Constitutional Underpinnings What is politics?

With a partner discuss what the word power means to you. Think Pair Share

What words come to mind when you hear the word “politics”? Does the word have a more positive or negative connotation? Word Association

Chapter 1 Reading Questions

Politics With a partner discuss your definition of politics. The ability of one person to get to another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions Politics

Would you describe yourself as a political person Would you describe yourself as a political person? Someone who is truly engaged beyond just reading the news. What might that look like? Reflect… Share… Question…?

A neutral view of politics All of us are political, we’re just not used to calling it that. You don’t have to take a class to get politics. Aristotle was correct when he wrote, “Man is by nature a political animal.” A neutral view of politics

Can we be hopeful about politics? Democratic Republican

Political Power Authority – right to use power Legitimacy – political authority conferred by law or constitution Political Power

The Three Models Democracy Models of American Representative Government. We can find all 3 in our country. But which one represents the US the most?

Can the mases be trusted? 1. Participatory Democracy –model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions. Example” New England Town Meeting Problems 1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per day on issues they no nothing about? 2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on emotions “The masses are turbulent and changing and seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander Hamilton Can the mases be trusted?

2. Pluralist Democracy: model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy. Modern society consists of many groups (ex. economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that compete with each other to achieve goals Groups that influence gov’t, work hard, and have largest membership get what they want Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals Example: Interest Groups Pluralist Democracy

Arguments for and against the Pluralist view Relatively low numbers of people join interest groups. Poor citizens have less opportunity to join interest groups or contribute to them. One can’t assume that group decisions are always in the best interest of the nation (everyone). AGAINST There is no unified majority in the US that always acts together. Gov’t leaders must please groups to gain votes and money to be reelected. Groups must compete for gov’t services and favorable laws.

Elite Democracy 3. Elite Democracy Model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making. Examples would be business leaders, military officials, labor union leaders, mass media executives, and heads of a few special interest This type limits meaningful participation by the broad population Elite Democracy

By elite we mean an identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource Views will be of the people shaping the policy not necessarily what the common people want. More Info…

Investigate: The Deep State/Elite Who Rules America?

What do you know about the Declaration of Independence What do you know about the Declaration of Independence? Share your prior knowledge with a class-mate Talk-Turn-Share

The Declaration of Independence Founding Document #1 – (Activity) The Declaration of Independence

DECLARATION IMPORTANT VOCAB/CONCEPTS… 3 Important Take-Away Points

“The only valid government is one based on the consent of the governed “The only valid government is one based on the consent of the governed.” - Locke Rulers and citizens enter into an agreement, or a social contract Government by the people, masses 1. Social Contract

Locke’s influence on the Declaration “A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another… - John Locke, of Civil Government “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal.” - Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Locke’s influence on the Declaration

Movie “Lord of the Flies” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipkF3xkP63M&index=2&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqptiihsVR1gHImfGMpeKUNP How does the video clip show Locke’s ideas?

Natural rights are those that are universal to human kind and not dependent on governments or laws. “Unalienable” – (god – given) In DEC: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness 2. Natural Rights

Idea that government is created out of the will of the people From DEC: “Consent of the Governed” 3. Popular Sovereignty

Other Important Aspects of the US Government

Representative Democracy (Republicanism) Citizens elect representatives through competitive elections Reps are educated on issues at hand Prevents fast, sweeping change that a direct democracy would do Minority rights more likely to be protected Representative Democracy (Republicanism)

Definition: Political system in which there are certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights and liberties. This decision to create a limited government was a deliberate departure from the British monarchy, which the Framers felt violated their rights. They intentionally created a limited government that would have to abide by a set of rules designed by the people of the country. Limited Government