Social Studies, Politics: tests, exam

What is a policy? Why is she an ordinary citizen? What does this concept include?

Politics. Social science lesson

The political sphere is one of the four spheres of public life in society along with economic, social and spiritual. What does social science tell us about this? The field of politics in science is divided into three concepts:

• Type of human activity.
• One of the four spheres of public life in the complex dynamic system of society.
• A type of social relationship between people in a group.

The concept of political activity

Each of us, without noticing it, is involved in the political activities of the state in which he lives. Indeed, politics plays a leading role in our lives. After all, we all live inside a society that is governed by such a social institution as the state. Here is how the famous German scientist M. Weber characterized the involvement in the politics of each individual in society:

• Occasional involvement. This is when a citizen of the country makes a one-time political decision and participates in the political life of the country. A vivid example is the presidential election or a referendum on the most important issues of society.
• Involvement "part-time." When a citizen is actively involved in politics, but the main activity is another area. For example, entrepreneurs are members of a political party and periodically participate in its life.
• Professional policies. These are people whose main activity is this area.

Policy Impact

For a greater influence on the political sphere, people create strong associations on a certain basis (classes, castes, etc.). From the course of history, one can recall the influence of certain social groups on changes in the device in the country. Reorganization was often achieved through revolutions.

In the exam tests, social science pays great attention to this issue. The modern influence of citizens on politics in the country is achieved by uniting into political parties and movements. A special role in decision-making in the state belongs to the political elite. This is a small circle of people who concentrate in their hands the greatest influence in the country. It includes the most important government posts, such as the president, ministers, leaders of ruling political parties.

A distinctive feature of political activity is that it is aimed at society as a whole, and not at its individual sphere. This raises one controversial question: "Are all means good for creating a bright future in the country?" Are cruel punitive measures acceptable for the future prosperity of the state? For example, extremists and religious fanatics affirmatively answer such questions. Any methods should be used if they bring closer to the cherished goal. In other words, the end justifies the means.

It can be seen from the course of Russian history that similar movements arose in Russia. Suffice it to recall the party of Socialist Revolutionaries (AKP) with their mass attacks and killings of leading political figures of the 19th century. The Communists did not stop at nothing after the 1917 revolution and the Red Terror that followed. The goal is to destroy the classes of “kulaks and masters” by any means. To prevent such events, a separate topic ("Politics") is being studied in social studies.

Political Institutions

This is one of the types of social institutions that serve in society to achieve certain needs of society. Political institutions are necessary for security, ensuring social order, and the peaceful adoption of decisions critical for society. The main, of course, is the state. In addition to political institutions include political parties, trade unions, associations.

Political parties

They are voluntary associations of people with identical views on the development of the state and society. Each party has a clearly defined program of actions and transformations, an ideology, and seeks to accomplish these tasks through methods permitted in the state. As a rule, these are elections to legislative structures with the goal of making decisions binding on all residents of the country.

Naturally, such an association should be governed by legal norms. In the Russian Federation, for these purposes, in 2001, a special Federal Law “On Political Parties” was adopted. He clearly formulated the definition. A political party is a voluntary association of citizens of the Russian Federation to achieve their political demands by participating in elections of government bodies at all levels, as well as in political actions and debates, public speaking.

Political Party Goals

The main ones are:

• Promotion of their candidates to legislative bodies of all levels.
• Formation of public opinion on a particular issue.
• Political education of citizens.

Political parties are a very complex mechanism. Each has its own ideology, program, structure and procedure for determining candidates for legislative assemblies. This is studied in more detail in other topics of the course "Social Studies". Politics, as one of the topics, does not focus on this particular attention. It gives only general concepts.

Political relations

This term refers to the relationship of people, entities arising in the political sphere. Any interactions that are connected with the authorities in the center or on the ground will be the subject of such a relationship. Such examples include:

• Interaction between state mechanisms. For example, between the government and the line ministry.
• The interaction between a particular government structure and social groups. For example, between the state and reserve troops.
• Interaction between state structures and non-state social movements and formations. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and the trade unions of farmers.
• The interaction between the state and individual citizens.
• The interaction between political parties and non-political groups, such as trade unions, cooperatives, etc.
• Between the state and interstate international structures and units. A striking example is the relationship between the Russian Federation and PACE (European Parliamentary Assembly).

Relations can be different. Mutual assistance, competition, lobbying of interests, measures of state support, sanctions and restrictions - all this depends on the specific goals of each of the parties. If they match, then collaboration takes place. But if the goals are different and contradict each other, a confrontation is observed between participants in political relations .

What social norms govern such relations on the exam? Social studies as a subject of school discipline meets the following:

• Political principles.
• Traditions.
• Legal norms.
• Ethical standards.

Politics and power. Social Studies as a School Course

All political aspects are directly or indirectly related to one concept. This is power. More precisely, the struggle for it. Power does not necessarily apply to a political concept. This term refers to any kind of command and control. For example, the influence of parents on children, the employer on a subordinate. It considers this term and the subject of social studies. Politics as a special kind of activity is inextricably linked with the concept of power.

Sanctions are applied to enforce orders. This is not always a negative concept. Sanctions are divided into positive and negative. The first to provide orders include incentives. For example, bonus, promotion, extraordinary leave. Negative sanctions for maintaining power include punishments - dismissal, fines, deprivation of bonuses, etc. An important factor in maintaining power is the credibility of the subject issuing orders or orders.

Let us again turn to the course "Social Studies". Politics is not only an area where power exists. The following types of power are subdivided in society:

• Economic. Control over resources, money, material values.
• Cultural and informational. Control over information (radio, newspapers, television, etc.)
• Forced. Control by force (army, police, security services).
• Political.

The latter type of power has a number of distinctive properties that are inherent only to it:

• It applies to the whole society as a whole, living on the territory of the state. Political subordinate to all other authorities.
• It acts on behalf of the whole society as a whole.
• Only political power is given the right to legally use force.
• It has a single national decision-making center.
• It uses all means of influence inherent in other types of power.

What conclusion can be drawn by studying the course "Social Studies"? Politics is one of the key activities that affects everyone else.