Page 396 - Introduction To Sociology

388 Chapter 17 | Government and Politics
charismatic authority: power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities
constitutional monarchies: national governments that recognize monarchs but require these figures to abide by the
laws of a greater constitution
democracy: a form of government that provides all citizens with an equal voice or vote in determining state policy
dictatorship: a form of government in which a single person (or a very small group) wields complete and absolute authority over a government or populace after the dictator rises to power, usually through economic or military might
monarchy: a form of government in which a single person (a monarch) rules until that individual dies or abdicates the throne
oligarchy: a form of government in which power is held by a small, elite group
one person, one vote: a concept holding that each person’s vote should be counted equally
patrimonialism: a type of authority wherein military and administrative factions enforce the power of the master
politics: a means of studying a nation’s or group’s underlying social norms as values as evidenced through its political structure and practices
power: the ability to exercise one’s will over others
power elite: a small group of powerful people who control much of a society
rational-legal authority: power that is legitimized by rules, regulations, and laws
representative democracy: a government wherein citizens elect officials to represent their interests
totalitarian dictatorship: an extremely oppressive form of dictatorship in which most aspects of citizens’ lives are controlled by the leader
traditional authority: power legitimized on the basis of long-standing customs Section Summary
17.1 Power and Authority
Sociologists examine government and politics in terms of their impact on individuals and larger social systems. Power is an entity or individual’s ability to control or direct others, while authority is influence that is predicated on perceived legitimacy. Max Weber studied power and authority, differentiating between the two concepts and formulating a system for classifying types of authority.
17.2 Forms of Government
Nations are governed by different political systems, including monarchies, oligarchies, dictatorships, and democracies. Generally speaking, citizens of nations wherein power is concentrated in one leader or a small group are more likely to suffer violations of civil liberties and experience economic inequality. Many nations that are today organized around democratic ideals started out as monarchies or dictatorships but have evolved into more egalitarian systems. Democratic ideals, although hard to implement and achieve, promote basic human rights and justice for all citizens.
17.3 Politics in the United States
The success and validity of U.S. democracy hinges on free, fair elections that are characterized by the support and participation of diverse citizens. In spite of their importance, elections have low participation. In the past, the voice of minority groups was nearly imperceptible in elections, but recent trends have shown increased voter turnout across many minority races and ethnicities. In the past, the creation and sustenance of a fair voting process has necessitated government intervention, particularly on the legislative level. The Reynolds v. Sims case, with its landmark “one person, one vote” ruling, is an excellent example of such action.
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