Ap Gov Chapter 1

What are the two main questions of government?

• Who governs and to what ends?

What is power?

• The ability of one person to get another person to do what he/she desires.

What is authority

• The right to use power.

What legitimacy?

• What makes a constitution or law a source of right.

What is democracy literally?

• Rule of the many (direct or participatory democracy)

Who came up with it?

• Aristotle.

Name some examples of direct democracy

• Fourth century Greek city states (polis)• New England town meetings

What happened to these examples?

• The instance of direct democracy declined as the cities/towns grew larger and expanded.

What is representative democracy?

• Acquisition of power by leaders via competitive elections.

What is this sometimes referred to as?

• The elitist theory

Justifications of representative democracy:

• 1. Direct democracy can be impractical.• 2. The people are affected by demagogues

and passions.

What does the constitution not say? What is used in its place?

• Democracy• “Republican form of government”

What is required of genuine representative democracy?

Representative democracy requires genuine competition for leadership(1) Individuals and parties must be able to run for office(2) Communication must be free(3) Voters must perceive meaningful choices(4) And other important questions―with multiple answers―remain regarding the number of offices, how many officials should be elected, and the financing of campaigns.

How can the virtues of direct democracy be reclaimed?

• 1. Community control• 2. Citizen participation

Who favored representative democracy and why?

• Framers• They did not believe that the “will of the people”

was synonymous with “the common good”.• Wanted government to mediate, not mirror popular

views.• Citizens with limited time, intelligence, or interest.• Citizens affected by demagogues.• Slow government• Less abuse of power by the majority

Describe how easier access to information has impacted government

• Hasn’t had much impact:• People– especially youth– still have little

political knowledge.• People still have little confidence in leaders.• Few people have active political lives.

What are majoritarian leaders?

• Leaders who follow the wishes of the public very closely

• Issues under these leaders are generally simple.

Describe non-majoritarian leaders:

• Do not know the public view or do not consult it.

• Often advised by a small group of intellectuals. (Elite?)

Marxism

• Government is simply the reflection of underlying economic forces

C. Wright Mills

• Power elite composed of corporate leaders, generals, and politicians.

Max Weber

• Bureaucracy based on expertise, specialized competence.

Pluralist View:

• Power is widely dispersed and no single elite has a monopoly of it.