Political Science – Exam questions

1. The origins of the word “Politics”

The origins of the word "Politics" The word "Politics" comes from the Ancient Greek word "polis". It means "city-state". In Ancient Greece, there were many city-states. Each of them had their own government systems.

The word "Politics" means "what concerns the state".

2. What is “polity” by Aristotle?

Polity is, to put it simply, a mixture of oligarchy and democracy. The kinds of polities that tend towards democracy are customarily referred to by the name of polity, while those that tend towards oligarchy are called aristocracies.

3. Why Aristotle was against democracy?

Aristotle was against democracy because everyone has power. He wanted only best people to have power. But democracy means all have power including good, bad and others.

4. What is the difference between democracy in ancient Greece and the democracy in the modern world?

The Athenian system of democracy was different from the modern system because the Athenian government only granted the rights of citizenship to men who owned property and who had completed their military training. The system excluded women, slaves, and children from being full citizens. In addition, people who were not citizens but who lived in Athens could not vote. In today's democratic system in the United States, everyone born in the nation is considered a citizen and can vote. 

5. What are the best forms of government by Aristotle? Explain.

Aristotle talks about Aristocracy. It is a form of government where power belongs to aristocrats. They are people from upper class. Aristocracy means the rule of the best.

6. Who founded the theory of ‘social contract’?

People live in society like they signed a contract. Like they agreed with rules of society. Rousseau calls it a social contract.

7. Who are the ruler-philosophers by Plato?

According to Plato, a Philosopher kibg is a ruler who possesses both a love of knowledge, as well as intelligence, reliability, and a willingness to live a simple life. Such are the rulers of his utopian city Kallipolis. For such a community to ever come into being, "philosophers [must] become kings…or those now called kings [must]…genuinely and adequately philosophize"

8. What is the difference between direct and representative democracy?

direct democracy, the general public determines the laws and policies through which the people will be governed. Each citizen has one vote they can cast either in favor or against the law. Under a representative democracy, people elect representatives who are tasked with creating laws and policies. The elected representatives vote on the issue in lieu of the public. The elected representatives are supposed to reflect the will of the majority of the people.

* Direct democracy – in which citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government.

* Representative democracy – citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives.

9. Explain the main functions of 3 branches of government.

Legislative Branch The legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for Senators and Representatives through free, confidential ballots.

Executive Branch The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

Key roles of the executive branch include:

• President – The President leads the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces. The President serves a four-year term and can be elected no more than two times.

• Vice President – The Vice President supports the President. If the President is unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President. The Vice President can be elected and serve an unlimited number of four-year terms as Vice President, even under a different president.

• The Cabinet – Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President. They include the Vice President and the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes).

Judicial Branch The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. It's comprised of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. 

• Supreme Court – The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and must be approved by the Senate.

  • The court is comprised of nine members — a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Currently, there is one Associate Justice vacancy. A minimum or quorum of six justices is required to decide a case.

  • If there is an even number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court's decision stands.

  • There is no fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.

10. How do you understand the system of checks and balances?

The system of checks and balances is an important part of the Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them. The process of how laws are made (see the following page) is a good example of checks and balances in action. First, the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill. The bill then goes to the executive branch, where the President decides whether he thinks the bill is good for the country. If so, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law.

If the President does not believe the bill is good for the country, he does not sign it. This is called a veto. But the legislative branch gets another chance. With enough votes, the legislative branch can override the executive branch's veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Once a law is in place, the people of the country can test it through the court system, which is under the control of the judicial branch. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed. Lawyers then make arguments for and against the case, and a judge decides which side has presented the most convincing arguments. The side that loses can choose to appeal to a higher court, and may eventually reach the highest court of all, the Supreme Court.

If the legislative branch does not agree with the way in which the judicial branch has interpreted the law, they can introduce a new piece of legislation, and the process starts all over again.

11. What are the main elements of liberalism?

1. CIVIL LIBERTY. 2.Fiscal liberty, personal liberty,social liberty, economic liberty, domestic liberty, LOCAL, RACIAL, AND NATIONAL LIBERTY, international liberty, political liberty,

12. What are the main features of authoritarian political system?

1. Limitations on Political Process: Important limitations are imposed on open political process, political parties and elections.

2. Use of an Ideology: Ideological principles like racialism or fundamentalism or nationalism often provide some basis for the exercise of state power over the people.

3. Rulers determine all decisions: The rulers and not the people determine all decisions.

4. Dependence on Coercion and Force: Authoritarian rulers mostly use force and coercion to command political uniformity and obedience.

5. Less importance to Rights and Liberties: Civil liberties enjoy a low priority. Governmental control over judiciary and mass media is direct and considered justified in the interest of public good.

6. Authoritarianism can involve Family rule or Military rule: The basis for rule is found either in traditional family elite or in a new modernising group, often the army, which seizes power by a coup.

7. A Small Group uses all the powers: Under authoritarianism one group monopolies political power and control.

8. Based on Power and Manipulations: Manipulations, suppressions and coercion constitute the basis of the power of the rulers.

9. Bureaucracy as the main tool of the rule of the rulers: The rulers use bureaucracy and police as the instruments of their control over the people.

10. Centralisation of authority in a few hands: Centralisation of authority is practiced and very often an attempt is made to cover this centralism with the cloak of power-sharing among several political groups who are, however, totally loyal to the ruling group/leader.

11. Use of Propaganda: Legitimacy for the rulers' authority is secured through declarations, manipulations and propaganda or by the use of the ideology of peace, development and security.

12. Rulers Control Public Opinion: In an authoritarian system, public opinion is controlled. Only that opinion is allowed to move in society as is deemed favorable for the authority of the ruling group or rulers. In an authoritarian state, the individual and social life is largely controlled by the state i.e. by the government of the state and which is formed by one party or group. When the state control over the life of the people is total, the system is totalitarian, when it is excessive, permitting a limited political participation under strict control, the system is authoritarian.