Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Democracy in the United States Chapter 1 Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005

Elections in America More than other democracies, politics here is driven by electoral influences. –The permanent campaign Elections are not always expressions of popular preferences. But they are a key ingredient in American government.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Half-a-Million Elected Officials More elections than other countries 1 elected official for every 500 Americans National elections –held every two years State elections –choose governor, state legislature, and most also elect lieutenant governor, treasurer, state’s attorney general, and many more Local elections –3000 county sheriffs, 16,000 school boards

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Nominating Candidates and Deciding Issues Primary election –Preliminary election that narrows the number of candidates by determining who will be the nominees in the general election General election –Final election that selects the office holder Initiative –Proposed laws or state constitutional amendments placed on the ballot via citizen petition

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Nominating Candidates and Deciding Issues Referendum –Proposed laws or state constitutional amendment that is proposed by a legislature or city council but does not go into effect unless the required majority of voters approve it Proposition –A shorthand reference to an initiative or a referendum Responsible for American Exceptionalism?

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Government and Politics Many Americans frustrated with government Healthy attitude? –Weber on government: that institution in society that has a “monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force.” –Because government has the ability to coerce, it is natural to distrust and fear it. –So why have a government?

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Government and Politics Governments are necessary because of people. –Madison: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” –Government necessary because often people do not agree and may not even get along. –Hobbes: A world without government would be nothing less than “a war of all against all.”

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Types of Government Government by One Person – monarchs and dictators Government by the Few –aristocracy: leaders chosen by birth –oligarchy: leaders chosen by virtue of wealth, power or membership in political party

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Types of Government Government by the Many –Democracy: system in which governmental power is widely shared among the citizens, usually through free and open elections –Direct democracy: type of democracy in which ordinary people are the government making all laws themselves –Representative democracy: an indirect form of democracy in which the people choose representatives who determine what government does –Popular model of democracy: type of representative democracy in which ordinary citizens participate actively and closely constrain the actions of public officials

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The New American Democracy Trends over the course of two centuries: –more of the population has gained citizenship and the rights that go with it –connection between representatives and the public has become more direct –national institutions have become more open to popular influence –number and frequency of elections have increased.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Permanent Campaign The new American democracy is marked by a permanent campaign. –The campaign literally NEVER ENDS. –Line between campaigning and governing has disappeared. –Governing becomes a campaign strategy.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Permanent Campaign Seven developments have contributed to the permanent campaign –Separation of elections –Decay of party organizations –Spread of primaries –Rise of mass communication –Profusion of interest groups –Proliferation of polls

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Minorities and Elections American democracy may have moved in a popular direct, but majorities do not get their way constantly. Factors that give minorities an advantage: –Unequal participation –Nominating process –Unequal campaign processes Single issue voters: voter who cares deeply about some particular issue that a candidate’s position on this one issue determines his or her vote. –Misinformed citizens

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Majorities and Elections Although single-issue voters and other special interests may wield disproportionate influence at times, they lose when there is a clear majority on a subject. –Abortion Moderate views in general Congress of did not pass the Freedom of Choice Act supported by pro-choice forces. Nor did recent Republican Congress adopt a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion as pro-life forces wanted.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Majorities and Elections Majorities more likely to be powerful even when the public is uninformed about or unaware of the issue. Ordinarily, majorities rule not so much because they actively articulate their views. Rather it because public officials anticipate majority opinion long before it asserts itself.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Reform? Americans frustrated by nature of government, but should view proposals for radical reform cautiously. Examples- calls for –Direct democracy –More elections –More opportunities to exert popular pressure –Or more power for elected officials Such reforms overlook the tremendous popular pressure that political leaders are already under. That may be part of the problem, not the solution.

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Benefits of an Electoral Democracy Irony: We have greater opportunity to influence government, but we are increasingly disappointed in it. But there is more right than wrong with the U.S. –Often critics apply unrealistic standards of evaluation. –Must have realistic standards for evaluation. –Compare to other countries. –Better in many areas, but not in everything. –Important to examine what works and what does not. Particularly important to understand the effects of the permanent campaign.