This document contains instructions and content for a POL 205 political science course. It includes questions for students to answer about what they like/dislike/would change about the US government. It also defines key political science terms like politics, power, government, and different forms of government like democracy and authoritarianism. It discusses different economic systems from laissez-faire to socialism and different types of democracies from elite to participatory.

1. POL 205
Fall 2018

4. INSTRUCTIONS:
On a separate sheet of paper,
write down your answers to the following questions:
What do you LIKE about our government?
What do you DISLIKE about our government?
What would you CHANGE about our government?

7. What words, concepts, ideas, etc. come to mind
when you see the following words?
“politics”
“politicians”
“power”

9. Why is politics an important topic to study?

10. Why is the national government
an important topic to study?

11.  Many definitions of politics:
 Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how”
 Characteristics of Politics:
 (1) Power
 (2) Decision Making
 Political scientists study power in political
communities.

15.  Power:
 Ability to influence others or impose will on them
 HowTo Know ifYou Have Power?
 Personal Relationships
 Influence

19. POLITICS
 Process or activity through
which power and resources
are gained and lost
GOVERNMENT
 System or organization
for exercising authority
over a body of people

21.  How we get the things we want in politics
 Peaceful elections or violent revolutions
 Who decides on the rules is important.
 Rule by elite (Aristocracy)
 Rule by wealthy (Plutocracy)
 Rule by royalty (Monarchy)
 Rule by people (Democracy)

22.  Organizations where govt. power is
exercised
 Constitution defines institutions of govt.
 Different arrangements in other countries
 Parliament, Ruler, or Council
 Goal: Prosperous political environment

24. POLITICS
 Concerned with
distribution of power
and resources in society
ECONOMICS
 Concerned with production
and distribution of goods

26.  Means of production (land, labor, etc.)
are privately owned
 Decisions are left to individuals
▪ Supply and Demand
 Government interference is small

27. LAISSEZ-FAIRE
 “Let people do as they wish”
 Government has no
economic role
REGULATED
 Government can step in
and regulate economy to
safeguard rights

28. SOCIALISM
 Economic decisions made by
politicians using judgment.
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY
 Middle ground between
capitalism and socialism
 Equality through gradual
democratization rather than
revolutionNorth Korea and Cuba can be considered
modern examples of Socialist governments.

31.  State has ultimate power
 Various Forms:
 Monarchy—Rule by Individual
 Theocracy—Rule by Religion
 Fascist—Rule by State
 Totalitarian System
▪ Authoritarian Govt. and Socialist Economy

32.  Anarchy
 Democracy
 Elite Democracy
▪ Government run by elites in various fields
 Pluralist Democracy
▪ Emphasis on group membership
 Participatory Democracy
▪ Individuals have right to participate in government

35. PEOPLE AS SUBJECTS
 Authoritarian Systems
 Submission to Government
Authority
 No Rights or Freedoms
 Obligations to State
PEOPLE AS CITIZENS
 Democratic Systems
 Members of community
with rights and
responsibilities
 Characteristics:
 Power from People
 People Sovereign
 Consent of Governed
 Government  PublicWill

38. Democracy
began in
Athens,
Greece.
The “Divine Right of
Kings” during the
Middle Ages
The Enlightenment
centered on all the
above values.
Luther was
influential
during the
Reformation