Introducing Introducing Government in America Government in America
Ch. 1Ch. 1
GovernmentGovernment
institutions institutions and agencies and agencies that translatethat translate
public will into public will into public policy;public policy; defined defined constitutionallconstitutionallyy
PoliticsPolitics who gets who gets
what, when what, when and howand how
evolutionary evolutionary processprocess
Linkage institutionsLinkage institutions
ElectionsElections
PartiesParties
Interest groupsInterest groups
MediaMedia
Six Basic Functions of Six Basic Functions of GovernmentGovernment
TheTheEvolution of Evolution of DemocracyDemocracy
AthensAthens
ParticipationParticipation EducationEducation ServiceService PhilosophersPhilosophers
SocratesSocrates PlatoPlato AristotleAristotle
““The middle class is least likely The middle class is least likely to shrink from rule, or to be to shrink from rule, or to be overambitious for it: both of overambitious for it: both of which are injuries to the state.... which are injuries to the state.... But a city ought to be But a city ought to be composed, as far as possible, of composed, as far as possible, of equals and similars; and these equals and similars; and these are generally the middle class... are generally the middle class...
Aristotle – On PoliticsAristotle – On Politics
RomeRome
RepublicRepublic Bicameral Bicameral
legislaturelegislature Checks & Checks &
balancesbalances Twelve Twelve
TablesTables CitizenshipCitizenship
LockeLocke HobbesHobbes RousseauRousseau MontesquieuMontesquieu VoltaireVoltaire
Philosophers of the Enlightenment
Who said it?Who said it?
““Each of us puts his person Each of us puts his person and all his power in and all his power in common under the common under the supreme direction of the supreme direction of the general will; and in a body, general will; and in a body, we receive each member as we receive each member as an indivisible part of the an indivisible part of the whole.”whole.”
Who said it?Who said it?
““I may disapprove of I may disapprove of what you say but I what you say but I will defend to the will defend to the
death your right to death your right to say it.”say it.”
Who said it?Who said it?The natural condition of humans isThe natural condition of humans is
““. . . a state of perfect freedom to order. . . a state of perfect freedom to order
their actions, and dispose of their their actions, and dispose of their possessionspossessions
and persons as they think fit, . . .without and persons as they think fit, . . .without asking leave or depending upon the will asking leave or depending upon the will of any other manof any other man
. . . . A state also of equality, wherein all the . . . . A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal power and jurisdiction is reciprocal [shared equally], no one having more [shared equally], no one having more than another.”than another.”
Who said it?Who said it? The natural condition of humans is one The natural condition of humans is one
of continuous conflict and of continuous conflict and competition:..competition:..“In such condition, there is “In such condition, there is no place for industry, because the fruit no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently thereof is uncertain; and consequently nono
culture of the earth,. . . no knowledge of culture of the earth,. . . no knowledge of the face of the earth, no account of time, the face of the earth, no account of time, no arts, no letters, no society; and which no arts, no letters, no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of people, of violent death; and the life of people, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
Who said it?Who said it?
““When the legislative and executive When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehension may arise, because apprehension may arise, lest the same monarch or senate lest the same monarch or senate should enact them in a tyrannical should enact them in a tyrannical manner.”manner.”
The U.S. ConstitutionThe U.S. Constitution
FederalismFederalism Three Three
branchesbranches StructureStructure PowersPowers
Process for Process for amendingamending
AmendmentsAmendments
Twenty-seven total in over 200 Twenty-seven total in over 200 yearsyears
Bill of RightsBill of Rights Extension of electorateExtension of electorate Clarifying problems in structure Clarifying problems in structure
and functions of government.and functions of government.
Challenges to DemocracyChallenges to Democracy ParticipationParticipation DiversityDiversity Conflict over the Conflict over the
“public good”“public good” Increased Increased
technical technical expertiseexpertise
Representational Representational stylesstyles
Campaign Campaign finance concernsfinance concerns
Consensus and compromiseConsensus and compromiseor “Two Americas?”or “Two Americas?”
Divided governmentDivided government GridlockGridlock PartisanshipPartisanship Moderates Moderates
Principles of DemocracyPrinciples of Democracy
Equality in votingEquality in voting Effective participationEffective participation Enlightened understandingEnlightened understanding Citizen control of the agendaCitizen control of the agenda InclusionInclusion Majority rules; minority rights Majority rules; minority rights
preservedpreserved IndividualismIndividualism
Six Theories of Who Six Theories of Who GovernsGoverns
Marxism/ClassMarxism/Class C. Wright MillsC. Wright Mills ( (The Power EliteThe Power Elite) ) Bureaucrats Bureaucrats (Max Webber)(Max Webber) PluralistPluralist HyperpluralismHyperpluralism Interlocking directoratesInterlocking directorates
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