1. Chapter 1: The Democratic Republic

2. Why Is Government Necessary?
Order
Liberty
Property Rights
Protect wealth
Infrastructure
The greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in the society; can be promoted by or invoked against government.
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3. Authority and Legitimacy
Government Must Have Both Authority and Legitimacy
Authority: The power to enforce laws and require obedience to laws and policies.
Legitimacy: Widespread acceptance that the government has the authority and right to rule.
Charismatic Legitimacy: Based on personal power or attributes of the leader (such as a tribal chief or religious leader).
Traditional Legitimacy: Based on history, tradition, or custom (hereditary monarchy).
Rational or Legal Legitimacy: Government powers derived from established procedures, principles, or laws (constitution and elections).
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4. Forms of Government Totalitarian Authoritarianism Aristocracy
Democracy
Totalitarian Regime—government controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation.
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.
Derived from the Greek words demos (“the people”) and kratos (“authority”).
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5. Forms of Government Anarchy Autocracy Aristocracy Corporatocracy
Plutocracy
Theocracy
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6. Direct Democracy
Political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives, governing body composed of all citizens
Attained most easily in small political communities.
Athens
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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7. Direct Democracy Today
New England Town Hall Meetings – All citizens (voters) who live in a town participate in making decisions such as levying taxes, hiring city officials, determining local ordinances, etc.
Initiative - a procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
Initiative–a procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment
Referendum–an electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval
Recall–a procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired
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8. Direct Democracy Today
Referendum - an electoral device whereby legislative or constitutional measures are referred by the legislature to the voters for approval or disapproval.
Recall - a procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired. (In California, Governor Gray Davis was recalled and Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected to replace him.)
NOTE! Not the same as impeachment which is a legislative procedure for removing an elected or appointed official (Bill Clinton, Rod Blagojevich)
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9. Is Direct Democracy Dangerous?
Founders believed in government based on the consent of the people but were highly distrustful of anything that might look like “mob rule.”
Also concerned that a majority of the people, if possessing decision making authority, would abuse the rights of minority groups
Devised institutions to filter the popular will through elected elites.
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10. A Democratic Republic
The U. S Constitution created a Republic – A Government in which sovereign power rests with the people, rather than a King or Queen or any hereditary monarch.
A republic is based on Popular Sovereignty – The concept that ultimate political authority is based on the will of the people.
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11. A Democratic Republic (cont.)
The specific form of republican government created by the U. S. Constitution is a Democratic Republic.
Representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policies
The people hold ultimate power over government through elections
Elected officials are responsible for all policy decisions and lawmaking
Note that under the original constitution neither the President nor US Senators were elected directly by the people. Today Senators are elected directly by voters (17th amendment – 1913)
Principles of Democratic Government
universal 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.
Constitutional Democracy
limited government, states the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks. Without such limits, democracy could destroy itself.
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12. Principles of Democratic Government
Universal 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.
Protection of the rights of political minorities
Free, competitive elections
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13. Constitutional Democracy
The key concept is limited government, the principle that the powers of government should be limited, usually by institutional checks. Without such limits, democracy could destroy itself.
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14. What Kind of Democracy Do We Have?
Majoritarianism
A political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want. Popular as a principal, but not very good at explaining what really happens in our system.
Low Voter Turnout (Only 27.5 percent of eligible voters voted for Obama, Reagan in 1984 was the last to exceed 30 percent)
Lack of Interest
Poorly Informed Voters
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15. What Kind of Democracy Do We Have?
Elite theory assumes the population has little if any impact on the decision-making process. Ultimately, policy decisions are made by a select few within the society. These elites share a goal of governmental stability because they do not want their position within society jeopardized.
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16. What Kind of Democracy Do We Have?
Pluralism assumes that numerous factions (or interest groups) work to affect policy. Each faction works to promote the interests of the faction, and through a series of compromises, public policy decisions are made.
Many political scientists believe this is a good description of how American democracy functions
Some groups such as the poor not effectively represented
Other groups such as affluent citizens overrepresented
Powerful groups may adversely impact the larger public interest
Competing interests might paralyze government
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17. Fundamental Values
Why is our system stable? In part because of a shared political culture passed on through political socialization, largely performed by the family and the educational system, although in recent years, by the media as well.
Capitalism: an economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets and also by free markets and freedom of contract.
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18. Political Culture
The collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation. (TEXT P. 14)
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19. Political Socialization
The process through which individuals (children and immigrants) learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. Families and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process. Church and media are two additional sources of socialization. (TEXT P. 14)
The resulting dominant culture in America is based on values inherited from Western Europe in general and England in particular.
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20. Specific Values Individual Freedom Religious Freedom Freedom of Speech
Right to Privacy
Based on other rights explicitly set forth in the Bill of Rights, Basis for right to an abortion and preventing government from banning homosexual behavior in private between consenting adults.
