Selected Slides Review Unit 1
Defining Politics Aristotle: the common struggle for the good life Lasswell (American political scientist): the struggle for who gets what, when, and how
Politics: The Struggle Among Values Liberty-Positive vs. negative Equality-equality of opportunity vs. equality of outcome Order: Justice, righteousness, conforming to principles or ideals about right action
Two kinds of liberty Negative Liberty: freedom from government restraint Positive Liberty: Freedom to realize your potential as defined by government
What role for Government? The Rescue of Elian Gonzalez, 2000
American Ideologies Liberal Conservative Libertarian More Less Government Role in the Economy More Liberal Communist Libertarian Conservative Government Role In moral affairs More Less Less
Who Should Rule: Good and Corrupt Forms The One: Monarchy and Dictatorship The Few: Aristocracy and Oligarchy The Many: Democracy and Mob Rule
Locke’s Social Contract Theory The State of Nature Natural Rights Justification for Revolution Justification for Representative Government John Locke
The Declaration of Independence We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The California Constitution The California People: Initiatives, Referendum and Recall Plural Executive Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Secretary of State Insurance Commissioner Superintendent of Public Instruction Treasurer Controller Quackenbush State Supreme Court (7) State Legislature State Assembly(80) State Senate (40) Term limit of 12 yrs total in one or both Bodies (Prop 28, June 2012)
Liberal Democracy (Republic) A country based on the consent of the governed (competitive electoral system) A country that protects individual civil and political rights
Two kinds of Democracy A Republic: Elected representatives make laws for the people Direct Democracy: the People directly make laws
Three tools of direct democracy Two Kinds of Propositions: The Initiative—By petition , voters (5%) put a proposed bill on the ballot for voters to approve The Referendum---By petition (5%), the people approve or reject a state law. The Recall (12%): Removing an elected official
The Policymaking System The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. Figure 1.4 The six items are hyperlinked to their own slide. A return button is also on the slide. Figure 1.3
Who rules America?
Perspectives about American democracy in practice Classical Democratic (majoritarian): majority rules through political participation Elitism: a minority of elites rule Pluralism: interest groups rule Hyperpluralism
Stratified Pluralism: A Model of a Heterogeneous American People _ _Elites-___ Activists Neumann, Paradox of Mass Politics