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Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
Objectives:
Explain how politics drives democracy
Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. In a democracy, the government must make sure that they make decisions based on what the majority of their constituents want. Therefore, politics drives democracy because it ensures that the government makes decisions based on what the people want.
One way that the government can ensure that their decisions are supported by their constituents is by having the constituents vote. However the way the constituent votes works differently depending on the type of democracy that a government has adopted. In a direct democracy, every citizen has the right to vote on all issues that affect them. The government then takes these votes into account when making decisions. But in a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. These representatives take into account the views of their constituents when making decisions.
Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
In the United States, there are five main views on how political power is distributed: class view, power elite view, bureaucratic view, pluralist view, and creed passion view.
The class view, inspired by Karl Marx, holds that the rich have more influence over government policy than the poor; essentially that economic inequality leads to political inequality.
The power elite view, from the works of C. Wright Mills, argues that a small group of people in positions of authority make all the important decisions in our democracy. This view is based on the idea that those who have money and power are able to use their resources to influence political decisions, while the average person does not have this same ability.
The bureaucratic view states that political power is held by those who work in government institutions. This view is based on the idea that these individuals have access to greater resources and knowledge, which gives them an advantage in terms of influence and decision-making.
In the pluralist view, no single entity, group, or social class has complete control because political resources are so widespread, and because there are multiple levels of governmental institutions. This means that there is a healthy competition between interest groups in society, which leads to the best policies being enacted.
In the creedal passion view, people are driven by a desire to maintain and perpetuate their own power. They use their own beliefs surrounding ideology or religion to guide their political action. Humans are motivated by self-interest, and those who have power are more likely to be motivated by their desire to keep and increase their power.
Explain why “who governs” and “to what ends” are fundamental questions in American politics.
It is important to ask who should have the power to make decisions on behalf of the people. In a democracy, for example, it is usually considered that everyone should have a say in how their society is run. However there are different views as to where political power is concentrated in our democracy. Also if we know who has the power to make decisions, we can hold them accountable if things go wrong.
It’s important to ask to what end does the government rule because it helps to identify and clarify the goals and objectives of the government. Knowing how far of a reach our government has also lets us know how much the government affects our lives.
Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues
The politics of different policy issues can be classified according to how the costs and benefits of the policy are distributed, which gives us four categories: majoritarian, interest group, client, and entrepreneurial. Majoritarian distributes both the costs and benefits, interest group concentrates both the costs and benefits, client distributes the cost but concentrates the benefit, and entrepreneurial concentrates the costs and distributes the benefits. Issues on the political agenda can travel through these four categories; they are dynamic.
Defining Democracy:
Many Framers thought direct democracy would lead to bad decisions because people decide large issues on the basis of fleeting passions.
A political system is nondemocratic to the extent that it denies equal voting rights and severely limits civil and political freedoms.
Examples include absolute monarchies, empires, military dictatorships, authoritarian systems, and totalitarian states.
Political Power in America: Five Views:
Class view
Wealthy capitalists and other economic elites determine most policies
Began with theories from Karl Marx. Argued in the 19th century that governments were dominated by business owners until a revolution replaced them with rule by laborers.
Marxism has collapsed in most countries.
Class view derived inspiration from Marx. Less dogmatic and emphasizes the power the “the rich”
Power elite view
A group of business, military, labor union, media executives, etc, controls most decisions
Derived from the work of sociologist C. Wright Mills.
Bureaucratic view
Appointed bureaucrats ultimately run everything
German scholar Max Weber argued that to become successful, the modern state puts its affairs in the hands of appointed bureaucrats.
Pluralist view
Political resources (money, prestige, expertise, access to mass media) are so widely distributed that no single elite social class, or bureaucratic group can control them.
Adopted by David B. Truman. Political resources are shared because there are so many government institutions and rival institutions.
Creedal passion view
Morally impassioned elites drive political change
Political power should be used to promote and protect the interests of a particular group or class of people
Who Governs? To What Ends?
“Who governs?” - important because those who rule will affect what they do for us.
“To what ends?” - important because it tells us about how the government affects our lives.
Expanding the Political Agenda:
Shared political values: if people believe poverty is a result of social forces, they have a reason to expand government programs to combat poverty
Weight of custom and tradition: people will usually accept what the government customarily does
Importance of events: war, terrorist attacks, or severe economic downturns can alter our sense of proper role of government
Terms of debate: the way in which political elites discuss issues influences how the public will view political priorities
Groups: Many policies are the result of small groups of people enlarging the scope of government by their demands
Organized interests (corporations or unions). Work quietly behind the scenes.
Intense, but unorganized groups (urban minorities). Took their causes to the streets.
Government institutions:
Courts can make decisions that force the hand of the other branches
Media:
National press can publicize matters.
Action by the States:
National government can adopt ideas pioneered by the states
State attorney generals can sue businesses and settle the suits with an agreement that binds the industry throughout the country.
Politics of Different Issues:
Perception of costs and benefits affects politics.
Is it legitimate for certain groups to receive benefits?
Who will benefit or pay for a program, and who ought to benefit or pay?
Four Types of Politics:
Majoritarian:
Make appeals to large segments of voters, hope to find a majority
Interest Groups:
Proposed policy will confer small groups of people, and impose costs on another small group.
Client:
Small groups will benefit but everyone pays the cost. Because the costs are so widely distributed, people will be indifferent to the costs.
Entrepreneurial:
Society as a whole benefits, but the cost is imposed on a small segment of society
Issues on the political agenda can travel through the four boxes.
