American Government and Politics Today Chapter 1 The Democratic Republic

Politics and Government QUESTION: What if people were required, by law, to register and vote? Can you make people care? Should a government even try?

Why Is Government Necessary? (What are the purposes of government?) (1) Maintaining Security = Order -Maintaining peace and security by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity (2) Protecting Liberty -ensuring that all citizens are treated equally -protected by limiting governmental powers

How do governments operate? How do governments operate? -authority: the right and power of a government or other entity to enforce its decisions and compel obedience. -legitimacy is popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority.

 How then do different forms of government come to exist?

 Theories of Governance (1) Marxist – based on economic forces -groups seeking power: capitalists & the workers (2) Elitist – non-governmental groups make decisions -interest groups (3) Bureaucratic – appointed officials are the ones truly in power (4) Pluralist – various forces control the government -so many that not one single can control

Forms of Government (1) Totalitarian Regime—government controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation. (2) Authoritarianism—A type of regime in which only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler. -Social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government’s control.

(3) Aristocracy—Rule by the “best”; in reality, rule by an upper class. (4) Democracy—A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people. -Derived from the Greek words demos (“the people”) and kratos (“authority”). -Derived from the Greek words demos (“the people”) and kratos (“authority”). -the form that we have

Two Types of Democracy  Direct Democracy  Representative Democracy

Direct Democracy – Political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives – Attained most easily in small political communities.

Is Direct Democracy Dangerous? -founders believed in government should be based on the consent of the people -however, they were highly distrustful of anything that might look like “mob rule.” -therefore, they devised institutions to filter the popular will through elected elites.

A Democratic Republic -Democratic republic and representative democracy = government based on elected representatives

Principles of Democratic Government Principles of Democratic Government universal suffrage, or the right of all adults to vote for their representativesuniversal suffrage, or the right of all adults to vote for their representatives majority rule, the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select the officials and determine policies.majority rule, the greatest number of citizens in any political unit should select the officials and determine policies. Constitutional Democracy. Constitutional Democracy. limited government, states the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks. Without such limits, democracy could destroy itself.limited government, states the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks. Without such limits, democracy could destroy itself.

What Kind of Democracy Do We Have? Political scientists developed several theories to describe our type of democracy. (1) Majoritarianism = believing that the government should do what the majority want -how do you explain low voter turnout in elections? -low interest in politic?

(2) Elite theory = belief that society is ruled by a small group of people who exercise power to further their self-interest -ordinary people have no say because they do not really care?

(3) Pluralism = theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups -consider the different lobbying groups that try to influence governmental decisions. Which is true? Which is best for us?

Fundamental Values Founders believed our national political culture would keep us together (a set of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a nation)

These include: -Political Socialization = process by which beliefs and values are passed on 1 st family, 2 nd school -Liberty versus Order = 1 st amendment rights are balanced against the government’s need to maintain order

 Equality versus Liberty. -to promote equality, it is often necessary to place limits on the desire by some to treat people inequality Economic Equality?Economic Equality? Political Equality?Political Equality?