1. INTRO TO AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORY (Ch
INTRO TO AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORY (Ch. 1) Let’s look at the founding of the nation and the Constitution from a different lens.

3. WHITEBOARDS: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE “DEMOCRACY?”

4. Textbook definition of democracy:

5. WHITEBOARDS: What are challenges to democracy?

6. CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY
Average citizens making decisions about complex issues … why?
Uninformed citizens (knowing little about policy or political leaders) … why?
Too dependent on money … why ?
Diverse interest groups … why?
Of these four, which is the BIGGEST challenge?
What are other challenges to democracy?

7. WHITEBOARDS: What is one idea or concept that characterizes American political culture?

8. AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE THe idea that Americans have a common political American ideology or concept of American culture
5 Elements of Political Culture
Liberty: D of I unalienable rights
Egalitarianism: Equality of opportunity
Individualism: western frontier and immigrant experience shaped conceptions of individualism
Laissez-faire economics: U.S. government is expected to regulate/ tax less than most countries
Populism: Common, ordinary citizens idealized in American politics

9. Traditional Democratic Theory
Advanced by Robert Dahl, Yale poli sci professor
5 criteria essential for an “ideal democratic process” - dahl argued “true democracy” has not existed
Equality in voting - “one person, one vote”
Effective participation - must be representative
Enlightened understanding - free press, free speech
Citizen control of the agenda -citizens as a whole control the government’s policy agenda
INclusion - citizenship must be available to all within a nation
Also discusses majority rule w/preservation of minority rights

10. Contemporary Theories of American Democracy
Elite (Class) Theory
Pluralism
Hyperpluralism

11. Upper-class elite rule Wealth = basis of power
Elite (Class) Theory
Upper-class elite rule
Wealth = basis of power
The dominance/influence of big business
Some argue…Elitism is increasing

12. Pluralist Theory Many groups compete for power and influence
Lots of ways to access power; dispersed in many forms throughout 3 branches of government
Bargaining/compromise are essential components in democracy
Not so much “majority rule” as it is all groups can make themselves heard at some point in the democratic process
Some argue…increase in groups indicates rise in pluralism

13. Hyperpluralism Pluralism gone bad
Too many groups have access to different stages of policymaking power at various levels of government
Government creates contradictory policies in an attempt to appease various groups
Results in weaker government
Too many strong groups → gridlock (government inaction due to competing views)
Public interest not served

14. Which of the three contemporary theories best describes American society today?
Justify.

15. Does “America is Not the Greatest Country in the World” best represent Pluralist Theory, Elite (Class) Theory, or Hyperpluralism Theory? How?
Does “Why I Love the Country that Betrayed Me” best represent Pluralist Theory, Elite (Class) Theory, or Hyperpluralism Theory? How?