Politics, Power and Other Dirty Words

POLS 205 American National Government Lecture 2: Politics, Power and other Dirty Words

Political ______The study of those relationships involving ______and ______, especially those including ______(Wassermann)

This is an OLD discipline! The Greek’s three legitimate forms of good government: Monarchy—rule by ______leader Aristocracy—rule by a ______good men ______—rule by the many

What is Government? A Linguistics Waterfall • Government is the individuals, institutions, & processes that make the ______for society and possess the ______to enforce them

• ______is the pursuit and exercise of power

• Power is the possession of control over others

• Democracy means rule by the ______

• Republic is a form of government in which ______are ______(they are in control), but their power is exercised by their elected ______

Politics Harold ______: Who gets what, when and how ______said politics was about "who could do what to whom"

______• The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions. (Wilson) • The ability to influence another’s behavior. (Wasserman) • Power, like money is a means to other ends.

Authority • The ______to use power • Legitimate Power • ______basis • Accepted as right

• “should” • Deserves ______• An ______form of power – (no need for force if you should obey)

• “Anyone can clear a street with a gun. Only an accepted ______can do it with just a word.” (Wasserman)

Authority, by George… "The very idea of the power and the right of the People to ______Government presupposes the duty of every Individual to ______the established Government." George Washington (Farewell Address, September 19, 1796)

It is a wonderful conundrum: Legitimate ______, and the respect thereof can give you a firm foundation for freedom and individual ______!

So now you have a few structural questions to answer…

Tell us how you really feel, Publius… • A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such ______have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their ______.

Democracy Derived from the Greek words – ______(the people) – ______(authority) Made the framers nervous! – Democracy = ______rule Democracy - A system of government in which ultimate political ______is vested in the ______(Schmidt)

Two forms of Democracy - Direct and Indirect

Limited ______Democracy • Direct (______) democracy ______citizens participate in decisions seen as best for ______and simple political units Townhall meetings of New England • A minority of states have some form of direct democracy ______Referendum Recall • ______– The wave of the future?

Mostly Representative (Indirect) Democracy Representative democracy citizens choose ______representatives serve ______terms representatives have ______powers

• Senator Blanche ______, Senator Mark ______, Representative Vic ______, President Barack ______

• Wilson quotes Schumpeter… the institutional arrangement where individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive ______for the people’s ______. We call this…

A ______A form of government in which ______elected by the ______make and enforce laws and policies. (Schmidt)

• We are ______a republican form of government! (Article IV, section 4)

• Representation, with the consent of the ______governed. • So, what do we have? Governmental Salsa: a little of this, a little of that: A representative ______in the form of a democratic ______!

A Little Historical Background: Two Conflicting Ideals Elitism Caste or Class Elitism: ______Better Modern Elitism: Some people are ______than others, either by birth, by choice, by effort, or by nature. • Elitists groups include: Country Clubs; NASCAR The NFL; The Miss America Pageant Universities; College Graduates

Egalitarianism • Colonial Egalitarianism: Self evident: All men are created ______… – White, land owning males – We have an equal say, and as ______equal ______, but not necessarily equal gifts or skills

• A more modern interpretation: Everyone is, can be, or should be equal. – No Child Left Behind – Every child a reader (by fourth grade) – Equality of opportunity or ______? – Equality of skills or gifts? NO Equality of ______? YES

Elite Power ______Those who get more than others of the values society has available. (Wasserman) Elite power theory: society is ruled by a ______number of people who exercise power in their self interest. (Schmidt)

Evolving Egalitarianism All men are created equal… So far so good… (The longer we go with no problems, the more ______we tend to become.) Rock the Vote; Hip Hop Vote Technological changes - ______

American Elites - Elites: Those who get ______than others of the values society has available, such as wealth, prestige, or security. (Wasserman) - Elite power theory: society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power in their self interest. (Schmidt) - What makes us different: We believe we all have the potential to become elites if we work hard enough. Our elites aren’t born, they are ______.

An alternative to the Elite Power Theory: Pluralism – applying ______to make good policy

Pluralism A ______theory of democracy.

Society contains many conflicting groups with access to government officials, and these groups ______with one another to influence policy decisions. The compromises that result become public ______.

Key Concepts of Pluralism: ______of Power Opposing pressures: Duke-ing it out in the marketplace of ideas Bargaining ______-trading: Groups must bargain with each other to obtain their goals ______Accommodation: Half a loaf IS better… Consensus Agreement: ______acceptance of foundational values and specific policy choices

Keeping Pluralism In Check Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a ______lamb contesting the vote! Benjamin Franklin

• Democracies ______when the people realize that they can vote themselves other people’s money… Democracies that ______have strong constitutions, working checks and balances, multiple safety valves, and active, well informed citizens.

Two Other Schools of Thought Marxism Carl ______Those who control the ______also control the government . ______is simply a reflection of underlying economic forces. Bureaucratic Control Max ______Those who control the government… also ______the government. ______officials and ______government workers exercise vast power by deciding how to translate public laws into administrative actions.

In order to form a more perfect union…

Core American Beliefs: ______Democracy ______of worth Individual ______Private property Capitalism Patriotism and exceptionalism

Central Question: The ______of man

What you believe informs how you create a government.

Constitutional Quizzes First one is August 31 – Sept. 3 in the testing lab.

• Testing lab info and policy on my website.

• Helpful (but horribly cheesy) study links on the Website!