ap gov chap1

11

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The Study of The Study of

American American GovernmentGovernment

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1. How is political power actually 1. How is political power actually

distributed in America?distributed in America?2. What explains major political change?2. What explains major political change?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1. What value or values matter most in 1. What value or values matter most in

American democracy?American democracy?2. Are trade-offs among political 2. Are trade-offs among political

purposes inevitable?purposes inevitable?

44

HOW WE HOW WE COMPARECOMPARE

Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage


What Is Political Power?What Is Political Power? PowerPower–the ability of one person to –the ability of one person to

get another person to act in get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s accordance with the first person’s intentionsintentions

AuthorityAuthority–the right to use power–the right to use power LegitimacyLegitimacy–political authority –political authority

conferred by law or by a state or conferred by law or by a state or national constitutionnational constitution


What Is Democracy?What Is Democracy? DemocracyDemocracy–the rule of many–the rule of many Direct Direct oror participatory democracy participatory democracy––

government in which all or most citizens government in which all or most citizens participate directlyparticipate directly

Representative democracyRepresentative democracy–a–a government in which leaders make government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.struggle for the popular vote.


To enter the United States, foreigners must now produce To enter the United States, foreigners must now produce a photograph and fingerprints.a photograph and fingerprints.

Ramin Talaie/Corbis

1100


Is Representative Is Representative Democracy Best?Democracy Best?

AristotleAristotle defined democracy as rule defined democracy as rule by ordinary people, most of whom by ordinary people, most of whom would be poorwould be poor

John LockeJohn Locke argued against powerful argued against powerful kings and in favor of popular consentkings and in favor of popular consent

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes argued that an argued that an absolute, supreme ruler was absolute, supreme ruler was essential to prevent civil waressential to prevent civil war

1111


How Is Political How Is Political Power Distributed?Power Distributed?

Majoritarian politics Majoritarian politics – elected officials – elected officials are the delegates of the people, are the delegates of the people, acting as the peopleacting as the people

Political elitePolitical elite – 4 descriptions – 4 descriptions• elites reflect a dominant social classelites reflect a dominant social class• a group of business, military, labor union, a group of business, military, labor union,

and elected officials control all decisionsand elected officials control all decisions• appointed bureaucrats run everythingappointed bureaucrats run everything• representatives of a large number of representatives of a large number of

interest groups are in chargeinterest groups are in charge

1122


How Is Political How Is Political Power Distributed?Power Distributed?

Class viewClass view–the government is dominated –the government is dominated by capitalistsby capitalists

Power elite viewPower elite view–the government is –the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of governmentwhom are outside of government

Bureaucratic viewBureaucratic view–the government is –the government is dominated by appointed officialsdominated by appointed officials

Pluralist viewPluralist view–the belief that competition –the belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public among all affected interests shapes public policypolicy

1133


Is Democracy Driven byIs Democracy Driven bySelf-Interest?Self-Interest?

A policy may be good or bad independent of A policy may be good or bad independent of the motives of the person who decided it.the motives of the person who decided it.

The self-interest of individuals often is an The self-interest of individuals often is an incomplete guide to their actions.incomplete guide to their actions.

Many of the most important political Many of the most important political happenings in the U.S. were led against long happenings in the U.S. were led against long odds by people who risked much knowing odds by people who risked much knowing that they might not succeed and suspecting that they might not succeed and suspecting that, even if they did succeed, generations that, even if they did succeed, generations might pass before their efforts truly benefited might pass before their efforts truly benefited anyone.anyone.

1144


What Explains Political What Explains Political Change?Change?

Government and its policies are Government and its policies are shaped by shaped by • Economic interestsEconomic interests• Powerful elitesPowerful elites• Entrenched bureaucratsEntrenched bureaucrats• Competing pressure Competing pressure groupsgroups• Morally impassioned Morally impassioned individualsindividuals

Enigma/Alamy

1155


What Explains Political What Explains Political Change?Change?

The dominant political problem of The dominant political problem of the time shapes the nature of day-to-the time shapes the nature of day-to-day political conflict throughday political conflict through• Deep-seated beliefsDeep-seated beliefs• Major economic developmentsMajor economic developments• Widely shared (or competing) opinionsWidely shared (or competing) opinions

1166


The Nature of PoliticsThe Nature of Politics Judgments about institutions and interests Judgments about institutions and interests

can be made only after one has seen how can be made only after one has seen how they behave on a variety of important they behave on a variety of important issues or potential issues, such asissues or potential issues, such as• economic policyeconomic policy• the regulation of businessthe regulation of business• social welfaresocial welfare• civil rights and libertiescivil rights and liberties• foreign and military affairsforeign and military affairs

1177

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUMTo: To: Governor Steve FinoreGovernor Steve FinoreFrom: From: Edward Heron, chief policy adviserEdward Heron, chief policy adviserSubject: Subject: Initiative RepealInitiative Repeal

You have supported several successful initiatives You have supported several successful initiatives (life imprisonment for thrice-convicted violent (life imprisonment for thrice-convicted violent felons, property tax limits), but you have never felons, property tax limits), but you have never publicly stated a view on the initiative itself, and publicly stated a view on the initiative itself, and the repeal proposal will probably surface during the repeal proposal will probably surface during tomorrow’s press briefing.tomorrow’s press briefing.


1188

Arguments for a ban:Arguments for a ban:1. Ours is a representative, not a direct, democracy in which voters 1. Ours is a representative, not a direct, democracy in which voters

elect leaders and elected leaders make policy decisions subject to elect leaders and elected leaders make policy decisions subject to review by the courts.review by the courts.

2. Voters often are neither rational nor respectful of constitutional 2. Voters often are neither rational nor respectful of constitutional rights. For example, many people demand both lower taxes and rights. For example, many people demand both lower taxes and more government services, and polls find that most voters would more government services, and polls find that most voters would prohibit people with certain views from speaking and deprive all prohibit people with certain views from speaking and deprive all persons accused of a violent crime from getting out on bail while persons accused of a violent crime from getting out on bail while awaiting trial.awaiting trial.

3. Over the past 100 years, about 800 statewide ballot initiatives 3. Over the past 100 years, about 800 statewide ballot initiatives have been passed in 24 states. Rather than giving power to the have been passed in 24 states. Rather than giving power to the people, special-interest groups have spent billions of dollars people, special-interest groups have spent billions of dollars manipulating voters to pass initiatives that enrich or benefit them, manipulating voters to pass initiatives that enrich or benefit them, not the public at large.not the public at large.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

1199

Arguments against a ban:Arguments against a ban:1. When elected officials fail to respond to persistent public 1. When elected officials fail to respond to persistent public

majorities favoring tougher crime measures, lower property taxes, majorities favoring tougher crime measures, lower property taxes, and other popular concerns, direct democracy via the initiative is and other popular concerns, direct democracy via the initiative is legitimate, and the courts can still review the law.legitimate, and the courts can still review the law.

2. More Americans than ever have college degrees and easy access 2. More Americans than ever have college degrees and easy access to information about public affairs. Studies find that most average to information about public affairs. Studies find that most average citizens are able to figure out which candidates, parties, or citizens are able to figure out which candidates, parties, or advocacy groups come closest to supporting their own economic advocacy groups come closest to supporting their own economic interests and personal values.interests and personal values.

3. All told, the 24 states that passed 35 laws by initiative also passed 3. All told, the 24 states that passed 35 laws by initiative also passed more than 14,000 laws by the regular legislative process (out of more than 14,000 laws by the regular legislative process (out of more than 70,000 bills they considered). Studies find that special-more than 70,000 bills they considered). Studies find that special-interest groups are severely limited in their ability to pass new interest groups are severely limited in their ability to pass new laws by initiative, while citizens’ groups with broad-based public laws by initiative, while citizens’ groups with broad-based public support are behind most initiatives that pass.support are behind most initiatives that pass.



2200

Your decision:Your decision:

Favor ban?Favor ban?Oppose ban?Oppose ban?



ap gov chap1

Education