Some (including cultural conservatives) believe that the right to privacy is a threat the sanctity of the family and the commitment to moral behavior
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21. Specific Values Equality
Declaration of Independence “All men are created equal.” There are many kinds of equality, some of which are more controversial than others. Equality of opportunity is a concept with much support. Equality under the law regardless of race, religion, or gender is a popular value today, but was not accepted as a norm even fifty years ago.
In reality, equality in the US has evolved over time
Initially all adult white male property owners
Then extended to all adult males regardless of property ownership
After Civil War, Constitution amended to make all citizens equal
Womens’ right to vote (1920)
Civil Rights Acts (1960s)
Economic Equality. This concept is more controversial.
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22. Specific Values
Order: Liberty versus order. Personal freedom and order, or security, can come into conflict. An example is the loss of civil liberties during wartime. One instance of this conflict can be seen in the Bush Administration’s warrantless surveillance program operated by the NSA.
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23. Specific Values Security Patriot Act TSA
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24. Specific Values Property
Property Rights and Capitalism. Economic equality fairness as a value comes into conflict with property rights and with the capitalist system in general.
Key concept: Capitalism, an economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets and also by free markets and freedom of contract.
The U.S. Supreme Court made a significant ruling in this area in Kelo v. New London, upholding the ability of a local government to use its power of eminent domain to take private property in order to turn it over to private developers so that an office park and condominiums could be built.
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25. Tensions Over Big Government
How much power should the American government have and what role should it play in the lives of citizens?
Katrina
Taxes
National Security Policies
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26. Ideologies: Liberalism versus Conservatism
Conservatives
Liberals
Economic and Social Positions?
Conservatives tend to favor limited governmental involvement in the economic sector. Economic freedom is seen as a necessity for the good of the society. On social issues, conservatives advocate governmental involvement to preserve traditional values and lifestyles.
Liberals tend to favor governmental regulation of the economy to benefit individuals within the society. On social issues, liberals advocate a limited governmental role. Social freedom is seen as a necessity for the good of the society.
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27. Political Ideologies
Ideology: A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government.
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28. Political Ideologies
Socialism: A political ideology based on strong support for economic and social equality. Socialists traditionally envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by the government or by employee cooperatives.
Libertarianism: A political ideology based on skepticism or opposition toward almost all government activities.
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29. Political Ideologies
Conservatism: A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.
Conservatives tend to favor limited governmental involvement in the economic sector. Economic freedom is seen as a necessity for the good of the society.
On social issues, conservatives advocate governmental involvement to preserve traditional values and lifestyles.
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30. Political Ideologies
Liberalism: A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for political and social change.
Liberals tend to favor governmental regulation of the economy to benefit individuals within the society.
On social issues, liberals advocate a limited governmental role. Social freedom is seen as a necessity for the good of the society.
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31. Political Ideologies
Capitalism: An economic system characterized by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract.
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32. A Four-Cornered Ideological Grid
In this grid, the colored squares represent four different political ideologies. The vertical choices range from cultural order to cultural liberty. The horizontal choices range from economic equality to economic liberty.
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33. Classical Liberalism
Liberal once meant limited government and no religion in politics.
Libertarians Today
The term evolved into its modern American meaning along with the political evolution of the Democratic Party, which was once the party of limited government but has become the party of (relative) economic equality.
The term evolved into its modern American meaning along with the political evolution of the Democratic Party, which was once the party of limited government but has become the party of (relative) economic equality.
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34. The Traditional Political Spectrum
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35. Totalitarian Ideologies
Communism: a revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning;
USSR
China
Cuba
Communism: revolutionary variant of socialism that favors a partisan (and often totalitarian) dictatorship, government control of all enterprises, and the replacement of free markets by central planning.
Fascism: a twentieth-century ideology—often totalitarian—that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler, and rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.
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36. Totalitarian Ideologies
Fascism: a 20th century ideology—often totalitarian—that exalts the national collective united behind an absolute ruler, and rejects liberal individualism, values action over rational deliberation, and glorifies war.
Nazi Germany
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37. Ideologies in the Islamic World
While communism and fascism are the historical ideologies that totalitarianism was coined to describe, our current international problem is with radical Islamism as exemplified by Al Qaeda.
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38. A Demographic Profile of America
“Here is not merely a nation but a teeming Nation of nations”
Walt Whitman
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39. The Changing Face of America
Aging
Population Growth
Ethnic Change
Changes in Hispanic Community
Women in the Workforce
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40. The Changing Face of America
America is a middle aged nation, Average age (median) 36.7 (2009 Projection)
Continuing to increase
F – 38 M – 35.4
Not as high as in Europe
The proportion of Americans who are elderly is growing.
See Figure 1- 1(text P. 24) on percent 65 or older % % %
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41. The Aging of America Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning
*Data for 2025 and 2050 are projections.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census.
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42. Impact of Older Population
Concerns and needs of older citizens have a huge impact on government policies, programs, and budgeting
Social Security
Pensions
Health Care
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43. Population Growth
The U. S. fertility rate of 2.1 implies population growth for many years, even without additional immigration.
But also implies an eventual leveling-off.
