Transcript Chapter 1 - cungeheier

Pump Primer
Explain the three contemporary
theories of American democracy:
pluralism
elite and class theory
hyperpluralism
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Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Fourteenth Edition
Unit I Review
Chapter 1 - Introducing Government in America
Chapter 2 - The Constitution
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Begin to assess the central question to the course: How should the
government govern? What policies would fulfill those goals of governance?
Distinguish among the fundamental concepts of government, politics, and
public policy.
Describe the basic concept of the policymaking system
Examine he three contemporary theories of American democracy pluralism,
elitism and hyperpluralism
Explain why the Constitution is sometimes called the “higher law.”
Compare European thought of Hobbs, Locke and Montesquieu to that of
Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison
Explain how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation laid the
groundwork for the Constitution.
Evaluate how the Constitutional Convention dealt with issues of equality
Summarize the major compromises of the Constitutional Convention
Describe the major issues between the Federalist and the Anti-Federalists in
the debates over ratification of the Constitution
Ascertain how constitution changes—both formal and informal—continue to
shape and alter the Madisonian system
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Examples of Pluralism,
Elitism and HyperPluralism
C Wright Mill, Max
Weber, etc.
Ability to explain the
policymaking system
A person seeking to score at
the next level must know the
lower level(s).
Advanced
Level (5)
Intermediate
Knowledge (4)
Basic Knowledge (3)
Clear understanding of
Pluralism, Elitism
and Hyperpluralism
Understanding of
Democracy vs.
Republic
Can give basic
examples of P, E,
HP
Understands the
difference between
policy and law
Basic understanding of Pluralism, Elitism and
Hyper-Pluralism
Basic understanding of what a democracy iswhy America is a republic
Graph
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Graph
When comparing voter turnouts in the presidential election
for those 65+ to those under 25, we can see ultimately an
increase in voters 65+ and a overall decrease in those under
25. Thereby, increasing the gap between the two voting
groups when it comes to the presidential elections.
Since 1972, the gap between citizens 65+ turning out to vote
in the presidential elections has increased as compared to
those under age 25, which have decreased.
Over time there has been an increase in voter turnout for the
presidential election for those elderly (65+) when compared
to the decrease of those under 25.
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Government
Definition:
– Government is the institutions and processes
through which public policies are made and
enforced within or for a society.
This definition leads to two basic
questions:
– How should we govern?
– What should government do?
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Governments
Question to discuss:
How should governments govern?
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Government
Individuals form governments for...
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A More Perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure Liberty
Sound familiar?
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Government
All national governments have
certain functions in common:
– National defense
– Provide public services
– Preserve order
– Socialize the young
– Collect taxes
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Governments
Governments can be formed depending on
how governmental power is distributed:
 Unitary Government
 Federal Government
 Confederation
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Government
Governments can form depending on the
relationship between the executive and
legislative branches:
 Presidential Government
 Parliamentary Government
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Government
Governments can form depending on the
number of people who can participate in
the governmental process:
 Dictatorship
 Totalitarianism
Democracy
Direct
Representative
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Politics
Definition:
– Politics is the process by which we select
our governmental leaders and what policies
they produce—politics produces
authoritative decisions about public issues.
– Who gets what, when and how
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Politics
Lasswell’s definition of politics:
– The media usually focuses on the who
– What refers to the substance of politics and
government—benefits, such as medical care for the
elderly, and burdens, such as new taxes.
– How people participate in politics—people engage
in politics for a variety of reasons and their
activities in politics are collectively called political
participation.
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Politics
Single-issue groups: groups which
have very narrow interests, dislike
compromise, single-mindedly pursue
goals, and often draw in people new to
politics.
– Example: Anti-Vietnam War Activists, Gun
Control, Abortion, etc.
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Political System
A political system is a set of institutions and
activities that link together government,
politics, and public policy.
Linkage Institutions are the political
channels through which people’s concerns
become political issues on the policy agenda.
– Political Parties
– Elections
– Media
– Interest Groups
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The Policymaking System
Begins with “people.”
All Americans have
– Interests
– Problems
– Concerns
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Policy Agenda
Definition: The policy agenda are issues that
attract the serious attention of public officials.
A political issue arises when people disagree about a
problem or about a public policy choice made to fix a
problem.
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Policymaking Institutions
Definition: Policymaking institutions are the
branches of government charged with taking
action on political issues.
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Legislature (Congress)
Executive (President)
Courts (Federal and State)
Bureaucracies (Federal and State)
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Policies Impact People
Public Policy: a choice that government makes
in response to a political issue.
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Policies Impact People
Policy impacts are the effects that a policy has on
people and on society’s problems.
– Does it solve the problem?
– Does it create more problems?
Depending on the answer, policy impacts carry
the political system back to its point of origin:
the concerns of people.
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Theories of U.S. Democracy
Pluralist Theory
– A theory of government and policies emphasizing
that politics is mainly a competition among groups,
each one pressing for its own preferred policies
– Multiple access points to our government
– Bargaining and compromise are essential
ingredients
– Electoral majorities rarely rule
Public interest will prevail through the
bargaining and compromise
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Theories of U.S. Democracy
Elite and Class Theory
– A theory of government and politics
contending that societies are divided along
class lines and that an upper-class elite will
rule, regardless of the formal niceties of
governmental organization
Not all groups are equal
Policies benefit those with money and
power
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Theories of U.S. Democracy
Hyperpluralism (“pluralism gone sour”)
– A theory of government and politics contending
that groups are so strong that government is
weakened.
Groups control policy and prevent government
from acting
Difficulty in coordinating policy
implementation
Confusing and contradictory policies result
from politicians trying to placate every group
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Individualism & Patriotism
Individualism: the belief that individuals should be
left on their own by the government.
– Defined: Citizens capable of taking care of themselves
without, or with minimal, governmental assistance.
– Highly valued in the United States with a strong preference
for free markets and limited government.
Patriotism: It is love and devotion to one’s country.
– Nazi Germany taken to the extreme! Became unquestioning
support leading to jingoism.
– Christians need to have the proper perspective on
patriotism...a spirit of thankfulness for the blessings of God’s
grace. We need to passionately pray for our nation and our
political leaders.
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Constitution
Defined: Basic political and legal structure defining
the rules by which government operates. A nation's
basic law.
1. It creates political institutions.
2. Assigns or divides powers in government.
3. Often provides certain guarantees to
citizens.
4. Includes an unwritten accumulation of
traditions and precedents.
5. Sets the broad rules of the game of politics.
(It’s the final law of the land!)
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European vs. American
European
Hobbs
Locke
Montesquieu
American
to
to
to
Hamilton - Fed #78
Jefferson - Decl.
Madison - Fed #10
& 51
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Hobbs & Fed.#78
Human Nature
– Hobb believed in restraining “man’s bestial
tendencies”
– Hamilton “Men love power”
– Federalist 78 – The Judiciary
• guards the Constitution from corrupt men
• Life tenure in order to avoid any:
– “danger of an improper complaisance”
– “folly and wickedness of mankind”
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Montesquieu & Fed. #10 & #51
Montesquieu:
– Philosopher of the Enlightenment
– Believed tyranny was a danger for any government
• Preventable by “Separation of Powers” between different
bodies of the executive, legislative and judicial powers..
(Baron de Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat)
No. 10 - “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic
Faction and Insurrection” (James Madison)
No. 51 – “The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the
Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different
Departments” (James Madison)
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Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses
no national power (rested in each individual state)
– unicameral legislation
– no president or national court system
– no power to tax = no revenue
– to change or amend need unanimous approval of
the states
– approval of laws had to be by 9 of the 13 states
(majority)
– no power to regulate commerce (trade)
– states ignored the duty to the national government
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Articles of Confederation
Lead to the downfall:
– Economic Turmoil
– Water Rights (Potomac River MD & VA)
– Shay’s Rebellion
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Constitutional Convention
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Federalist vs. Anti-Federalists
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Federalist vs. Anti-Federalists
Federalists favored ratification
– James Madison
– Alexander Hamilton
– John Jay
– George Washington
Anti-federalists opposed ratification
– Patrick Henry
– John Hancock
– Samuel Adams
– Thomas Jefferson
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The Madisonian Model
To prevent a tyranny (Federalist 10)
of the majority, Madison proposed a
government of:
– Limiting Majority Control
– Separating Powers
– Creating Checks and Balances
– Establishing a Federal System
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Constitutional Change
Formal amendments change the language of the Constitution
in accordance with the procedures outlined in Article V.
- Proposal (2/3)
- Ratification (3/4)
Informally amended
-The unwritten constitution-an unwritten body of tradition,
practice, and procedure that, when altered, may change the
spirit of the Constitution.
- Political Parties
- National Conventions
- Judicial Review
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