1. Government, Politics, and Democracy

2. What is government? According to the dictionary:
1. The political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration.
2. The form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed: monarchical government; episcopal government.
3. A branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government.

3. Brainstorm with a Partner
What is the ideal type of government?
What is the role of government?
What kind of powers should they have?
What should they be able to do/not do?

4. Governments Throughout History
Monarchy: Ruled by an emperor or a king/queen
Absolute Monarch: Monarch can do as they please
Parliamentary Monarch: Monarch must convene with an elected body
Figurehead Monarchs: Monarch has no power, Parliament/Congress is in power.

5. Governments Throughout History
Oligarchy: The minority rule the majority.
Examples:
Ancient Greece (The educated ruled the non-educated)
Apartheid South Africa (the Boers ruled the Natives)
Present Day USA?

6. Governments Throughout History
Fascism: The well being of the state is more important than the people.
Examples:
Nazi Germany
Mussolini’s Italy
Imperial Japan

7. Governments Throughout History
Communism: Everything is publicly owned. Private ownership is illegal.
Examples:
The Soviet Union
China
Cuba

8. Governments Throughout History
Democratic Republic – Officials are elected by the people
Examples:

10. Role of Government in the USA
Maintain the national defense
Provide goods and services
Preserve order
Socialize the young
Collect Taxes

11. Theories of American Democracy
Pluralist Theory
States combine their organizations that have shared interests and influence public policy
Group politics
Creation of interest groups
Examples:
National Rifle Association (NRA) and Conservative States
National Organization for Women (NOW) and Liberal States

12. Theories of American Democracy
Elite and Class Theory
Society is divided between class lines and the upper-class elite control the government
Big business influence policy more than the people
The wealthy remain in power
It doesn’t matter who is in office, corporations have the real power

13. Theories of American Democracy
Hyperpluralism
It’s not only the elite.
Interest groups are so strong that government cannot act.
Interest groups are the master, and the government serves them