Ch 12: Political Principles & Power
About This Chapter
Political Principles & Power - Chapter Summary
This collection of political science lessons outlines the principles of political power in America. Containing short and engaging lessons, this chapter helps you review different types of political power and summarize concepts such as popular sovereignty, due process and separation of powers. Our instructors help you identify sources of political power and understand how it affects and influences political organizations. You'll also examine the process of taking the fifth and fourteenth amendments. Studying these lessons enables you to:
- Define terms such as popular sovereignty and separation of powers
- Explain due process and taking the fifth and fourteenth amendments
- Recognize types of political power
- Understand the role of power, authority and influence in political organizations
- Describe the power of political parties, interest groups and political action committees (PACs)
This chapter offers simple and concise definitions of key political power concepts. Taught by subject-matter experts, these lessons allow you to quickly and efficiently review political power topics and test your knowledge with short self-assessment quizzes. You can review any lesson as many times as needed and print word-for-word lesson transcripts to highlight important definitions and concepts. These lessons are available 24/7, and you can study using any computer, tablet or smartphone.

1. Popular Sovereignty: Definition & Examples
As the U.S. expanded and acquired new territories, Congress was forced to carry out the delicate balancing act of adding free and slave states. Various proposals were made in an attempt to keep the balance sturdy, including popular sovereignty. Learn about its place in the debate over the expansion of slavery.

2. Separation of Powers: Definition & Examples
Separation of powers is the distribution of political authority within a government. Learn more about how separation of power works in the United States, then check your understanding of this topic with a quiz.

3. Due Process & Taking the Fifth & Fourteenth Amendments
There are only two amendments that stand for the same rights: the 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment. In this lesson, we will learn how both amendments speak to the rights of life, liberty and property with government protection and due process.

4. Political Power: Definition, Types & Sources
In this lesson, we will take a close look at political power. We will define the term, examine its elements, and learn about several theories that help determine who gets to use political power.

5. Power, Authority & Influence in Political Organizations
This lesson will explain the differences between power, authority, and influence within a political organization. In doing so, it will highlight terms like charisma, rational authority, traditional authority, and personal power.

6. Political Power: Political Parties, Interest Groups & Political Action Committees (PACs)
Sociologists often analyze political power by examining the relationship between those who hold power and those who seek it. We'll discuss political power and distinguish between political parties, special interest groups, and Political Action Committees.
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