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GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA Ch. 1

GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA Ch. 1. “There never has been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free.” Thomas Jefferson. The Purpose of Government Preamble to the Constitution. Form a More Perfect Union Establish Justice Insure Domestic Tranquility

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GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA Ch. 1

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  1. GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA Ch. 1 “There never has been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free.” Thomas Jefferson

  2. The Purpose of GovernmentPreamble to the Constitution • Form a More Perfect Union • Establish Justice • Insure Domestic Tranquility • Provide for the Common Defense • Promote the General Welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty

  3. GOVERNMENT • What is Government? • What is the purpose of Government? • To provide public services • Police, fire, libraries, schools, etc. • To provide for the public defense • Army, Navy, Marines, etc. • To solve conflicts & preserve order • Court Systems; National Guard • To establish public policy • Through laws, P actions, Ct. decisions, Budget choices, Regulation • To socialize/educate the young…….how?

  4. What is a nation-state / a “state?” • Defined as: • A body of people • Living in a defined territory • Organized politically (with a government) • With sovereignty - the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority • The dominant political unit in the world • Over 190 today, a/k/a “nation” or “country”

  5. History of Political Development Origin of the State Theories • Force Theory • Evolutionary Theory • Divine Right Theory • Social Contract Theory

  6. FORCE THEORY EVOLUTIONARY THEORY • The first political leaders took control by conquest - force • Gained control over territory, people, and possessions • The “strongest” conquered the weak • The state evolved out of the early family system • Extended families grew into clans and then tribes • Usually an elder male member of the family gained political power

  7. DIVINE RIGHT THEORY • The right to political power is granted by God • God chooses political leaders • God grants the right to rule to the nobility

  8. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY • By voluntary act, people left the “state of nature” & chose to form society to live by rule of law • People gave up absolute freedom in exchange for protection provided by the State (government) • Based on the principle of government by consent of the people • Basis for democratic government • Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property • Right to Revolt if government seriously abuses its power • Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

  9. Hobbes – (Ordered Gov’t / Absolute rule by one) Idea of social contractinvolves an absolute government since people cannot be trusted. Leviathan, 1651 - Human nature is nasty and mean-cannot be trusted to govern; each person is a threat to others for natural resources. So, people give up their natural law, right, and liberty for a social contract that provides order & the safety of civil law, rights, & liberty. • Rousseau – (Rule by all - direct democracy – mobocracy”) Version of contract theory is based on the concept of popular sovereignty –which is inalienable – thus, there can be no representative democracy, only direct democracy • Montesquieu – Separation of powers Saw separation of powers (division of power between executive, legislative, judicial branches of gov’t) as a way to reduce or eliminate the arbitrary power of unchecked rulers.

  10. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE & THEIR GOVERNMENT • Authoritarian System • the people cannot hold government accountable for its actions • Democratic System • the people can hold government accountable for its actions through competitive elections

  11. Two Major Classifications of Governments: 1) AUTOCRACY: • An autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. • Monarchies and dictatorships are both autocratic …… how are they different? • A monarchyis an autocratic government led by a hereditary ruler – what theory? • A dictatorship exists where there is rule by one that is NOT related to lineage….. • Can a monarchy be a dictatorship?

  12. Current Monarchies

  13. Current Dictatorships

  14. In a democracy, supreme political authority rests with the people. A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves. Examples? In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will. Examples? 2) Democracy:

  15. What is a “republic?” A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who elect people to represent them – an indirect democracy.

  16. Legislative & Executive Branches Represent the People • Presidential System • Independent Executive • President elected separately from Congress • Parliamentary System • Legislature (Parliament) chooses Prime Minister who must retain support of Parliament

  17. DEMOCRACY • DEMOCRACY– a means of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents & responds to the preferences, or will, of the public. • “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.” • Dahl’s criteria for an ideal democracy: (1) equality in voting – “one person, one vote” (2) effective OPPORTUNITIES for participation (3) Enlightened understanding - plethora of ideas. (4) citizen control of the agenda. (5) inclusion of all who are willing to participate.

  18. Major Tenets of Democracy: • MAJORITY RULE with minority rights • Worth of the individual • Equality of all persons • Necessity of compromise • Individual Freedom

  19. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes on individual rights: • “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”

  20. Politics • What is the difference between “politics” and “government?” • POLITICS IS A PROCESS; GOVERNMENT IS AN INSTITUTION • Politics is the process that selects our leaders who then fulfill positions in institutions of government that make public policy, using thepolicymaking system. • Politician: person who has the ability to persuade others that it is in their selfish interest to follow him! • The end product of government & politics isPUBLIC POLICY.

  21. Linkage institutions get the preferences of the people to the policymakers in government • Political parties • Mass Media • Interest Groups • Types of public policy: • Laws • Presidential decisions • Court decisions • Budget choices • Regulation

  22. GROUP THEORIESOF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY There are 3 theories of the impact of groups : (1)Pluralist theory - competition among groups such as NRA, NOW, UAW, AARP who all seek their own agenda • Most favorable view of democracy – no one group dominates, multiple access points to government • But, has modern society (technology) made these groups less effective? i.e., Group membership down….just write checks (2)Elite & Class Theory - Class splits, “Big Business & Upper Class rules! Most critical view of democracy (3)Hyperpluralism– Too many groups divide gov’t, making it ineffective. . . . groups gone bad!

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