Chapter 1 The Spirit of American Politics

Who Governs? In a republic, power rests with the people. However, this is difficult form of government to maintain. The first question of American politics – raised in every generation – is whether the people hold the power. Is the United States a government by the people? Scholars have developed four approaches to political power in America: pluralism, elite theory, bureaucratic theory, and social movement theory. We return to this issue in every chapter of this book.

How Does American Politics Work? American political decisions are shaped by four “I” factors: ideas, institutions, interests, and individuals. Mastering how the four I’s shape politics also requires an understanding of history.

What Does Government Do? Every nation is made up of three primary sectors: private life, civil society, where people interact voluntarily; and government. Those sectors are increasingly blurred in the United States Americans tend to dislike their national government – but like the benefits that government programs provide. Democratic government at its best involves popular involvement, either through direct engagement with public officials or through civil society activities that help develop “habits of the heart”.

Who Are We? American politics constantly addresses the most fundamental question about a people: Who are we? Because the nation is so diverse – and so rapidly changing – the answer to this question is constantly being rewritten. Each generation of Americans, including newly arriving immigrants, answers this question in its own way. Today we see millennials constructing their own version of a response.