The Study of American Government

Chapter 1Chapter 1
The Study ofThe Study of
AmericanAmerican
GovernmentGovernment

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1. How is political power actually1. How is political power actually
distributed in America?distributed in America?
2. What explains major political change?2. What explains major political change?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1. What value or values matter most in1. What value or values matter most in
American democracy?American democracy?
2. Are trade-offs among political2. Are trade-offs among political
purposes inevitable?purposes inevitable?

What Is Political Power?What Is Political Power?
 PowerPower–the ability of one person to–the ability of one person to
get another person to act inget another person to act in
accordance with the first person’saccordance with the first person’s
intentionsintentions
 AuthorityAuthority–the right to use power–the right to use power
 LegitimacyLegitimacy–political authority–political authority
conferred by law or by a state orconferred by law or by a state or
national constitutionnational constitution

p. 5

What Is Democracy?What Is Democracy?
 DemocracyDemocracy–the rule of many–the rule of many
 DirectDirect oror participatory democracyparticipatory democracy––
government in which all or most citizensgovernment in which all or most citizens
participate directlyparticipate directly
 Representative democracyRepresentative democracy–a–a governmentgovernment
in which leaders make decisions byin which leaders make decisions by
winning a competitive struggle for thewinning a competitive struggle for the
popular vote.popular vote.

An Iraqi woman shows herAn Iraqi woman shows her
purple finger indicating thatpurple finger indicating that
she has voted in 2005, thatshe has voted in 2005, that
country’s first free election incountry’s first free election in
half a century, p. 6.half a century, p. 6.
To enter the United States,To enter the United States,
foreigners must nowforeigners must now
produce a photograph andproduce a photograph and
fingerprints, p. 6.fingerprints, p. 6.
Ramin Talaie/Corbis
AFP/Getty Images

Is RepresentativeIs Representative
Democracy Best?Democracy Best?
 AristotleAristotle defined democracy as ruledefined democracy as rule
ordinary people, most of whomordinary people, most of whom
would be poorwould be poor
 John LockeJohn Locke argued against powerfulargued against powerful
kings and in favor of popular consentkings and in favor of popular consent
 Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes argued that anargued that an
absolute, supreme ruler wasabsolute, supreme ruler was
essential to prevent civil waressential to prevent civil war

How Is PoliticalHow Is Political
Power Distributed?Power Distributed?
 Majoritarian politicsMajoritarian politics – elected officials– elected officials
are the delegates of the people, actingare the delegates of the people, acting
as the peopleas the people
 Political elitePolitical elite – 4 descriptions– 4 descriptions
• elites reflect a dominant social classelites reflect a dominant social class
• a group of business, military, labor union,a group of business, military, labor union,
and elected officials control all decisionsand elected officials control all decisions
• appointed bureaucrats run everythingappointed bureaucrats run everything
• representatives of a large number ofrepresentatives of a large number of
interest groups are in chargeinterest groups are in charge

How Is PoliticalHow Is Political
Power Distributed?Power Distributed?
 Class viewClass view–the government is dominated–the government is dominated
by capitalistsby capitalists
 Power elite viewPower elite view–the government is–the government is
dominated by a few top leaders, most ofdominated by a few top leaders, most of
whom are outside of governmentwhom are outside of government
 Bureaucratic viewBureaucratic view–the government is–the government is
dominated by appointed officialsdominated by appointed officials
 Pluralist viewPluralist view–the belief that competition–the belief that competition
among all affected interests shapes publicamong all affected interests shapes public
policypolicy

Is Democracy Driven byIs Democracy Driven by
Self-Interest?Self-Interest?
 A policy may be good or bad independent ofA policy may be good or bad independent of
the motives of the person who decided it.the motives of the person who decided it.
 The self-interest of individuals often is anThe self-interest of individuals often is an
incomplete guide to their actions.incomplete guide to their actions.
 Many of the most important politicalMany of the most important political
happenings in U.S. were led against longhappenings in U.S. were led against long
odds by people who risked much knowingodds by people who risked much knowing
that they might not succeed and suspectingthat they might not succeed and suspecting
that, even if they did succeed, generationsthat, even if they did succeed, generations
might pass before their efforts truly benefitedmight pass before their efforts truly benefited
anyone.anyone.

