Key Terms
Power
The ability to impose your will on others to get desired outcomes.
Authority
The permission, conferred by law, to exercise power. It's power that's been officially sanctioned.
Legitimacy
The widespread belief that the government has the RIGHT to exercise its power; it's about perceived rightfulness, not ju
Broad legitimacy
A characteristic of the government; the wide population believes the government has the right to rule. Does NOT require
Judgments about legitimacy
What individuals or groups decide about whether the government is acting rightfully.
Minor end
Widespread community sentiment that a law shouldn't be enforced in certain situations (e.g., underage possession of alco
Major end
Post-9/11 counterterrorism actions that violated constitutional norms but had broad public support.
Risk
Those enforcement agencies can eventually seize de facto control of the regime (e.g., Thailand's military manipulating t
Rule of law
The condition where government operates within clearly defined legal rules.
Civil disobedience
The nonviolent refusal to comply with authorized exercises of power, used to demand political change.
What makes it effective
Small movements that grow large enough to undermine the broad legitimacy of the regime they oppose.
Core legitimizing claim
Only when the people choose officeholders to represent their interests does the government deserve to wield power.
Exception
Judiciary. Judges can exercise judicial review (power to strike down laws that violate the constitution) in potentially
Political freedom
Meaningful participation in democratic elections 2.
Wider freedoms
Speech, press, religion, personal identity, equal treatment regardless of beliefs, practices, or sexual orientation