Preview

What is Politics?

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2578 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What is Politics?
What is ‘Politics’?
Everyone has their own interpretation when it comes to the topic of politics. There are different views, opinions, agreements and disagreements; therefore on a personal level the definition of ‘politics’ may be completely different to someone else’s. However according to a dictionary online politics is defined as ‘’the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs’’1 for that reason it is a ‘political science’. Politics on a whole contains many components which fabricate the vast topic. The elements that may physique the topic of ‘Politics’ are; democracy, government, voting, power, parliament, compromises and debates. These sub topics are generally the basics of politics in which they also vividly influence one another.
Democracy:
One aspect of politics is to do with democracy; democracy is characterised as ‘’a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives’’ 2 according to the oxford dictionary. This can be interpreted as democracy being a way a country is governed from members of the country participating in a form of election. They can also directly get their view across or through elected representatives who shares the same passion; this also means that the public can have a fair say in how things are controlled. Additionally democracy allows citizens of the country to manipulate and develop theories and laws in which they play a prodigious role in as the adjustment can affect their lives. Democracy was ambiguously always present within the past therefore there is a define appearance of it. However in 1832 the Reform Act suggests ‘Democracy of sorts had existed in England for centuries - as far back as 1432, Henry VI passed statues declaring who was eligible to vote’’3 This indicates democracy has been visible throughout the years never the less it has always been there to allow a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    GOV 312L Exam 2 Review

    • 12341 Words
    • 40 Pages

    1. What is politics (as defined in lecture)? What are the two central components of this definition?…

    • 12341 Words
    • 40 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It is no wonder that John Kerr describes Britain as being “nowhere near being democratic in 1850.” The state of democracy in Britain had been set by the Great Reform Act of 1832 which increased the number of men who could vote in a general election and redistributed parliamentary seats so that there was a more equal ratio of MPs to constituents. However Britain was still far from being democratic. The system was not fair as voting took place in hustings meaning there was no secret ballot, making it possible for candidates to bribe and intimidate the voters and general elections were only held every seven years. Another aspect of the British political system that was undemocratic was the unequal distribution of seats and MPs still representing county and borough constituencies with great variations in size of population. Moreover, the Tory dominated House of Lords was unelected and it could stop the elected majority of the House of Commons getting bills though parliament and only wealthy…

    • 1994 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the beginning of the time period, 1850, Britain was not democratic. There was not a lot of choice concerning the political parties, there were only two parties: The Liberals and the Conservatives. Woman did not have any right to vote and were considered second class citizens. In England and Wales only one million and five men could vote and some men could vote twice. The distribution of seats did not take into account the migration of Britain. The House of Lords (HOL) were aristocracy that were their because of their ancestry. MP’s were unpaid and had to own property so the poorer classes could not be MP’s and therefore opinions not heard. A democracy is one which has universal suffrage, equal distribution of seats, wide range of choice of parties that cover a wide range of issues, everyone has the right to be an MP and the HOL should be trusted members of the public. By the end of the time period, 1918, the majority of these had been overcome, lots of people had the right to vote, redistribution of seats made it more equal, there were now more than two parties, the property qualification in becoming an MP was abolished and they were paid salaries and the HOL lost the right to veto laws and hold them for two years, they could only hold them for one year.…

    • 1378 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chapter 1 Ap Gov Notes

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages

    * Politics: process by which we select our gov. leaders and what policies these leaders pursue, produces authoritative decisions about public issues (who gets what, when, how)…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Between 1850 and 1928, through the introduction of a series of acts of parliament, Britain became a democratic country. All the features that would be expected in a democracy were put in place. For example, the franchise was made universal, the constituencies were more or less shared equally across the country, voting was protected and the opportunities for corruption were considerably reduced. Whilst appreciating the effectiveness of these acts, it is necessary to examine the various background factors which encouraged governments and parliament to pass them in the first place. They include social changes such as population growth and movement, education and the growth of a national press that contributed to growing public interest and participation in politics. Background factors also include enlightened political leadership as well as naked political self-interest linked to party self-interest and survival.…

    • 7888 Words
    • 32 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    How democratic is the UK

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    It can be argued that Britain is both democratic and undemocratic; this can be shown via a range of issues relating to British politics and the society in which we live. The generally accepted definition of a democracy is a form of government in which the major decisions of government and the direction of policy behind these decisions - rests directly or indirectly on the freely given consent of the freely given consent of the freely majority of the adults government. There are two forms of democracy but the UK is run through an indirect or representative democracy as opposed to a direct democracy, which relies on referendums and would be difficult in a large, modern society. Furthermore, the UK is a parliamentary democracy, the government and representatives are intermingled meaning that the UK does not have separation of powers, meaning that the executive, legislative and judicial courts all work together unlike the American Presidential system which could create a lack in communication. In this essay, I propose to argue both for and against and eventually come to a conclusion whether the UK is democratic or not and give a comparison between the UK and the US in terms of democracy.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Exam 1 study guide

