CHAPTER 11: POLITICS

1. CHAPTER 11:POLITICS

2. GOVERNMENT 1 • A government has the authority to make and enforce laws. • Maintain order • Provide welfare services • Regulate the economy • Establish educational systems

3. POLITICS, POWER, AND AUTHORITY 2 Politics—a social process through which individuals and groups acquire and exercise power Power—the ability of a person or group to affect the behavior of others despite resistance

4. Authority 2 • Authority—the legitimate use of power • People consent to authority. • People see authority as valid and justifiable. • Authority is institutionalized in organizations.

5. Weber’s 3 Types of Authority

6. Application • Identify the type of authority: • The governor has power over the state because she was elected. • A father has power in a family because of religious beliefs. • A politician has power because of his exceptional personality.

7. GLOBAL POLITICAL SYSTEMS 3 • Democracy—a political system in which citizens control the state • Democracy does not always guarantee equality. • 46% of the global population lives in democracies.

8. Totalinarianism 3 • Totalitarianism—a political system in which government controls every aspect of people's lives • Ideology legitimizes state control. • A dictator rules. • The government has total control over other institutions.

9. Authoritarianism and Monarchy 3 Authoritarianism—a political system where the state controls the lives of its citizens but permits some degree of individual freedom Monarchy—authoritarian regime in which power is based on heredity

10. Application • Identify the type of political system: • Oyo Nyimba Kabamba-Iguru is the king of Uganda. • North Korea is ruled by a dictator. • The president of the United States is elected by the people.

11. POWER AND POLITICS IN U.S. SOCIETY 4 Political party—an organization that tries to influence and control government by recruiting, nominating, and electing its members U.S. has a two-party system.

12. Party Affiliation 4 Republicans tend to be older, college graduates, male, white, Protestant, and have higher incomes and more prestigious occupations. Democrats are more likely to be women, minorities, and the working class.

13. U.S. Government

14. Discussion 4 Why do the different political parties appeal to different types of people?

15. Special Interests 4 Special-interest groups—voluntary and organized associations of people attempting to influence public policy on particular issues Lobbyist—a representative of a special-interest group who tries to influence political decisions

16. Discussion 4 Do special-interest groups and lobbyists have too much power?

17. Campaign Money 4 • Campaign contributions are an important factor in winning elections. • Hard money comes from donations that the Federal Election Commission regulates. • Soft money is any contribution that is not regulated by federal election law.

18. PACs 4 Political Action Committees (PACs)—special-interest groups set up to raise money to elect candidates to public office PACs are supported by members of corporations, professional groups, and labor unions. PACs may provide access to politicians and create a sense of obligation and need to reciprocate.

19. PAC Contributors 4

20. Discussion 4 Should there be limits on campaign contributions and PACs?

21. WHO VOTES, WHO DOESN'T, AND WHY 5 On average, about half of U.S. citizens vote. U.S. has a much lower rate of voter turn-out than other countries.

22. Voter Turnout

23. Voter Registration 5 • Registration and voting varies by: • Age—Older people are more likely to vote than younger people. • Marital status—Married people are more likely to vote. • Social class—Those with higher incomes and educational levels are more likely to vote.

24. Characteristics of Voters

25. Registration and voting varies by: 5 • Race and ethnicity—whites are more likely to vote. Candidates are increasingly courting minorities. • Religion—Jews and mainline Protestants are more likely to vote. Religious affiliation influences party affiliation.

26. Registration and voting varies by: 5 • Attitudes—Many Americans are cynical about politics. • Situational and structural factors—Political participation can be influenced by illness, out-of-town travel, transportation or registration problems.

27. Discussion 5 Why are many potential voters cynical about politics?

28. WHO RULES AMERICA? 6 • Functionalist theory: a pluralist model • Functionalists suggest that power is distributed among a variety of competing groups. • Individuals influence politics through special-interest groups.

29. Power Elite Model 6 • Conflict theorists argue for a power elite model. • Power is concentrated in a small group of influential people who make the nation's major decisions. • Power elite is made up of political leaders, business leaders, and military chiefs.

30. 6 • Feminist theorists argue for a patriarchal model. • Women are generally excluded from the most important political positions. • Women are gaining in power but have been limited in the past by our patriarchal society.

31. Application • Identify the theoretical perspective: • The U.S. is ruled by white males. • The U.S. is ruled by a few people including CEOs, military generals, and high ranking elected officials. • Political leaders speak for a majority of the people.

32. Internet Connection • Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was an influential French sociologist and political thinker. Democracy in America, his most influential work, is an account of the U.S. democratic system as it existed in the 1830s. The entire text, and more of Tocquville’s musings are available at the University of Virginia-hosted Democracy in America. For more information, please visit: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC