What exactly is Political Science?

Magna Carta is Signed
In 1215, what many consider to be the predecessor to the U.S. Constitution was signed in Great Britain.

If we examine the history of political inquiry in the last 2,500 years, we discover that, for the most part, the questions which achieved prominence in the thought of those social philosophers who dealt with political matters not unnaturally reflected the major issues of the day.

The Magna Carta included many principles we hold dear, such as “no free man shall be seized or imprisoned…except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land

Over the course of time these topics had accumulated, so that the older political science grew as an intellectual pursuit, the greater was the volume and variety of subjects it embraced.

The blogger at Constitutional Law Prof even has the original text for the viewing.

By mid-twentieth century the discipline as a whole threatened to collapse under the strain of absorbing and imposing a logical and consistent order on a staggering load of knowledge about highly diverse subjects.

Parliament is Born
During the rule of Henry III, the nobles mounted a rebellion and arranged the first ever meeting of Parliament in 1265.

Their purpose was to “suggest laws, give advice, and approve tax bills.” This new branch would have ultimate say on whether or not taxes were levied.

By then, however, there also were clear signs that the traditional way of selecting problems for research was threatening to change fundamentally.

It would later evolve into the power it is known as now, making it an interesting moment in political science history.

A nagging question had begun to press in earnest upon the members of what by that time had become a highly specialized discipline.

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
Up until the 1500’s, the Christian church was one church: the Catholic church. It wasn’t until Martin Luther questioned the doctrine of the church by outlining 95 questions he felt the

Two widely differing sets of criteria have emerged, in the last hundred years or so, for differentiating political life from all other aspects of society and, thereby, for isolating the subject matter of political science.

The one has sought to define political life in terms of the institutions through which it is expressed; the other has turned to the activities or behavior of which institutions are the particular historical forms.

church wasn’t answering properly. His original intentions were to just get better answers, but the results involved the separation into two churches and then many, many sects of Christianity after that. You can read all 95 theses in this blog.

church wasn’t answering properly. His original intentions were to just get better answers, but the results involved the separation into two churches and then many, many sects of Christianity after that. You can read all 95 theses in this blog.

Under the first set, political science has been described, not very profoundly, as the study either of governmental (or political) institutions or of the state.

Emancipation Proclamation
Unlike the above, this was one victory that could not be bought with money. During the days of the Civil War, the battle between the Northern and Southern states was still waging, costing thousands of lives and crippling both economies.

Under the first set, political science has been described, not very profoundly, as the study either of governmental (or political) institutions or of the state.

Emancipation Proclamation
Unlike the above, this was one victory that could not be bought with money. During the days of the Civil War, the battle between the Northern and Southern states was still waging, costing thousands of lives and crippling both economies.

Under the second set, which did not gain widespread acceptance until well into the twentieth century, it has been characterized as the study either of power or of decision making.

Emancipation Proclamation
Unlike the above, this was one victory that could not be bought with money. During the days of the Civil War, the battle between the Northern and Southern states was still waging, costing thousands of lives and crippling both economies.

In a move designed to weaken the other side, President Lincoln issued the proclamation on September 22, 1862 with the goal of hurting the South’s ability to fight and work. Interesting political fact about the proclamation: slaves in states that remained loyal to the North, such as Delaware and Kentucky, were not freed by the proclamation.

Under the second set, which did not gain widespread acceptance until well into the twentieth century, it has been characterized as the study either of power or of decision making.

It wouldn’t be until the war ended and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was passed that slavery became illegal everywhere.