AP AMERICAN GOV’T

DILEMMAS OF DEMOCRACY

Government

Government=legitimate use of force within specific geographic boundaries to control human behavior

Oldest objective of government= to protect life and property

Public goods=things provided for free by the government– Examples include sanitation, education, highways,

etc….are they really free???

DEMOCRACY

Democracy was originally considered undesirable because it meant “mob rule”

Gov’t derives its power from the governed

The word is not used in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

Thomas Jefferson (based on John Locke’s principles)– We, as citizens, enter into an agreement with the

government, allowing it to create rules that set boundaries for our behavior and protect our life, liberty, and property

If the gov’t goes too far w/ that power, we as citizens, can dissolve that government and it is our responsibility to create a new one

TWO TYPES OF DEMOCRACY

Direct - used in Ancient Greece– People en mass decide every issue

regarding the gov’t. Impractical in larger societies

Representative - (Republic form of gov’t) - people elect leaders to represent them in gov’t and make decisions on their behalf

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

If those we elect do not listen to our wishes, we have the ability, and responsibility to vote them out of office–Unfortunately, we do not participate,

for various reasons, so our elected officials generally ignore us

FEDERALIST #10 Madison said that “factions” (groups) would

arise, and form, in an effort to take control of the government– This would be good because all ideas would be

presented – Best idea benefiting the greatest number of people

would ultimately prevail (greatest good for greatest number)

Because people do not always participate, today we view these factions as Interest Groups who influence most policies passed by government officials

DEMOCRACY AS AN IDEAL Personal Liberty - most powerful value in

American history-my mind, my thoughts, my body

Self determination - everyone must have the opportunity to succeed

Americans favor equality of opportunity NOT equality of outcome

We are NOT for economic equality-are we??? Popular consent - gov’t derives all of its

power from the consent of the governed

ELEMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION

Separation of powers - this established the individual powers of the three branches.

Checks and balances - this prevents any of the three BRANCHES from gaining too much power.

Federalism - established the power of the LEVELS of gov’t (Federal vs. State)

Due process - All citizens are treated equally before the law

THREE CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT

The three concepts of government are freedom, order, and equality

The original dilemma of democracy pits FREEDOM VS. ORDER– How much of our freedom should we give up

to ensure that we are protected by the government? Franklin- “Any society that would give up a little

liberty to gain a little security deserve neither and lose both”

Has this changed since 9/11?

FREEDOM

FREEDOM FROM VS. FREEDOM OF– Freedom of = rights that cannot be taken from

you– Freedom of speech, religion, etc.

Freedom from = what the gov’t is responsible to provide for you– Freedom from fear, want, hunger

The government is responsible to provide equally in front of the law to all of its citizens

ORDER

The government maintains order and security for your person and property– Based on John Locke’s “2nd Treatise on

Government”– Basic objective of government is to protect

life, liberty, and property HUGE influence on Declaration of

Independence and the Founding Fathers

EQUALITY

TWO TYPES– Political equality - one person, one vote– Social equality - determined by wealth,

education and status. Those with more social equality have

more power

Modern Dilemma of Gov’t FREEDOM VS. EQUALITY–How much of our freedom should

citizens give up to ensure that all citizens are treated equally?Examples: school busing, ADA of 1990, social services (entitlements)

People favor freedom over equality

Models of Democracy

Majoritarian - government by the people– Key is popular election:

choose wisely re-elect or vote out based on performance

– FLAW- assumes citizens are knowledgeable and want to participate

Closest we have at national level is during presidential elections (>50% voter turnout)

Majoritarian democracy

Three examples at the state level– Initiative - puts policy issue on ballot by gaining

signatures– Referendum - creates a vote to remove a law

based on signatures.– Recall - removing an elected official through a

vote of the people (after petition)

States differ in which they allow

Pluralist Model Pluralist model of democracy=government

by some of the people– Groups compete against each other to gain power

and influence policy– Form based on shared religion, ethnicities, culture,

occupation, beliefs, etc.– Usually form into interest groups– Spend money, time, and resources to influence

policies to benefit their group. They can have influence at all levels of gov’t

(fed, state, or local)

Pluralist Model

1950s –concept of pluralism – Modern society consists of many groups that

share economic, religious, ethnic or cultural interests People of similar interests organize formal

groups–When organized group seeks to influence

public policy it is called an interest group, also called a lobby

Pluralist Model Interprets “government by the people” to mean govt. by the

people through competing interest groups– Democracy exists when many (plural) organizations operate

separately from the government, press their interests on the government and even challenge the govt. Shifts the focus of dem. govt. from mass electorate to organized groups-

opposite of Majoritarian Theory

Pluralist idea is evident in three branches of govt.– 1950s-NAACP couldn’t get Congress to pass legislation to integrate

schools in the South, the group took its case to the Supreme Court If all opposing interests are allowed to organize, and if system can be

open so all substantial claims are heard, the decisions will serve the diverse needs of pluralist society

ELITE THEORY

Small identifiable group makes most important gov’t decisions

Examples:– Wealthy corporations control the agenda– Military industrial complex- they trump all groups in

time of conflict– Mass media- controls flow of information; pushes

liberal agenda

Elite Theory

Many believe this theory makes US oligarchy– Few people define issues and outcomes

for their own interests Theory gives plausible explanation for

specific political positions, such as loopholes in tax codes that favor wealthy

Summary of theories of democracy

Majoritarian

RARE

Pluralist

Most common

Elitism

Most powerful

Government by all the people

Government by some of the people

Government by a few of the people

Citizens band together to control policies

Interest groups compete for power based on policy

Same powerful group controls policies when it wants to

Political Ideology

Definition- consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government

The continuum stretches from anarchy (no government) to totalitarianism (video)

Most of the argument in American politics takes places in the center of this ideological continuum

Main ideologies of USA

Liberals = equality > freedom > order– Support social programs, environmental

policies, stronger federal government Conservatives = order > freedom >

equality– Support national defense, stronger state

government, free enterprise

Other ideologies

Libertarians = equality > freedom & order– Oppose all gov’t action except that which is

necessary to protect life and property Communitarians - order & equality >

freedom–More socialist in nature-govt. controls

major means of production, but equality, freedom, order rank equally