The Study of American Government

AP US Government & Politics

Dr. Smith

Two Key Questions

• Who governs? Those who govern will affect us.

• To what ends? How will government affect our lives?

What is Political Power?

• Power: the ability of one person to cause another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions

1. Obvious (e.g. President sends soldiers into combat)2. Subtle (e.g. Presidential speechwriters take a new tone on a

controversial issue.)

• Authority: the right to use power

• Legitimacy: what makes a law or constitution a source of right

1. U.S. history filled with struggles over what makes authority legitimate.

2. Necessary for government to be considered “democratic” today to be perceived as legitimate.

Kinds of Democracy

• Direct Democracy: A form of democracy in which most, or all, of the citizenry participate directly (aka Aristotelian “rule of the many”).

1. Roots in fourth century BCE Greek city-states2. New England town meetings in colonial America

• Representative Democracy: A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote (aka “Elitist Theory of Democracy”).

1. Defined by Joseph Schumpeter as “acquisition of power by leaders via competitive elections”

2. Justificationsa) Direct democracy impractical for reasons of time, expertise, etc.b) People make unwise decisions from fleeting emotions.

The Framers’ View

• Constitution does not contain “democracy” but “representative form of government”

• Government would mediate, nor mirror, popular views

• People were viewed as lacking knowledge and susceptible to manipulation

• Framers’ goal: to minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by officeholders

Discussion

• Alexis de Toqueville (1805-1859) feared that majority rule could culminate in tyranny: “If ever the free institutions of America are destroyed, that event may be attributed to the omnipotence of the majority, which may at some future time urge the minorities to desperation and oblige them to have recourse to physical force.”

• How should minority rights be balanced against majority rule?

Distribution of Political Power

• Majoritarian Politics1. Leaders constrained to follow wishes of the

people very closely2. Applies when issues are simple and clear

• Elitism1. Rule by identifiable group of persons who

possess a disproportionate share of political power

2. Comes into play when circumstances do not permit majoritarian decision making

Theories of Elite Decision Making

• Marxism: Founded by Karl Marx (1818-1883); those who own the means of production, controlling the economic system, will control the government

• Power Elite Theory: Founded by C. Wright Mills (1916-1962); a few top leaders, drawn from the major sectors of the United States polity (like military, corporations, or political leaders) will make all important decisions

Theories of Elite Decision Making

• Bureaucratic View: Founded by Max Weber (1864-1920); appointed civil servants control the government, without consulting the public

• Pluralistic View: Competition among affected interests shapes public policy decision-making

Pluralism and Self-Interest

• Is pluralist democracy driven by selfish desire? No, because:

1. Policies can be good or bad, regardless of the motives of their proponents.

2. The belief that people always act in their own self-interest has been refuted in practice (i.e. heroic actions of 9/11 or Boston bombing).

3. Public-spirited behavior was behind many of our greatest social movements (like the Civil Rights movement).

Explaining Political Change

• Historical perspective makes it difficult to accept any simple explanations.

• Changes in elite and mass beliefs have resulted in changes in the characters of government (i.e. New Deal in 1930s, Reaganomics in 1980s).

• Foreign policy has swung from isolationism to strong internationalism.

• Politics defines public interest not just “who gets what?”

The Nature of Politics

• Often, we have only partial or contingent answers.

• Preferences and shared understanding are the underlying basis of most power.

• Political power cannot be equated with laws on the books.

• Sweeping claims should be avoided!

Discussion

• Considering that political affairs are now regularly debated on blogs and in community chat rooms, discuss ways in which the “digital revolution” has transformed the way that political power is exercised in the United States. Have citizens become more politically involved now that information is abundant and easily accessible? Do citizens have more influence with policymakers today than in the past? Are political elites more or less powerful today than in the pre-Internet era?