GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA Ch. 1 “There never has been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free.” Thomas Jefferson

What is a nation-state / a state? A body of people Living in a defined territory Organized politically (with a govt) With sovereignty

What is the difference between Politics and Government?  POLITICS IS A PROCESS  GOVERNMENT IS AN INSTITUTION  Politics is the process that selects our leaders who then fill positions in institutions of government that make public policy.  Politician is a person who has the ability to persuade others that it is in their best interest to follow him!  The end product of government & politics is PUBLIC POLICY.  Politics is the process – the means by which government is conducted.

What is the purpose of government? 1.To provide public services i.e. police, fire, libraries, schools, etc 2. To provide for public defense i.e. Army, Navy, Marines, etc. 3.To solve conflicts i.e. court system 4.To preserve order i.e. National Guard 5. To establish public policy i.e. through laws, court decisions, budget choices, regulation, etc. 6.To socialize/educate the young How?

The state evolved out of the early family system Extended families grew into clans and then tribes Usually an elder male member of the family gained political power EVOLUTIONARY THEORY The first political leaders took control by conquest – force Gained control over territory, people, and possessions The “strongest” conquered the weak FORCE THEORY History of Political Development

God created the state, making it sovereign. The government is made up of those chosen by God to rule a certain territory. The population must obey their ruler. Divine Right of Kings Social Contract Theory An agreement among citizens or between the ruler and ruled that defines the rights and duties of each

Thomas Hobbes argued that our aggressive, destructive human nature forces us to set up a powerful, restraining state Social Contract Theory John Locke saw a benign human nature and asserted that the state’s only justification was to protect the natural rights of citizens

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY By voluntary act, people left the “state of nature” & chose to form a society to live by rule of law People gave up absolute freedom in exchange for protection provided by the State (government) Based on the principle of government by consent of the people Basis for democratic government Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property Right to Revolt if government seriously abuses its power Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

Question HOBBESLOCKE Agree? The Original State of Humankind Divine Right or Social Contract? State of NATURE SOCIAL Contract COMPARE (How are they similar?)

Question HOBBESLOCKE Agree? WHY Government? Where does sovereignty reside? Can a government’s power be limited? Right of REVOLUTION? To Protect us FROM OURSELVES To Protect NATURAL RIGHTS CONTRAST (How do they differ?) The MONARCHThe PEOPLE NOYES NOYES

 Hobbes – (Ordered Gov’t / Absolute rule by one) Idea of social contract involves an absolute government since people cannot be trusted. Leviathan, Human nature is nasty and mean-cannot be trusted to govern; each person is a threat to others for natural resources. So, people give up their natural law, right, and liberty for a social contract that provides order & the safety of civil law, rights, & liberty.  Rousseau – (Rule by all - direct democracy – mobocracy”) Version of contract theory is based on the concept of popular sovereignty –which is inalienable – thus, there can be no representative democracy, only direct democracy  Montesquieu – Separation of powers Saw separation of powers (division of power between executive, legislative, judicial branches of gov’t) as a way to reduce or eliminate the arbitrary power of unchecked rulers.

Authoritarian System the people cannot hold government accountable for its actions Democratic System the people can hold government accountable for its actions through competitive elections Two Major Classifications of Governments:

1) An autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. A monarchy is an autocratic government led by a hereditary ruler A dictatorship exists where there is rule by one that is NOT related to lineage

Current “Dictatorships”

In a democracy, –supreme political authority rests with the people. A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves. –Best example – Athens, Greece In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will. –United States Democratic Systems :

Direct Democracy as a Model Direct Democracy: A system of govt in which political decisions are made by the ppl directly Ancient Greece=purest Most important feature of Athenian democracy was that the legislature was composed of all citizens In America: initiative, referendum and recall

Limits of Direct Democracy At the time of the American Revolution, the masses were considered: Too uneducated to govern themselves Too prone to the influence of demagogues Too likely to subordinate minority rights to the tyranny of the majority A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole…and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention, and have ever been found incompatible with personal security of the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” --James Madison

The U.S. forms a Republic  A political system in which sovereignty rests with the people (as opposed to a monarch)  A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC is one in which the people elect representatives to make and enforce policies – an indirect democracy.

The U.S. Constitution created a Democratic Republic. The people hold the ultimate power over the govt thru the election process, but policy decisions are made by elected officials Principles: Universal suffrage Majority rule Limited government Also known as: Representative democracy or Indirect democracy

Legislative & Executive Branches Represent the People in a Democratic Republic Presidential System ◦ Independent Executive ◦ President elected separately from Congress Parliamentary System ◦ Legislature (Parliament) chooses Prime Minister who must retain support of Parliament

Three Theories of the impact of groups: PLURALISM – competition among groups such as NRA, NOW, UAW, AARP who all seek their own agenda – Most favorable view of democracy – no one group dominates, multiple access points to gov’t ELITE/CLASS THEORY – “Big Business & Upper Class rules! – most critical view of democracy HYPERPLURALISM – Too many groups divide gov’t, making it ineffective.... groups gone bad! GROUP THEORIES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Who really rules in America? Majoritarianism: a political theory holding that in a democracy, the govt ought to do what the majority of the ppl want Con: majorities can mobilize around issues with outcomes harmful to minorities (Prop 8 in CA) Not reflective: low level of voter turnout Elitism: a perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of ppl who exercise pwr to further their self-interest Rather than opting out, Americans are excluded Hamilton advocated Negative view: members are primarily interested in controlling the political system to protect their own wealth and the capitalist system that produces it Positive view: elites are more tolerant of diversity, more willing to defend individual liberties, and more supportive of democratic values than are members of the mass public Pluralism: theory that views politics as a conflict among interest groups. Political decision making is characterized by bargaining and compromise