1. Constitutional Underpinnings
What is politics?

2. With a partner discuss what the word power means to you.
Think Pair Share

3. What words come to mind when you hear the word “politics”?
Does the word have a more positive or negative connotation?
Word Association

4. Politics With a partner discuss your definition of politics.
The ability of one person to get to another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions
Politics

5. A neutral view of politics
All of us are political, we’re just not used to calling it that. You don’t have to take a class to get politics. Aristotle was correct when he wrote, “Man is by nature a political animal.”
A neutral view of politics

6. Machiavelli’s name is synonymous with tough and dirty politics
Author of The Prince. One of history’s first political scientists.
Machiavelli

7. Machiavelli Quotes “The ends justify the means.”
“It is better to be feared than loved.”
“By no means can a prudent ruler keep his word. Because all men are bad and do not keep promises to you, you likewise do not have to keep your promises to them.”
Machiavelli Quotes

8. Can we be hopeful about politics?
Democratic
Republican

9. Political Power Authority – right to use power
Legitimacy – political authority conferred by law or constitution
Political Power

10. Absolute power corrupts absolutely

11. Social Contract Theory
“The only valid government is one based on the consent of the governed.” - Locke
Rulers and citizens enter into an agreement, or a social contract
Government by the people, masses
Social Contract Theory

12. Locke’s influence on the US
“A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another… - John Locke, of Civil Government
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal.” Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence
Locke’s influence on the US

13. Social Contract Theory
Movie “Lord of the Flies”
How does the video clip show Locke’s ideas?
Social Contract Theory

14. How is Political power distributed?
Theories of American Representative Government.

15. Can uneducated/poor people be trusted?
Direct Democracy – citizens create/vote on laws
New England Town Meeting
Aristotle’s view
Problems
1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise
How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per day on issues they no nothing about?
2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on emotions (Hitler was elected)
“The masses are turbulent and changing and seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander Hamilton
Can uneducated/poor people be trusted?

16. Representative Democracy (Republic)
Citizens elect representatives through competitive elections
Gov’t MEDIATES popular views
“Will of the people” ≠ “Common interest”
EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights
Reps are educated on issues at hand
6 phone calls will get a Congressman’s attention
Prevents fast, sweeping change
Minority rights more likely to be protected
Representative Democracy (Republic)

17. Theories explaining how democracies ACTUALLY function
Majoritarian Theory
= leaders are forced to follow the wishes of the people because majority rules
2. Pluralist Theory
= groups compete and compromise with each other to get the gov’t to do what they want
3. Elite Theory
= groups or people who possess the most more power (money or influence) dominate gov’t
4. Bureaucratic Theory
= appointed officials dominate the gov’t through unelected jobs

18. Modern society consists of many groups (ex
Modern society consists of many groups (ex. Economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that compete with each other to achieve goals
Groups that influence gov’t, work hard, and have largest membership get what they want
Even if the average citizen does not keep up with politics, their interests will be protected by their group.
Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals
Pluralism

19. Arguments for and against the Pluralist view
Relatively low numbers of people join interest groups.
Poor citizens have less opportunity to join interest groups or contribute to them.
One can’t assume that group decisions are always in the best interest of the nation.
There is no unified majority in the US that always acts together.
Gov’t leaders must please groups to gain votes and money to be reelected.
Groups must compete for gov’t services and favorable laws.

20. The Elite
When circumstances don’t permit majoritarian decision making, then a group of officials will have to act without knowing and perhaps not caring about what the people want.
Views will be of the people shaping the policy not necessarily what the people want.

21. The actual distribution of political power will depend on the political elite who are actually involved in the policy making.
By elite we mean an identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource

22. Marxist Theory (Elite)
Control the economic system = control the political system.
Politicians require massive funding to win elections, and rely on corporations to supply them.
Marxist Theory (Elite)

23. Class View
Based on Karl Marx’s idea that government is merely a reflection of underlying economic forces, primarily the pattern of ownership of the means of production
Government is controlled by business owners(bourgeoisie) until a revolution replaces them with the laborers(proletariat).
Today based on “the rich” or the leaders of multinational corporations
Class View

24. The Power Elite View The Power Elite View
American democracy is dominated by a few top leaders, many of them wealthy or privately powerful, and not in office
Examples would be business leaders, military officials, labor union leaders, mass media executives, and heads of a few special interest groups
The Power Elite View

25. Bureaucratic View Bureaucratic View Created by Max Weber
In order to become successful a government puts its affairs in the hands of appointed bureaucrats whose competence is essential to the management of complex affairs
These appointed bureaucrats are invisible and behind the scenes, but actually make policy

26. These are only theories
These are only theories. They are people’s perception of our democracy and the way it functions.
Which theory is correct???
Pluralist – most popular today
Majoritarian – popular pre-1950’s
Elite – rising since the 80’s
Bureaucratic – gov’t spending more than ever before just to run itself
A Reminder…