Constitutional Underpinnings

What is politics?

Word Association

“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.” Ronald Reagan

• What words come to mind when you hear the word “politics”?

• Does the word have a more positive or negative connotation?

Why Government?

• Government makes public policies made for society.

• Governments must perform five basic functions.– Maintain a national defense.– Provide public services.– Preserve order.– Socialize the young.– Collect taxes.

Politics is People

• People Shape Policy– People have interests, problems, and

concerns.• A political issue arises when people

disagree about a problem or about a public policy choice.

• Policy Agenda– Government’s plan to address the people’s

problems and concerns.

Hearing Our Voice

• Linkage Institutions: the means by which citizens can be involved in politics.– political parties– elections– mass media– interest groups.

A Policy Intro

• Public policy is a choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

• Policy impacts are the effects a policy has on people and problems.

• The four policymaking institutions are the legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, and the bureaucracy.

• Policies can be established through inaction as well as action.

Policy

Machiavelli

• Machiavelli’s name is synonymous with tough and dirty politics

• Author of The Prince. One of history’s first political scientists.

Machiavelli Quotes

• “The ends justify the means.”• “It is better to be feared than loved.”• “By no means can a prudent ruler keep his

word. Because all men are bad and do not keep promises to you, you likewise do not have to keep your promises to them.”

Can we be hopeful about politics?

“straight talk” campaignYes We Can

A neutral view of politics

Harold D. Lasswell• Who gets what, when, and how. (and

where)• All of us are political, we’re just not used to

calling it that. You don’t have to take a class to get politics. Aristotle was correct when he wrote, “Man is by nature a political animal.”

Enlightened Ideas• Reason

– Absence of intolerance, bigotry & superstition• Natural Laws

– Supersede man-made law• Progress

– Laws would improve society, social progress• Liberty

– Intellectual freedom a “natural right”, not restricted by rulers

• Toleration– Advocated full religious tolerance

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

Locke’s 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 of Independence

Other Influences• Montesquieu

– in his Spirit of the Laws, he concluded that an ideal government would separate power between the legislative, executive and judicial branches so the no part of government could become too powerful

• Rousseau– In his Social Contract,

he argued that sovereign power lies in the community, not the ruler

– If a ruler fails to carry out the will of the people, the people should remove the ruler

Political Power• Power – ability of one person to cause

another person to act in accordance• Authority – right to use power• Legitimacy – what makes the law or

leader a source of “right”

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

Winston’s Wisdom

• “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

» Winston Churchill

• “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”

» Winston Churchill

Can uneducated/poor people be trusted?

• Direct Democracy – citizens create/vote on laws• Problems

1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise• How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per

day on issues they no nothing about?

2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on emotions (Hitler was elected)

• “The masses are turbulent and changing and seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander Hamilton

Traditional Democratic Theory

• Democracy is a system in which policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.

• Five components are:• Equality in voting— the principle of “one person, one vote” is

basic to democracy.• Effective participation— political participation must be

representative.• Enlightened understanding— free press and free speech are

essential to civic understanding.• Citizen control of the agenda— citizens should have the

collective right to control the government’s policy agenda.• Inclusion— citizenship must be open to all within a nation.

When it works…

• Democracies must practice majority rule and preserve minority rights.

• The relationship between the few leaders and the many followers is one of representation:

• The closer the correspondence between representatives and their electoral majority, the closer the approximation to democracy.

Representative Democracy (Republic)

• Citizens elect representatives• Gov’t 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

Political Culture

• America is unified by ideology and political culture—which is unusual compared to most countries with strong nationalistic characteristics and a longer history.

• Five elements of political culture shape American democracy.

American Democracy• Liberty: Liberty is one of Jefferson’s

inalienable rights and a cornerstone of the Bill of Rights.

• Egalitarianism: Equality of opportunity, especially social equality, has promoted increasing political equality.

• Individualism: American individualism developed in part from the western frontier and the immigrants’ flight from government oppression. (sometimes “rugged” is added)

American Democracy• Laissez-faire economics: The American

government taxes and regulates less than most countries at its equivalent level of development.

• Populism: The common, ordinary citizens are idealized in American politics, and both liberals and conservatives claim to be their protectors.

Theories explaining how democracies ACTUALLY

function1. Majoritarian Theory

= leaders are forced to follow the wishes of the people because majority rules

3. Hyperpluralist Theory

= groups are so strong and hold such divergent views that in trying please all – gov’t is weakened and nothing gets done 5. Elite Theory

= groups or people who possess the most more power (money or influence) dominate gov’t

4. Bureaucracratic Theory

= (Max Weber) appointed officials dominate the gov’t through unelected jobs

2. Pluralist Theory

= groups compete and compromise with each other to get the gov’t to do what they want

Democracy Theory Test

What theory is supported by the fact that…1. The US holds mainly elections where the person who

receives the most votes wins.2. Most US representatives are upper class people.3. The President appoints hundreds of people for gov’t

jobs or judgeships, all have special powers.4. Interest groups spend millions of dollars toward

campaigns of favored candidates.5. Gov’t can call for referendums, or votes by the people

to pass or strike down potential laws.6. The candidate who raises the most money for an

election almost always wins.

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 gov’t, work hard, and have 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

Arguments for and against the Pluralist view

• Relatively low numbers of people join interest groups.

• Poor citizens have less opportunity to join interest groups or contribute to them.

• One can’t 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.

• Gov’t leaders must please groups to gain votes and money to be reelected.

• Groups must compete for gov’t services and favorable laws.

FOR AGAINST

Hyper-pluralism

• The theory of government and politics where contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

• These groups have multiple ways to both prevent policies they disagree with and promote those they support.

• Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group.

Elite (Class) Theory

• Society is divided along class lines.• An upper-class elite rules, regardless of

governmental organization.• Wealth is the basis of class power: a few

powerful Americans are the policymakers.• Big business and its power is at the center of

most elite and class theories.• Some observers argue that elitism is

increasing in recent times.

Elite Theory• Control the economic system = control

the political system. • Politicians require massive funding to win

elections, and rely on corporations to supply them.

A Reminder…• These are only theories. They are

people’s perception of our democracy and the way it functions.

• Which theory is correct???– Pluralist – most popular today– Majoritarian – popular pre-1950’s– Elite – rising since the 80’s (Michael Moore)– Hyper-Pluralist – gov’t tries to please all

groups so nothing gets done

Things to Ponder…

–What role did the Constitution’s authors foresee for the federal government?

–Does the public favor a large, active government?

–Is Congress too responsive to the demands of the public and organized interests?