| Notes from Class on: Chapter 1: Democracy in the United States I. A Unique Conception Of 31 August 2004 A. Overview 1. What is government? --the institutions/permanent structures that have the ability to impose rules on society. --the only institution w/power to take --3 branches: Executive-President, Cabinet, etc Legislative-House of Reps, Senate Judicial-Courts 2. Why have government at all? --to keep society stable, keep from chaos *Hobbes (Eng Pol Phil)--life would be "nasty, brutish, and short" *Locke--social contract theory B. Social Contract Theory--says that govt is simple: --ppl agree to join in partnership to carry out functions they couldn't accomplish as individuals --contracts restrict some independence; ppl required/expected to follow reasonable laws --ppl are free to revolt & est. a new govt, but majority rules --Supreme Court is there to protect the minority from the majority --If we move, we're expected to obey that country's laws, can help change them through petitions & elections C. How Important is Government to Americans? --Everything is effected by govt--alarm clock, road rules, radio, school, food, medicine, etc --As govt gives more, people expect more! D. Trust in Government --not a lot of ppl trust govt; American system deveolped out of fear of Tyranny --Americans have a healthy distrust of govt (does it matter? yes) E. Problems resulting from lack of trust in government --Concept: Political Ethicacy: belief that citizens can effect what govt does, that ppl can take action & make govt listen to them, votes DO matter --when ppl don't participate, those that DO become more important (interest groups & big-money ppl) F. What is Politics? 1. Harold Lasswell--important political scientist--"politics is the decision as to who gets what, when & how" (resources, $, programs, policies). --argued that poli- sci is characterized by conflict & resolution & compromise between different groups --who makes that decision, everyone wants to be that person 2. Resolution of Conflicts *Conflict arises because of several reasons: -Scarcity--there's not enough resources to fill everyone's wishes, $funding-increase vs decrease -Differences in beliefs or values--seeing things different ways (ex: abortion, death penalty) -Differences in society's goals--differ in perception of the way things should be (ex: smoking) *who decides? institutes of govt & politicians in office G. Representation 1. Aristotle's classifications (who rules): a. Autocracy--govt by one person--(dictatorship, monarch, king)--answers to no one -doesn't necessarily have the ppl in mind, could be for only themselves b. Oligarchy--govt by the few--several ppl work together to run the govt c. Democracy--govt by the many--citizens share power d. Anarchy--govt by none--no one is in charge, chaos, no laws *Communism & Socialism are NOT govts--they are economic systems 2. How they rule (the 2nd part of classifying govts) a. Constitutional--our govt is based on this, Constitution is govt's limits b. Authoritarian--few legal limitations on govt, but govt is kept in check by other institutions that it can't control c. Totalitarianism--citizens have no control; govt has no legal limits, can get rid of any group in the way of their control II. Democracy 02 September 2004 A. Direct Democracy as a Model--every citizen gets a vote on every issue B. Dangers of Direct Democracy--people tend to not participate; recall elections; there is no pure democracy C. Fears of Democratic Government--Instability; tyranny of the majority elite, minority feared the majority would deny them justice; majority feared minority too D. Features of Democratic Government 1. Universal suffrage--everyone should have the right to participate early on, there were many restrictions, most have been done away with 1965 did away with Jim Crow Laws 2. Consent of the People--Americans generally believed that there have to be rules/restrictions on the govt govt has to listen to the ppl; ultimate authority resides within the people 3. Majority Rules, but minority rights must be protected 4. Minority Rights are protected by the Supreme Court 5. Limited Government--govt doesn't have complete control (in our case, the Constitution) E. Representative Democracy--elects representatives to make decisions F. Constitutional Democracy--follows a written Constitution G. Do we have a Democracy? 1. Democracy for the Few a. Elite Theory--instead of all the ppl, only the elite are listened to 2. Democracy for Groups a. Plurarlism--idea that ppl are naturally social & naturally form associations/groups. " says that politics are basically a struggle between these groups you'll get your needs met @ some point as long as you have a representative b. Problems/criticisms with Pluralism--some people fall through the cracks (ex: poverty) c. Hyperpluralism--so many interest groups fighting w/each other they become so powerful, govt can't function correctly; policy is paralyzed H. Popular Influence Models of Democracy: a. Popular Model--citizens participate in govt more; must have faith in the public; voting is very important to inform govt of how they're doing; requires informed citizens *Polling- gives politicians some idea of what ppl want *retrospective voting-- based on what the politician has already done b. Responsible Model-- (trustee model) citizens take a more passive role in govt; only influence policy indirectly, ppl don't know enough, don't understand alternatives to the policies; requires representatives make policy decisions b/c they have more knowledge than you |