Majoritarian and Elite Politics

I. Who has political power in America? A. Of course, Political power is exercised by our elected leaders. B. And since we freely choose these leaders, political power really resides with the American people. C. But perhaps there are a few among us with enough resources to strongly influence both the outcome of our elections and behavior elected leaders once they are elected. D. Perhaps real political power resides not so much with the American people as a whole but with these few individuals who have a much greater effect on our vote and our elected officials than most of us realize.

II. Two theories of political power in America A. Majoritarian politics - When our elected leaders do what the majority wants done since the majority of the American people elected them. 1. This is the "delegate role" of leadership that way when most people are watching. That is, when deciding issues that have captured the American people's attention. 3. But often, most of the American people are not paying all that much attention. In these cases (which very well may be the majority of cases), whose interest do our political leaders serve?

II. Two theories of political power in America B. Elite politics - When our elected leaders do what a small but influential group of Americans called "elites" wants done. 1. These "elites" have a disproportionate influence over who gets elected and what these leaders do once they are elected. 2. According to some, our political leaders serve elite interests when deciding issues that have not captured the American people's attention. 3. But who are these mysterious political "elites?"

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) 1. Elite Theory #1: The Marxist View - Karl Marx's view that all political struggles are really struggles between a few rich business owners called "Capitalists" and the mass of relatively poor workers a. Capitalists want workers to work more for less and workers want to work less for more, so they are always natural enemies. b. Around 350 B.C., Aristotle argued that the single most significant organizing principle of politics is the struggle between the rich and the poor.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) c. For Marx, it is not the most significant principle of politics. It is the only principle of politics. Everything in politics is class warfare whether it looks like it or not. d. The elites are the business leaders and the labor leaders. e. Depending on which of these elite groups is currently on top, the government will do the bidding of ether the one or the other. c. Marxists claim that, in America, business has generally triumphed over labor.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) 2. Elite Theory #2: The Power Elite View - C. Wright Mills’ view that a few top leaders from three different groups work together to form a coalition (group) that dominates the government. a. The power elites are: 1.) Corporate leaders 2.) Top military officials 3.) Certain elected officials. b. This is similar to Marxism, but the elites aren't quite the same.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) 3. Elite Theory #3: The Bureaucratic View - The view that the elites are the longtime members of the federal bureaucracy who implement policy. a. The federal bureaucracy - the thousands of employees, called bureaucrats, who work for the federal government. b. The president puts the laws into effect, but he is just one person. c. The bureaucrats are the people who work for the President and really put the laws into effect. e. Most of them have been in government long before the president was elected, will be there long after the president is gone, and will never actually communicate directly with the president in their entire life.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) f. Because of this, they are largely able to put these laws into effect in any way they choose, including ways that might be entirely different from what Congress intended when they wrote the laws. g. Presidents and Congressmen come and go, but the government bureaucrats remain for decades. i. By putting Congress' laws into effect as they see fit, they actually shape and even remake Congress' laws. They are really responsible for policy in America. Not the President, and not Congress.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) 4. Elite Theory #4: The Pluralists View a. The American people can be thought of as a huge collection of smaller groups 1.) Bankers, Auto workers, Oil tycoons, Environmentalists, teachers, farmers, steel workers, franchise owners of every kind, investors, gun owner activists, woman's rights activists, minority rights activists, animal rights activists, and so on. b. Each of these countless groups have leaders, and these leaders are the elites.

C. 4 different theories of elite politics (Who are the elites?) 4. Elite Theory #4: The Pluralists View c. While some elite leaders certainly have more political power than others, no elites have enough political power to control the government alone. d. So over time, various elite leaders team up with other elite leaders, pooling their political power together to form a large enough alliance or “coalition” to control the government. e. These coalitions change over time, and whichever coalition has collected the most political power at the moment controls the government.