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Politics A primer

Politics A primer. Primer: n. (prim- er or prahy-mer ) 1. Any book or study of elementary principles. Politics. Politics: n. ( pol-i-tiks )

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Politics A primer

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  1. PoliticsA primer Primer: n. (prim-er or prahy-mer) 1. Any book or study of elementary principles

  2. Politics Politics: n. (pol-i-tiks) • The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. “Who gets what, when and how.” -Harold D. Lasswell-

  3. Politics Politics: n. (pol-i-tiks) “Politics is the art of the possible” “Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.” --John Kenneth Galbraith--

  4. First Objective • Be able to explain all four types of governmental systems as explained by Aristotle

  5. Aristotle • Greek philosopher • Taught by Plato • Was 5’ 9” 156 lbs

  6. Aristotle • Greek philosopher from 5th century BC • Listed several forms of government • For each form there is a positive and negative version

  7. Aristotle's types • A ruler (one) • Exclusive multiple rulers (few) • Inclusive multiple rulers (many) • Everyone rules (all)

  8. A ruler • Monarch, king • Tyrant, dictator

  9. Exclusive multiple • Aristocracy (rule of the wise, sometimes used synonymous with plutocracy) • Oligarchy (rule of the strong) • Plutocracy (rule of the rich)

  10. Inclusive Multiple • Republic (representative rule of the people) • Rotating: all citizens serve for a short time in government (farmer senator) • Elitist: small group of educated representatives who serve government as a career (lifetime senator)

  11. Everyone rules • Democracy (people rule) • Mobocracy (anarchy)

  12. Baron de Montesquieu • Full name Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu • Born Jan 18 1689, died Feb 10 1755 • Wife Jeanne de Latrigue

  13. Baron de Montesquieu • Devised an idea of checks and balances in government • Three forms of government supported by a social principle • Monarchies (rely on principle of honor) • Republics (rely on principle of virtue) • Despotisms (rely on fear)

  14. Niccolo Machiavelli • Author of The Prince • Machiavelli is associated with “dirty politics” • Name used as an adjective • Example: “That was a Machiavellian take over.” • Quotes; • “The ends justify the means” • “It is better to be feared than loved”

  15. Machiavelli • Quotes: • “A prince should imitate the lion and the fox. The fox recognizes the trap; the lion frightens the wolves.” • By no means can a prudent ruler keep his word. Because [all men] are bad and do not keep promises to you, you likewise to do not have to keep your promises to them.

  16. Second/Third Objectives • Explain why political philosophers theorized a state of nature • What is the social contract? Where did it come from? And why does it matter?

  17. State of Nature • Political philosophers created this theory to explain why government is necessary • Dealt with what life would be like without government/laws • Who would enforce laws? • Would there be laws? • Who would look out for the weak? • Who would rule? • Would there be order?

  18. Social Contract • People give up absolute freedom to gain protection, order, other freedoms • Government gains power/authority by agreeing to honor certain rights and provide protection • This creates a contractual relationship between the people and the government • Contract: agreement between two entities in which both sides agree to give up certain things in order to gain other things

  19. Social Contract Theory • Government derives a mandate from the masses, not from some ceremony • Government “of the people” • Source: Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

  20. Thomas Hobbes • Leviathan • All people are selfish • In the absence of authority (state of nature) people will turn on each other • Life will be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” • Famously lampooned in Calvin & Hobbes comic strip

  21. John Locke • Two Treaties of Civil Government • Put forward the Social Contract idea • “The great chief end of men uniting…under government is the preservation of their property [and so, their natural rights].” • Natural Rights: Life, Liberty and Property

  22. Locke’s Theory • To protect natural rights they form government • State of nature existed before government • People had total freedom • But no protections for Natural Rights • If government does not protect these rights they have an obligation to dissolve the government

  23. Fourth Objective • Explain the Founders view of democracy.

  24. Jefferson • Declaration of Independence • Adhered to Locke’s philosophy • Changes Life, Liberty and Property, to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

  25. Founders and Framers • The founders were classically trained • Were fearful of tyrants • They were also fearful of the people • Democracy was thought to be the most dangerous form of government

  26. Democracy is bad? • Famous Quotes: • “A democracy is a government in the hands of men of low birth, no property, and vulgar employments.” Aristotle • “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Thomas Jefferson

  27. Democracy is bad? • Famous Quotes: • “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” John Adams • “Real Liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of dictatorship.” Alexander Hamilton • Not exactly a ringing endorsement

  28. Democracy is bad? • Contemporary quotes: • “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” Winston Churchill • “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” Churchill • “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Louis L’Amour • “Democracy is dumb.” Kevin Barrows

  29. Robert Dahl’s criteria for an ideal democracy • Equality in voting • Effective participation • Enlightened understanding • Citizen control of the agenda • Inclusion • majority rule + minority rights

  30. Fifth Objective • Explain the theories of our democracy and how the Founders made sure we had “just the right amount of democracy” in our system of government

  31. Theories of Democracy • Pluralist: numbers of groups that are similar who press the government to look after their interests • Elitist: small group makes most important decisions (also called power elite) • Three groups corporate heads, key military leaders, some key government leaders • Bureaucratic: those who operate the government agencies really manage society • Marxist: all power is a result of economic privilege or status • Majoritarian: people as a whole vote on everything

  32. We the distrusted people • Did the Founders trust us? • The Constitution shows the Framers basic distrust of the people • Electoral College • Unelected Judicial Branch • Senators appointed by the states (originally, changed by 17th amendment)

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