Course Conclusion

Who Governs?

To What Ends?

Who Governs?

THEME A - Distribution of Costs and Benefits - A Review

Majoritiarian Politics - Social Security Act, Sherman Antitrust Act, Foreign PolicyInterest Group Politics - Laws regulating labor-management relationsClient Politics - dairy subsidies, "loopholes" in tax laws, licensing lawsEntrepreneurial Politics - Regulation of drug industry, environmental policies. The media and courts play an important role in entrepreneurial politics

THEME B - Power in American Society - Marxist Theory, Elitist Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Pluralist Theory

Marxist Theory - consistent with client-serving policies

Elitist Theory - power of the courts and the way foreign policy is made

Bureaucratic Theory - applicable when the bureaucracy gains broad discretionary authority as in the case of weapons procurement, enforcement of civil rights laws, regulation of business..

Pluralist theory - description of interest group politics.

To What Ends?

THEME A - The Growth of Government

The most striking change in American government in recent times has been the expansion of the scope of its activities.

For most of the history of the Republic, government has been very limited. The prevailing interpretation of the Constitution limited the federal government. Finally, the separation of powers, and other checks and balances made it difficult to enact policies.

Americans are particularly prone to define relationships in terms of rights. Elaborate procedures protect individuals from the arbitrary exercise of power and make it more difficult to make governmental decisions or manage large institutions.

Relaxing the RestraintsRelaxing the Restraints

– Changes in Constitutional interpretation Changes in Constitutional interpretation Bill of Rights incorporated to the states Bill of Rights incorporated to the states Special protection of property rights reduced, business Special protection of property rights reduced, business regulation increased regulation increased Congress allowed to give broad discretionary powers to Congress allowed to give broad discretionary powers to administrative agenciesadministrative agencies

– Changes in public opinion Changes in public opinion Public demand for government action during Great Depression Public demand for government action during Great Depression Opinions of political elites changed even faster Opinions of political elites changed even faster Some programs have been popular with the massesSome programs have been popular with the masses

– Changes in the distribution of political resources Changes in the distribution of political resources Number and variety of interest groups have increased Number and variety of interest groups have increased Funds from organization pursuing causes have grown Funds from organization pursuing causes have grown Greater access to the federal courts Greater access to the federal courts Technological advances have enhanced the power to Technological advances have enhanced the power to communicate ideascommunicate ideas

The Old System v. the New System The Old System v. the New System

As the government gets bigger, its members must devote more time to managing (and paying for) existing programs and less time debating new ideas.

THEME B - The Idea of "American Decline"

This school of though says that the United States is facing a period of relative decline both domestically and internationally. Causes of this decline include public and private debt, poor leadership, entrenched interest groups and lack of saving.

Consequences of activist Consequences of activist governmentgovernment

Consequences of activist government Consequences of activist government – Need to assess costs and benefits of Need to assess costs and benefits of

programs programs – General political consequences of the General political consequences of the

enlarged scope of activity enlarged scope of activity Bureaucratization of all organizations Bureaucratization of all organizations

Rise of competing policies Rise of competing policies

Less control by the electorate through the decline Less control by the electorate through the decline of parties and turnout and of public confidence of parties and turnout and of public confidence

Greater risk of government failureGreater risk of government failure

As we ask more of the government, the more we will be disappointed. Activist government must have some failures. A government that does nothing will never fail.

The influence of structureThe influence of structure

– Parliamentary model; if adopted here, would Parliamentary model; if adopted here, would do the following: do the following:

Fewer legislative restraints on the executive Fewer legislative restraints on the executive

More bureaucratic centralization More bureaucratic centralization

Less citizen participation to challenge or block Less citizen participation to challenge or block policies policies

Higher taxes and more secrecyHigher taxes and more secrecy

– U.S. model U.S. model More local authority More local authority

Greater citizen participationGreater citizen participation

The influence of ideas The influence of ideas

– Preoccupation with rights Preoccupation with rights Assumption that affected groups have a right to participate in policy Assumption that affected groups have a right to participate in policy formation formation Willingness to resort to courtsWillingness to resort to courts

– Effects of rights on government functions Effects of rights on government functions Harder to make government decisions Harder to make government decisions More red tapeMore red tape

– Elite opinion influences which rights have priority Elite opinion influences which rights have priority Favors freedom of expression over management of property Favors freedom of expression over management of property Mass opinion less committed to freedom of expressionMass opinion less committed to freedom of expression

– Freedom versus equality an enduring tension Freedom versus equality an enduring tension Advantages of freedom are remote Advantages of freedom are remote Advantages of equality are obviousAdvantages of equality are obvious

– Fragmentation of political system increases role of ideas Fragmentation of political system increases role of ideas Widespread enthusiasm for an idea can lead to rapid adoption of new Widespread enthusiasm for an idea can lead to rapid adoption of new programs programs Competing ideas make change difficult; change today may require the Competing ideas make change difficult; change today may require the persuading of thousands of special interestspersuading of thousands of special interests

Fundamental challenge: to restore confidence in the Fundamental challenge: to restore confidence in the legitimacy of government itself legitimacy of government itself

SELF TEST