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What is politics? The activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.…

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pls 201

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Political Science: a discipline with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of government…

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ‘Government of the people, for the people, by the people' was Abraham Lincoln's famous definition of democracy-1852. At the beginning of the 19th century the term ‘democracy' was feared, as it was associated with the anarchy and violence of the French Revolution. During the 19th century a sea change occurred. Democracy acquired a momentum so that by 1865 Gladstone could say ‘the country not only demands reform but expects it'. This essay will examine how far Britain had progressed towards full democracy.…

    • 3315 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Politics plays a huge role in everyone’s lives and is always a topic of discussion in today’s society. Peoples political views differ from one side of the spectrum to the other and there is really no right or wrong view, it is all personal opinion. Even the term politics has multiple definitions out there that are accepted by some and rejected by others. Dyck defines politics as “The activity in which conflicting interests struggle for advantage or dominance in the making and execution of public policies.” (Dyck, Rand, 2012). Some people believe this is a proper definition of politics while others disagree and believe other definitions are more appropriate. This paper will illustrate examples that support Dyck’s definition and how it can be…

    • 1793 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The purpose of this paper is intended to summarize my views on what has influenced my understanding of politics and government prior to taking this class, and how my understanding is now since completing this course.…

    • 1136 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    It Timeline of 1920-2000

    • 1923 Words
    • 8 Pages

    -Political science is the study of governments, public policies and political processes, systems, and political behavior. Political science subfields include political theory, political philosophy, political ideology, political economy, policy studies and analysis, comparative politics, international relations, and a host of related fields. (For a good cross section of the areas of study,…

    • 1923 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Democracy in Britain

    • 3191 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Democracy, the ideal that all the citizens of a nation determine together the laws and actions of their state: a government ‘for the people, of the people and by the people’, was necessary in Britain, as Aristotle once said, ‘man is by nature a political animal’. Franchise is the right to be able to vote and in 1830, only one out of ten adult males could vote; by 1832 it was a privilege of the landed elite and by 1928 it was a right of all eligible adults (over the age of 21). By 1928, Britain was almost democratic but not entirely so. Before 1850, Britain had a rule of aristocracy, there was great political influence from the elite and the privileged and extreme corruption, as Hogarth illustrated in his ‘Four Prints’ and Dickens in ‘Pickwick Papers’ but the 1789 French Revolution and the American Revolution caused political tension and put pressure on the government to reform. From 1851 – 1951 Britain evolved into modern democracy but this era of democratic politics was also inaugurated by the four landmark 1832, 1867 and 1884 Reform Acts which established the ‘one man, one vote’ mentality. Further democratisation was instigated by a popular government; universal suffrage; representative constituencies; the secret ballot and reformed electoral practices; paid MPs; state provided schooling which educated the working class and allowed them a political say; a constitutional monarchy and restricting the given rights of the upper and middle classes as well as reducing the power of the House of Lords and the Monarchy. The Age of Oligarchy gave way to the Age of democracy as the ‘two party system’ developed from 1867 to 1902 and the essentials of democracy were achieved by 1928 as both men and women could vote; there was a virtual elimination of corruption; the privileged had much less power and the constituencies were better represented. However, Britain was not fully democratic by 1928…

    • 3191 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Politics

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mehrgarh was the first civilization site in the world. It was favorable for the early farming communities than the Zagros mountain, the fertile crescent traditionally considered to be cradle of the Neolithic Revolution. Mehrgarh was the first site for Archaeologists which they found many ancient society and pottery, pre -historic sites jewellery and much more ancient things. Mehrgarh situated in Baluchistan near Quetta. The Archaeologists found many ancient remains, society and they found that the different communities were lived there in the early days and they were migrant people.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Politics

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Politics is a strife of interests masqueraded as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage”. This quote, by Ambrose Bierce is an accurate reflection of what politics has become in the modern era. In today’s era, it seems politicians have abandoned the idea of public good, and instead embraced private, corporate sponsored agenda’s. In order to change this contemptible reality, the dominant corporate dominated political paradigm must be challenged. The only political belief system that is capable of doing so is social democracy. Social democracy is an ideology that promotes a democratic shift from capitalism to socialism. It combines the economic ideology of socialism, with the political system of democracy. It promotes legal, political, and economic equality for all human beings. With its view on the role of the state, the role of the individual and its belief in horizontal interdependence of human beings, it is the only ideology that can meet the needs of the public.…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays