GOVERNMENT IN AMERICACh. 1

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

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

GOVERNMENT• What is Government?• What is the purpose of Government?

– To provide public services•Police, fire, libraries, schools, etc.Police, fire, libraries, schools, etc.

– To provide for the public defense•Army, Navy, Marines, etc.Army, Navy, Marines, etc.

– To solve conflicts & preserve order•Court Systems; National GuardCourt Systems; National Guard

– To establish public policy•Through laws, P actions, Ct. Through laws, P actions, Ct. decisions, Budget choices, Regulationdecisions, Budget choices, Regulation

– To socialize/educate the young…….how?

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”

History of Political History of Political DevelopmentDevelopment

Origin of the State Theories

• Force Theory• Evolutionary Theory• Divine Right Theory• Social Contract Theory

FORCE 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

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

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

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

Hobbes – (Ordered Gov’t / Absolute rule by one)Idea of social contract involves 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 powersSaw 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.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE

PEOPLE & THEIR PEOPLE & THEIR

GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

• Authoritarian Systemo the people cannot

hold government accountable for its actions

• Democratic Systemo the people can hold

government accountable for its actions through competitive elections

• 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 monarchy is 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?

Two Major Classifications of Governments:

1) AUTOCRACY:

Current MonarchiesCurrent Monarchies

Current DictatorshipsCurrent Dictatorships

• 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:

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.

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

DEMOCRACY

• DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY – 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.

Major Tenets of Democracy:

•MAJORITY RULE MAJORITY RULE with minority rights

•Worth of the individual•Equality of all persons•Necessity of compromise•Individual Freedom

Justice Oliver

Wendell Holmes on individual

rights:

• “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”

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 the policymaking 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 is PUBLIC POLICY.

• 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

GROUP THEORIESOF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

There are 3 theories of the impact of groups : (1) Pluralist theory 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 Elite & Class Theory - Class splits, “Big Business & Upper Class rules! Most critical view of democracy

(3) HyperpluralismHyperpluralism – Too many groups divide gov’t, making it ineffective. . . . groups gone bad!