Understanding Government What is government? Why is it necessary? How does it work?

What is Government? ?

Types of Government: Governments are defined based on who governs and how much governmental control is permitted.

Autocracy Government run by a single person Dictatorships, monarchies, etc. are examples of autocracies

Oligarchy Governed by a small group, usually wealthy merchants, landowners, or military officers

Democracy More people participate in government, and the populace has some influence over decision making

Two Types of Democracy: “Direct” Democracy: All (or at least most) citizens hold office or participate directly in making policy Aristotle called “the rule of the many” Many states use direct democracy through initiatives & referendums (policy choices that appear on a ballot)

Two Types of Democracy Representative Democracy Leaders are chosen by the people to make policy choices Used by most democracies today (including U.S.) Favored by the Founding Fathers

Issues Concerning Representative Democracy Communication must be free and untainted Competition (elections) must be present Must decide which offices are elected/appointed Who pays for campaigns?

Representative Democracy PRO CON Impractical for the people to decide on all public issues The people don’t get to make decisions about policy Representatives act as mediators of public opinion, looking out for public good Does not necessarily reflect the “will of the people” Government proceeds slowly, prevents government from doing great harm (Prevents tyranny) Proceeds slowly, often results in “gridlock”. Citizens complain that government can’t get anything done

Governmental Control Governments that are limited in what they can do are called constitutional . These governments are controlled by both Substantive (what they can do) and Procedural (how they can do it) limitations. Governments that have no legal limits, but are kept in check by forces they cannot control (an organized church, autonomous territories, organized labor/business groups) are called authoritarian. Finally, governments that lack any legal limitations and seek to eliminate any challenges to their authority are called totalitarian. These governments typically attempt to dominate or control every sphere of political, economic, and social life.

Why is government necessary?

It depends on who you ask….. According to Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), government is necessary because without it, we would all kill each other and steal everyone else’s stuff.

The State of Nature Hobbes defined a period without government as the “state of nature” Life in the state of nature is “nasty, brutish, and short” As such, people create Social Contracts (governments) to maintain order

But that’s not all…. John Locke (1632-1704) took Hobbes’ ideas a step further, claiming that government was necessary to protect property.

And finally… Philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) went even further, arguing that government was necessary in order to provide public goods. Hume believed that only government could solve the “free-rider problem” The “free-rider problem” arises when some individuals realize they can enjoy the benefits of a good without putting forth any of the work. Governments have the coercive power to solve the “free-rider problem” (Usually through taxation) Examples of public goods include National Defense, create legal tender, and build bridges, etc.

How is power distributed?

Power and Authority Power: Authority: The ability to get another to act in accord with one’s intentions Some power is overt while some is more subtle Authority: Authority is the legal right to use power We accept decisions from the government if we believe they come from those who have the right to make them (legitimacy) The Constitution is recognized as the source of legitimacy in the United States

Distribution of Political Power Policy reflects the views of those people who participate actively in policy making (the “political elite”) Political elites are identifiable groups that possess a disproportionate share of power

Theories of Political Power Marxist Theory Nongovernmental Elite Theory Bureaucratic Theory Pluralist Theory

Marxist Theory Government is a reflection of economic forces All societies are divided into economic classes The class dominating the economy also controls the government The government represents the rich

Nongovernmental Elitist Theory An elite group makes most of the major government decisions Corporate leaders, military officers, key political leaders dominate policy Actions are coordinated to serve the interests of the elite

Bureaucratic Theory True political power belongs to the bureaucrats (those who operate government agencies) All government institutions have fallen under the control of vast bureaucracies Bureaucrats possess the expertise and specialized skills that are essential to the management of contemporary affairs

Pluralist Theory No single elite has a monopoly on power Resources such as money, prestige, expertise, and access to the media are too widely distributed While not distributed equally, resources are sufficiently divided among various groups to assure an opportunity for everyone to participate

What about American Government?

Four Facts of American Government: The National Government is HUGE People turn to government to solve problems Perfection cannot be achieved Government is complex

Four Facts of American Government: 1. Government is BIG American government has increased in scope, size and influence since 1930 The national government today is an enormous institution with programs and policies reaching into every corner of American life

Four Facts of American Government: People turn to government to solve problems. Majority of Americans support an “active” national government More than half of voters believe it is important for the government to provide more services, even if it requires more spending

Four Facts of American Government: Perfection is unattainable - different actors have different outlooks and interests - Political life requires compromise and cooperation among those with competing goals

Four Facts of American Government: Government politics and policy are COMPLEX - policy requires coordination with many different levels of government and non-governmental agencies - the “government” is actually a complex arrangement of institutions and processes that are frequently disjointed and often work against each other

Change Over Time Perceptions of American government have changed dramatically throughout history (and continue to change) What government does today is heavily affected by what it did yesterday

Changes in Domestic Policy 1920s – Small federal (national) government, plays a minimal role in people’s lives 1930s – 1970s government expands as people look to government to solve economic and social problems (creation of a “safety net” for all Americans) 1980s trend reverses as spending for social programs decreases, taxes are cut, (Reagan Revolution) Today: ????

Changes in Foreign Policy Founding – policy was a direct response to British/French action 1840s-1890s – imperialism, expansion of influence throughout the world 1890s -1940s – Isolationism prevalent until WWII 1950s – Today – Global Superpower, embraces role as international leader

Review What is government? Why is government necessary? Government is defined by the number of people who are in control, and the limits placed on the government itself Why is government necessary? To maintain order To protect property To provide public goods