Functions and Forms Functions and Forms of Governmentof Government

Assoc. Prof. Amporn W. Tamronglak, Ph.D.Assoc. Prof. Amporn W. Tamronglak, Ph.D.

Faculty of Political ScienceFaculty of Political Science

Thammasat UniversityThammasat University

Suggested readingsSuggested readings

Collander and Hunt, Collander and Hunt,

Chapter 13, 14 and 15 Chapter 13, 14 and 15

Why do we need Government?Why do we need Government?

The guardian of internal social order and to The guardian of internal social order and to protect its citizens from internal and external protect its citizens from internal and external enemies.enemies.

Ensuring justiceEnsuring justice

Safeguarding individual freedomsSafeguarding individual freedoms

Regulating individuals’ actions (to guard against Regulating individuals’ actions (to guard against the evil)the evil)

Promoting the general welfarePromoting the general welfare (health services, (health services, education, social security, and other benefits)education, social security, and other benefits)

How do you see government?How do you see government?

As a necessary evil As a necessary evil

As a positive goodAs a positive good

As an unnecessary As an unnecessary evilevil

Government is a necessary evilGovernment is a necessary evil

Tell us what we can do and what we Tell us what we can do and what we cannot do: to prohibit, restrain, regulate, cannot do: to prohibit, restrain, regulate, compel and coerce by passing lawscompel and coerce by passing laws

Government as a positive goodGovernment as a positive good

It serves to balance the various forces in It serves to balance the various forces in the societythe society and to promote common good.and to promote common good.

Government as an unnecessary Government as an unnecessary evilevil

The government is seen as bad guys, an The government is seen as bad guys, an instrument of oppression, taking all instrument of oppression, taking all property and ownership from the people in property and ownership from the people in the community.the community.

Example is communist government Example is communist government

How strong the government should How strong the government should be?be?

Liberal: less government, more freedom to Liberal: less government, more freedom to individual’s lifeindividual’s life

Conservative: government is a moral Conservative: government is a moral keeperkeeper

Anarchist: strong government to guard Anarchist: strong government to guard against any corrupted institutions against any corrupted institutions

Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology

Deal with the questions: Deal with the questions: whowho will be the rulers, will be the rulers, howhow are they selected, are they selected, what principlewhat principle used to used to govern?govern?

Constitute the argument to persuade or to Constitute the argument to persuade or to counter opposing viewscounter opposing views

Embrace a program for the defense or reform or Embrace a program for the defense or reform or abolition of important social institutionsabolition of important social institutions

Normative, ethical, moral in tone and content, Normative, ethical, moral in tone and content, etc.etc.

Two major political ideologiesTwo major political ideologies

1.1. Autocratic ideologiesAutocratic ideologies

2.2. Democratic IdeologyDemocratic Ideology

1. Autocratic ideologies1. Autocratic ideologies

Government in the hands of one individual or Government in the hands of one individual or group of individualsgroup of individuals Authoritarian: ruled by a dictator or clique forbidding

all activities that threaten its position, “obedience.” Leave people a measure of choice as far as not interfering with the rule of the leader

Totalitarian: control all aspects of individual’s life, “worship”

Loyalty to the party and the stateLoyalty to the party and the state Ruled by leadersRuled by leaders One-party monopolyOne-party monopoly A controlled pressA controlled press

Totalitarianism of the rightTotalitarianism of the right

Fascism: Benito Mussolini after WWIFascism: Benito Mussolini after WWI Distrust of reason, the denial of basic human equality, Distrust of reason, the denial of basic human equality,

a code of behavior based on violence and distortion of a code of behavior based on violence and distortion of truthtruth

Only a small minority of the population, qualified by Only a small minority of the population, qualified by birth, education, or social standing are able to birth, education, or social standing are able to understand and do what was best for the whole understand and do what was best for the whole societysociety

Nazism: Adolf Hitler, the idea is mainly similar to Nazism: Adolf Hitler, the idea is mainly similar to fascism, only the leader is different and fascism, only the leader is different and sometime considered a subtype of fascismsometime considered a subtype of fascism

Totalitarianism of the leftTotalitarianism of the left

Communism:Communism: Karl Marx’s thought Karl Marx’s thought

total government control of the economy total government control of the economy and total income redistribution with the and total income redistribution with the ultimate aim of a classless society, an ultimate aim of a classless society, an egalitarian societyegalitarian society

Initiated as a results of the Industrial Initiated as a results of the Industrial Revolution, as a reaction to the hunger, Revolution, as a reaction to the hunger, disease, poverty, and lack of medical care disease, poverty, and lack of medical care

2. Democratic Ideology2. Democratic Ideology

Democracy:Democracy: Assume that people are capable of developing Assume that people are capable of developing

a culture to learn to listen to discussion and a culture to learn to listen to discussion and argumentargument

All humans should be regarded as equal in All humans should be regarded as equal in legal status and in their rights to seek the good legal status and in their rights to seek the good lifelife

Individual is the primacy, freedom of speech, Individual is the primacy, freedom of speech, citizen participationcitizen participation

Rule by law and constitutionalismRule by law and constitutionalism

American System of GovernmentAmerican System of Government

The presidential systemThe presidential system

The people elect the leader, the president, The people elect the leader, the president, directly or indirectly through the electoral collegedirectly or indirectly through the electoral college

Federalism: the national govt. and the 50 statesFederalism: the national govt. and the 50 states

