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Chapter OneChapter One

The Study of American The Study of American GovernmentGovernment

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Two Key QuestionsTwo Key Questions

Who governs?Who governs? Those who govern will affect us. Those who govern will affect us. How is political power actually distributed in America?How is political power actually distributed in America? What explains major political change?What explains major political change?

To what ends?To what ends? How will government affect our How will government affect our lives?lives? What value or values matter most in American What value or values matter most in American

democracy?democracy? Are trade-offs among political purposes inevitable?Are trade-offs among political purposes inevitable?

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What is Political Power?What is Political Power?

PowerPower:: the ability of one person to cause another person the ability of one person to cause another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentionsto act in accordance with the first person’s intentions For example:For example:

Power is obvious when the president gives the military a direct Power is obvious when the president gives the military a direct commandcommand

Power is not so obvious when the president’s speechwriters may Power is not so obvious when the president’s speechwriters may interject their personal opinions/views into a speech.interject their personal opinions/views into a speech.

AuthorityAuthority:: the right to use power the right to use power ““Formal Authority” is the gov’ts right to use power.Formal Authority” is the gov’ts right to use power.

LegitimacyLegitimacy:: political authority conferred by a law or by a political authority conferred by a law or by a state or national constitutionstate or national constitution Most Americans today agree that the U.S. Constitution has Most Americans today agree that the U.S. Constitution has

legitimate authority as long as it protects democratic ideals.legitimate authority as long as it protects democratic ideals.

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What is Democracy?What is Democracy?

The term The term democracydemocracy comes from the Greek comes from the Greek words words demosdemos and and kratiakratia..

DemosDemos meaning meaning “the people”“the people” and and KratiaKratia meaning meaning “rule.”“rule.”

The ancient Greeks used the word democracy to The ancient Greeks used the word democracy to mean gov’t by many instead of only a few.mean gov’t by many instead of only a few.

Our nation’s founders used the word to mean a Our nation’s founders used the word to mean a republicrepublic or or representative democracyrepresentative democracy..

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Kinds of DemocracyKinds of Democracy Direct democracyDirect democracy:: A form of democracy in which most, A form of democracy in which most,

or all, of the citizenry participate directly.or all, of the citizenry participate directly. Direct democracy exists only in very small societies where Direct democracy exists only in very small societies where

citizens can actually meet regularly to discuss and decide on key citizens can actually meet regularly to discuss and decide on key issues and problems.issues and problems.

For example:For example: Found in some New England town meetings and in Switzerland.Found in some New England town meetings and in Switzerland.

Representative democracyRepresentative democracy:: A government in which A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.for the popular vote. People elect representatives and give them the responsibility and People elect representatives and give them the responsibility and

power to make laws and conduct gov’t.power to make laws and conduct gov’t. Today, the terms Today, the terms representative democracy, republic, and representative democracy, republic, and

constitutional republicconstitutional republic mean the same thing: system of limited mean the same thing: system of limited gov’t where the people are the ultimate source of authority.gov’t where the people are the ultimate source of authority.

Not every democracy is a republic, however.Not every democracy is a republic, however.

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The Framers’ ViewThe Framers’ View

Government would mediate, not mirror, popular Government would mediate, not mirror, popular viewsviews They did not believe that the “will of the people” was They did not believe that the “will of the people” was

the same thing as “common interest” or “public good.”the same thing as “common interest” or “public good.”

People were viewed as lacking knowledge and People were viewed as lacking knowledge and susceptible to manipulationsusceptible to manipulation

Framers’ goal: to minimize the abuse of power Framers’ goal: to minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by self-serving by a tyrannical majority or by self-serving officeholdersofficeholders

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Theories of GovernmentTheories of Government MarxismMarxism: Those who own the means of production or : Those who own the means of production or

control the economic system will control the governmentcontrol the economic system will control the government Karl MarxKarl Marx believed there were ultimately 2 groups that competed believed there were ultimately 2 groups that competed

for power:for power: The The Bourgeoisie Bourgeoisie (business owners or capitalists) and the (business owners or capitalists) and the ProletariatProletariat

(laborers/workers)(laborers/workers)

ElitismElitism: A few top leaders, drawn from the major sectors : A few top leaders, drawn from the major sectors of the United States, will make all important decisionsof the United States, will make all important decisions C. Wright MillsC. Wright Mills believed that a coalition of 3 groups, corporate believed that a coalition of 3 groups, corporate

leaders, top military officials, and some elected officials dominate leaders, top military officials, and some elected officials dominate politics and gov’t.politics and gov’t.

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Theories of GovernmentTheories of Government BureaucraticBureaucratic: Appointed civil servants control : Appointed civil servants control

the government, without consulting the public.the government, without consulting the public. Max WeberMax Weber believed that all gov’t and non gov’t believed that all gov’t and non gov’t

institutions were under the control of large institutions were under the control of large bureaucracies.bureaucracies.

PluralistPluralist: Competition among affected interests : Competition among affected interests shapes public policy decision-makingshapes public policy decision-making Political resources may include, but are not limited to, Political resources may include, but are not limited to,

money, prestige, expertise, position, and access to money, prestige, expertise, position, and access to media.media.

These things greatly affect how power is exercised. These things greatly affect how power is exercised.

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Pluralism and Self-InterestPluralism and Self-Interest Is pluralist democracy driven by selfish Is pluralist democracy driven by selfish

desire? Not necessarily, because:desire? Not necessarily, because:policies can be good or bad, regardless of the policies can be good or bad, regardless of the

motives of their proponents;motives of their proponents; the belief that people always act in their own the belief that people always act in their own

self-interest has been refuted in practice (i.e., self-interest has been refuted in practice (i.e., heroic actions of September 11th)heroic actions of September 11th)

public-spirited behavior was behind many of public-spirited behavior was behind many of our greatest social movements (like the Civil our greatest social movements (like the Civil Rights movement)Rights movement)