What Explains Political Change?What Explains Political Change?
 Government and its policies areGovernment and its policies are
shaped byshaped by
• Economic interestsEconomic interests
• Powerful elitesPowerful elites
• Entrenched bureaucratsEntrenched bureaucrats
• Competing pressureCompeting pressure
groupsgroups
• Morally impassionedMorally impassioned
individualsindividuals
Enigma/Alamy

What Explains Political Change?What Explains Political Change?
 The dominant political problem of theThe dominant political problem of the
time shapes the nature of day-to-daytime shapes the nature of day-to-day
political conflict throughpolitical conflict through
• Deep-seated beliefsDeep-seated beliefs
• Major economic developmentsMajor economic developments
• Widely shared (or competing) opinionsWidely shared (or competing) opinions

The Nature of PoliticsThe Nature of Politics
 Judgments about institutions and interestsJudgments about institutions and interests
can be made only after one has seen howcan be made only after one has seen how
they behave on a variety of importantthey behave on a variety of important
issues or potential issues, such asissues or potential issues, such as
• economic policyeconomic policy
• the regulation of businessthe regulation of business
• social welfaresocial welfare
• civil rights and libertiescivil rights and liberties
• foreign and military affairsforeign and military affairs

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUM
To:To: Governor Steve FinoreGovernor Steve Finore
From:From: Edward Heron, chief policy adviserEdward Heron, chief policy adviser
Subject:Subject: Initiative RepealInitiative Repeal
You have supported several successful initiativesYou have supported several successful initiatives
(life imprisonment for thrice-convicted violent(life imprisonment for thrice-convicted violent
felons, property tax limits), but you have neverfelons, property tax limits), but you have never
publicly stated a view on the initiative itself, and thepublicly stated a view on the initiative itself, and the
repeal proposal will probably surface duringrepeal proposal will probably surface during
tomorrow’s press briefing.tomorrow’s press briefing.

Arguments for a ban:Arguments for a ban:
1. Ours is a representative, not a direct, democracy in which voters1. Ours is a representative, not a direct, democracy in which voters
elect leaders and elected leaders make policy decisions subject toelect leaders and elected leaders make policy decisions subject to
review by the courts.review by the courts.
2. Voters often are neither rational nor respectful of constitutional2. Voters often are neither rational nor respectful of constitutional
rights. For example, many people demand both lower taxes andrights. For example, many people demand both lower taxes and
more government services, and polls find that most voters wouldmore government services, and polls find that most voters would
prohibit people with certain views from speaking and deprive allprohibit people with certain views from speaking and deprive all
persons accused of a violent crime from getting out on bail whilepersons accused of a violent crime from getting out on bail while
awaiting trial.awaiting trial.
3. Over the past 100 years, about 800 statewide ballot initiatives3. Over the past 100 years, about 800 statewide ballot initiatives
have been passed in 24 states. Rather than giving power to thehave been passed in 24 states. Rather than giving power to the
people, special-interest groups have spent billions of dollarspeople, special-interest groups have spent billions of dollars
manipulating voters to pass initiatives that enrich or benefit them,manipulating voters to pass initiatives that enrich or benefit them,
not the public at large.not the public at large.

Arguments against a ban:Arguments against a ban:
1. When elected officials fail to respond to persistent public1. When elected officials fail to respond to persistent public
majorities favoring tougher crime measures, lower property taxes,majorities favoring tougher crime measures, lower property taxes,
and other popular concerns, direct democracy via the initiative isand other popular concerns, direct democracy via the initiative is
legitimate, and the courts can still review the law.legitimate, and the courts can still review the law.
2. More Americans than ever have college degrees and easy access2. More Americans than ever have college degrees and easy access
to information about public affairs. Studies find that most averageto information about public affairs. Studies find that most average
citizens are able to figure out which candidates, parties, orcitizens are able to figure out which candidates, parties, or
advocacy groups come closest to supporting their own economicadvocacy groups come closest to supporting their own economic
interests and personal values.interests and personal values.
3. All told, the 24 states that passed 35 laws by initiative also passed3. All told, the 24 states that passed 35 laws by initiative also passed
more than 14,000 laws by the regular legislative process (out ofmore than 14,000 laws by the regular legislative process (out of
more than 70,000 bills they considered). Studies find that special-more than 70,000 bills they considered). Studies find that special-
interest groups are severely limited in their ability to pass newinterest groups are severely limited in their ability to pass new
laws by initiative, while citizens’ groups with broad-based publiclaws by initiative, while citizens’ groups with broad-based public
support are behind most initiatives that pass.support are behind most initiatives that pass.

Your decision:Your decision:
Favor ban?Favor ban?
Oppose ban?Oppose ban?

The Study of American Government

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (20)

Destaque

Destaque (16)

Semelhante a The Study of American Government

Semelhante a The Study of American Government (20)

Mais de Chris Thomas

Mais de Chris Thomas (20)

Último

Último (20)

The Study of American Government