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44. Ethnic Change
The Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander portions of the U.S. population are expected to increase in future generations. This is due not only to immigration but also to high fertility rates of some new immigrant families after they settle in this country.
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45. Changing U.S. Population
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46. Fertility Rates Hispanic-American Fertility Rate 3.0 Overall U. S. 2.1
White
African-American
Mexico
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47. Top Ten Countries of Origin for U. S. Foreign Born Population
Mexico
China
Philippines
India
Ireland
Cuba
El Salvador
Canada
Dominican Republic
Korea
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48. Who Are the Hispanics?
Hispanic, someone who can claim a heritage from a Spanish-speaking country (Other Than Spain).
Over half (58.5%) are Mexican Americans,
a tenth are Puerto Ricans,
Cuban-American (3.5%) and the rest come from a very wide range of countries.
Generally most Hispanic groups have tended to vote more for Democrats than for Republicans
But Cuban-Americans are an exception, tending to be Republicans
Majority of Hispanics voted for Obama in 2008, even in Florida
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49. Religious Diversity
Although a large majority (83%) of Americans still identify as Christians, Americans now claim affiliation with 1600 different religious affiliations and denominations.
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50. Other Trends. Women have joined the workforce in recent decades.
Americans of today are much better educated than in the past.
Globalization
Environmental Issues (Global Warming)
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51. Proper Role of Government
From the nations beginning Americans have desired a government strong enough to provide security and order but not with too much power.
Federalists (Alexander Hamilton) saw a need for a powerful and active national government to promote commerce, prevent political strife, and protect the new notion’s international interests.
Anti-Federalists (Thomas Jefferson) believed that a strong central government would have the power to oppress citizens and thus there needed to be a weaker and decentralized with strict constitutional limitations on governmental power.
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52. Proper Role of Government
During the 1800s this conflict evolved into States Rights Democrats (John Calhoun) who opposed federal government intervention to end slavery and in economic affairs and the Republican Party (Abraham Lincoln) coalesced around abolishing slavery and preserving the United States as a single nation.
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53. Proper Role of Government
Today
Liberals (Democrats primarily) assert the need for a powerful and active national government to promote social and economic equality, to protect the poor, children, the elderly, and the environment.
Conservatives (Republicans primarily) believe that many national programs and policies should be eliminated or turned over to the states (welfare reform is an example). They believe that the national government should act strongly to provide for the nations internal and external security and also assert that the national government should be actively involved in promoting and maintaining family values and high moral standards.
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54. Trust In Government Has decline since the 1960s.
1960 – 1964, 75% of Americans stated they trusted government most of the time.
1964 – 1980, trust in government fell, reaching 25% in 1980
Rose during early years of Reagan presidency, then fell after the Iran-Contra Scandal.
Fell to the lowest point during early years of the Clinton presidency (Healthcare?)
Rose from 1994 during period of economic prosperity under Clinton.
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55. Trust In Government
Rose after 9/11 (Rally around the flag effect)
Has remained low during most of the last decade due to concerns over wars and economy
Initially rose some following Obama being elected, but
A NBC/WALL STREET JOURNAL POLL CONDUCTED 1/23-25/10 ONLY 28 PERCENT SUPPORTED THE IDEA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WELL OR OKAY – 7 IN 10 SAY IT IS UNHEALTHY, STAGNANT OR NEEDS MAJOR REFORM
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56. Possible Reasons Americans Do Not Trust Government
Too Big
Federal government limited in size until 1929 with power primarily at state level
1929 Great Depression and 1933 run on banks led to demands for federal involvement
Today federal government has influence of every aspect of American society
Difficult if not impossible to escape impact of government (all levels)
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57. Possible Reasons Americans Do not Trust Government
Poor Performance
Poverty
Environment
Health Care
Infrastructure
Disaster Response
Economy (bank bailouts and high unemployment)
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58. Possible Reasons Americans Do Not Trust Government
Perception That Government is Out of Touch with Average Citizens
Many Americans believe that government officials do not care what the people think
An even larger number believe that government is run by a few big interests looking out for their specific concerns
Many young Americans believe they have something important to say or contribute but no one listens to them
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59. Possible Reasons Americans Do Not Trust Government
Things Government Has Done To People
Treatment of Native Americans
Slavery, Jim Crow/Segregation, Tuskegee Experiments, Racial Profiling
Immigration Policies
The Branch Davidian Incident in Waco and the Ruby Ridge Incident
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60. Possible Consequences of Low Trust in Government
Extreme mistrust in government may lead some to no longer recognize authority and legitimacy
Refuse to pay taxes
Refuse to obey laws
1960s Race Riots
Oklahoma City Bombing
Jury Nullification
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61. Questions for Critical Thinking
Do you think a direct democracy is a rational option for governing in the United States? Describe the forms of direct democracy that exist and discuss the pros and cons of these mechanisms.
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62. Questions for Critical Thinking
Do you think some people in American society equate security and order with protection against fellow citizens who are racially, culturally, or economically different?
Do you think protection against discrimination should be considered a security issue as well as an issue of equality?
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63. Web Links U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
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