Chapter 1 Lecture

Powerpoint on Canvas

What Is Political Science?

Politics is the authoritive distribution of resources

Political science is the study of poltics

differences:

• political science can be used to analyze political violence and political reactions to COVID-19

• political scientists focus on political patterns and phenomena

• politics can be related to any aspect of life

History

roots began in ancient Greece

Machiavelli’s The Prince shifted toward practical application of theory

state of nature is what life would be like w/o government

natural rights are rights that all humans have -in the declaration of independence

social contracts are the trade of some rights for governing structure- ppl argue government’s job is to provide safety

Establishing a Discipline

• Political theory changed in the 19th century

• universities adapted more specialized fields of the study

20th century pol sci:

most research was observational and comparative

behavioral revolution in political science

-more scientifically based methods- classes like statistics

The Role of Political Theory

this gained traction in the mid-20th century

modern theory has explored values of marginalized communitites -celebrated and represented marginalized communities

• others argue that science and theory should be two separate political fields

scientific vs normative knowlegde

• political theoru is a subfield of poltical science - u could take a political theory class as a part of ur pol sci studies

Is POLSCI a science?

science is a systematic search for knowledge- using scientific method

POLSCI has less predictive power than other areas of the study: issues around history and human nature

Major Concepts of POLSCI

Public goods- available to everyone

Tragedy of the Commons- overuse of a common good

Free Riders- problem occurs when public goods aren’t exclusive to those who pay

states: when mentioned often talking about nations or countries

states-

groups of people living under one government

often the main subject of study

a nation is a group who has a common background, history, and culture

week 4

systems of law

Statutory laws are laws created by legislative bodies, such as Congress or state legislatures, and are written down in code books. They are different from common law, which is based on court decisions and precedent. Statutory laws are passed through a formal process, including drafting, debate, and voting. These laws cover a wide range of issues, from criminal offenses to regulations on businesses and individuals. Violating statutory laws can result in penalties or legal consequences.

Case Law (Laywer life)

Precedents are previous decisions or rulings that serve as a guide for future cases or situations. They help establish consistency and predictability in the legal system.

stabilizes a judicial systems (rulings about abortion in the US)

English Common Law

Common law is a legal system where decisions from previous cases establish legal principles. It is based on precedent rather than statutory laws.

• Common Law:

  • Originates from judicial decisions and precedents.

  • Evolves over time through court rulings.

  • Flexibility in interpretation.

• Statutory Law:

  • Enacted by legislative bodies.

  • Clear rules and regulations.

  • Can override common law.

Judges and Lawyers-trained and neutral

enforce legal protections to protect defendants.

Continental Law

Codified laws are laws that have been systematically organized and written down into a single, comprehensive legal code. They are typically enacted by a legislative body and serve as a clear and accessible source of legal rules and regulations.

crimes are described along with punishments

uses legal code and procedural law

Procedural laws are rules that dictate how legal proceedings should be conducted, ensuring fairness and consistency in the judicial system. They govern the process of enforcing rights and duties, including rules for filing lawsuits, presenting evidence, and making appeals.

Religious Law

Marriage and divorce enforced by religions

The Court System