AP Constitutional Underpinnings

8/14/2019 AP Constitutional Underpinnings

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Constitutional Underpinnings

What is politics?


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Word Association

What words come to mind when you hear

the word politics?

Does the word have a more positive or

negative connotation?


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Machiavelli

Machiavellis name is synonymous with

tough and dirty politics

Author of The Prince. One of historys first

political scientists.


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Machiavelli Quotes

The ends justify the means.

It is better to be feared than loved.

By no means can a prudent ruler keep hisword. Because all men are bad and do not

keep promises to you, you likewise do not

have to keep your promises to them.


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Can we be hopeful about

politics?

straight talk campaignYes We Can


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A neutral view of

politicsHarold D. Lasswell

Who gets what, when, and how. (and

where)

All of us are political, were just not used to

calling it that. You dont have to take a

class to get politics. Aristotle was correct

when he wrote, Man is by nature a

political animal.


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State of Nature game

Why were teams successful? Was it

strategy or an unfair advantage?

How would the outcome be different if

teams were not allowed to attack, only

invest?


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Social Contract

Theory The only valid government is one based

on the consent of the governed. - Locke

Rulers and citizens enter into an

agreement, or a social contract

Government by the people, masses
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Lockes influence on

the US A state also of equality, wherein all the

power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one

having more than another - John Locke,

of Civil Government

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

That all men are created equal. -

Thomas Jefferson, Declaration ofIndependence


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Political Power

Powerability of one person to cause

another person to act in accordance

Authorityright to use power

Legitimacywhat makes the law or leader

a source of right


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Pick the illegitimate

leader!!!

B.) Calderon C.) Ahmedinejad D.) PutinA.) Bush


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What makes a

Democracy?Principles necessary for a democracy to

exist.

1. Universal suffrage (everyone vote)

2. Political Equality (all votes counted

equally)

3. Majority Rule4. Government responds to public opinion


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Can uneducated/poor

people be trusted?

Direct Democracycitizens create/vote on laws

Problems

1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise

How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times perday on issues they know nothing about?

2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on

emotions (Hitler was elected)

The masses are turbulent and changing andseldom judge or determine right. -Alexander

Hamilton


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Representative

Democracy (Republic)

Citizens elect representatives

Govt MEDIATES popular views

Will of the people Common interest

EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights

Reps are educated on issues at hand

Prevents fast, sweeping change Minority rights more likely to be protected


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Theories explaining how

democracies ACTUALLY

function

1. Majoritarian Theory

= leaders are forced to follow the

wishes of the people because

majority rules

3. Elite Theory

= groups or people who possess

the most more power (money orinfluence) dominate govt

4. Bureaucratic Theory

= appointed officials dominate the

govt through unelected jobs

2. Pluralist Theory

= groups compete and compromise

with each other to get the govt

to do what they want


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Democracy Theory Test

What theory is supported by the fact that

1. The US holds mainly elections where the person whoreceives the most votes wins.

2. Most US representatives are upper class people.

3. The President appoints hundreds of people for govtjobs or judgeships, all have special powers.

4. Interest groups spend millions of dollars towardcampaigns of favored candidates.

5. Govt can call for referendums, or votes by the peopleto pass or strike down potential laws.

6. The candidate who raises the most money for anelection almost always wins.


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Pluralism

1. Modern society consists of many groups (ex.

Economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that

compete with each other to achieve goals

2. Groups that influence govt, work hard, andhave largest membership get what they want

3. Even if the average citizen does not keep up

with politics, their interests will be protected by

their group.

4. Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals


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Arguments for and

against the Pluralist view

Relatively low numbers of

people join interest groups.

Poor citizens have lessopportunity to join interest

groups or contribute to

them.

One cant assume that

group decisions are always

in the best interest of the

nation.

There is no unified

majority in the US that

always acts together. Govt leaders must

please groups to gain

votes and money to be

reelected.

Groups must compete

for govt services and

favorable laws.

FOR AGAINST


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Marxist Theory (Elite)

Control the economic system = controlthe political system.

Politicians require massive funding to win

elections, and rely on corporations tosupply them.
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A Reminder

These are only theories. They arepeoples perception of our democracy andthe way it functions.

Which theory is correct??? Pluralistmost popular today

Majoritarianpopular pre-1950s

Eliterising since the 80s (Michael Moore) Bureaucraticgovt spending more than ever

before just to run itself

AP Constitutional Underpinnings

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