3 branches of government: legislative, 3 branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial powers, “separation of executive, and judicial powers, “separation of powers”powers”

Checks and balancesChecks and balances

Limited governmentLimited government

Parliamentary and presidential Parliamentary and presidential systemssystems

ParliamentaryParliamentary DistinctionsDistinctions PresidentialPresidential

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

# President# President

LeadershipLeadership President as President as head of state and head of state and governmentgovernment

Fusion between Fusion between the executive and the executive and legislative legislative branchesbranches

Separation of Separation of powerspowers

Executive # Executive # Legislative, Legislative, judiciaryjudiciary

Vote of no-Vote of no-confidence or confidence or party voteparty vote

Removal from Removal from OfficeOffice

ImpeachmentImpeachment

Other systemOther system

Parliamentary governmentParliamentary government

People elect the legislature and the People elect the legislature and the legislators elect the executive, Prime legislators elect the executive, Prime MinisterMinister

What are the issues in Thai What are the issues in Thai Politics?Politics?

Vote buyingVote buying

Corrupted politiciansCorrupted politicians

BipartisanBipartisan politics, etc.politics, etc.

Any remedies?Any remedies?

Voting Behavior: Voting Behavior: TThe Bradley he Bradley EEffectffect

TThe Bradley effecthe Bradley effect says says that some white that some white voters who tell pollsters that they will vote fvoters who tell pollsters that they will vote for a black candidate often have second thor a black candidate often have second thoughts in the oughts in the voting booth, voting booth, on election dayon election day, vote for the white opponent, vote for the white opponent..

TThe he “bandwagon effect“bandwagon effect””

TThe he “bandwagon effect”“bandwagon effect” suggests that a suggests that a small but significant number of persuadablsmall but significant number of persuadable voters will decide at the last minute to go e voters will decide at the last minute to go with the winner. with the winner.

It explains the behavioral psychology of It explains the behavioral psychology of people who tend to follow the crowd/ fads people who tend to follow the crowd/ fads and trends regardless of its merits.and trends regardless of its merits.

To “hop on the bandwagon”To “hop on the bandwagon”

Place the following steps of political campaigning i n the right order. Then, give details to explain how to do each step.

____ Choose a strategy. ____ Gather the necessary materials. ____ Figure out why you might want to run. ____ Find a campaign team. ____ Get the message out. ____ Decide on a campaign budget.

____ Raise money if necessary. ____ Decidet o r un f or offi ce.

Exercise: The Political Campaigning Process

__ 4 __ Choose a strategy. With your team, deci de on the best way to sell yourself as the best o

ption. This includes messages as well as means .

6__ __ Gather the necessary materials. What d oyouneed?Posters, flyers, ads, et c.

__1 __ Figure out why you might want to run. Ar e your opinions and views not being met? Do yo u disagree with how the organization is being r

un? If yes, you might want to run for office.

SolutionSolution

__3 __ Finda campai gn t eam. Findagr oup of suppor t er s whoarewi l l i ng t o hel p you get el ect ed t o offi ce. The sepeopl e wi l l suppor t you and hel p you do t he wo rknecessar y.

__7__ Get the message out. Spendt he bul k of t he campa igningt i me get t i ng your message out and t el l i ng peo plewhy you ar e t he best choi ce.

__5__ Decide on a campaign budget. Raisemoneyifnecessary. Howmuchwillyour st r ategycost? Ifit’smorethanyou have, fi gur e out a way t o ear nmoney. I f youcannotear nmor e money, youmay need t o change t he st rategy.

__2__ Decide to run for office. If you feel like you ca n do a better job that who is currently there, you s

houldrunf or offi ce. The deci si onmi ght need an offi ci alst at ement or appl i cat i on t o r un dependi ng on theor gani zat i on.

AssignmentAssignment

Suppose you’ve decided to run for the political office, select one of the political/social issues and design your campaign.

Among your group of 3, write your campaign on Among your group of 3, write your campaign on the topic of your interest for a page long the topic of your interest for a page long

Times New Roman 12 double spaceTimes New Roman 12 double spaceSend me via my e-mail at Send me via my e-mail at

aw.tamrong@gmail.com by next Tuesday the by next Tuesday the latestlatest

Don’t forget your names, ID, and seat #Don’t forget your names, ID, and seat #

Final paper assignmentFinal paper assignment

Group Presentation FormatGroup Presentation Format

Two presenters are randomly drawn and Two presenters are randomly drawn and grade will be given equally the same to all grade will be given equally the same to all members in the group.members in the group.

If you decide to do the “play,” please notify If you decide to do the “play,” please notify me in advance. No draw will be made.me in advance. No draw will be made.

Presentation needs to be clear, easy to Presentation needs to be clear, easy to follow, innovative and interesting.follow, innovative and interesting.

What should be in the “paper”?What should be in the “paper”?

The reasons for doing this The reasons for doing this campaign/topic/issue/problemcampaign/topic/issue/problem

The purpose of the paper.The purpose of the paper.

Message is clear, easy to understand, and doable. Message is clear, easy to understand, and doable. Key words/ motto/ slogan would help sending the Key words/ motto/ slogan would help sending the message out.message out.

Be careful not to overstate your message.Be careful not to overstate your message.

Remember:Remember: “plagiarism” is a serious crime. “F” “plagiarism” is a serious crime. “F” grade will be given for this particular act.grade will be given for this particular act.

ReferencesReferences