GOVERNMENT IN AMERICACh. 1

“There never has been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free.”

Thomas Jefferson

The Purpose of GovernmentPreamble to the Constitution

• Form a More Perfect Union

• Establish Justice

• Insure Domestic Tranquility

• Provide for the Common Defense

• Promote the General Welfare

• Secure the Blessings of Liberty

• What is Government?• What is the purpose of Government?

– To provide public services•Police, fire, libraries, schools, etc.Police, fire, libraries, schools, etc.

– To provide for the public defense•Army, Navy, Marines, etc.Army, Navy, Marines, etc.

– To solve conflicts & preserve order•Court Systems; National GuardCourt Systems; National Guard

– To establish public policy•Through laws, P actions, Ct. decisions, Through laws, P actions, Ct. decisions, Budget choices, RegulationBudget choices, Regulation

– To socialize/educate the young…….how?

What is a nation-state / a “state?”

• Defined as:– A body of people– Living in a defined territory– Organized politically (with a government)– With sovereignty - the power to make

and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority

• The dominant political unit in the world– Over 190 today, a/k/a “nation” or

“country”

History of Political History of Political DevelopmentDevelopment

Origin of the State Theories

• Force Theory• Evolutionary Theory• Divine Right Theory• Social Contract

Theory

FORCE THEORY

• The first political leaders took control by conquest - force

• Gained control over territory, people, and possessions

• The “strongest” conquered the weak

• The state evolved out of the early family system

• Extended families grew into clans and then tribes

• Usually an elder male member of the family gained political power

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

DIVINE RIGHT THEORY• The right to political

power is granted by God

• God chooses political leaders

• God grants the right to rule to the nobility

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

• By voluntary act, people left the “state of nature” & chose to form a society to live by rule of law

• People gave up absolute freedom in exchange for protection provided by the State (government)

• Based on the principle of government by consent of the people

• Basis for democratic government• Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property• Right to Revolt if government seriously abuses its power• Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

Hobbes – (Ordered Gov’t / Absolute rule by one)Idea of social contract involves an absolute government since people cannot be trusted. Leviathan, 1651 - Human nature is nasty and mean-cannot be trusted to govern; each person is a threat to others for natural resources. So, people give up their natural law, right, and liberty for a social contract that provides order & the safety of civil law, rights, & liberty.

Rousseau – (Rule by all - direct democracy – mobocracy”)Version of contract theory is based on the concept of popular sovereignty –which is inalienable – thus, there can be no representative democracy, only direct democracy

Montesquieu – Separation of powersSaw separation of powers (division of power between executive, legislative, judicial branches of gov’t) as a way to reduce or eliminate the arbitrary power of unchecked rulers.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE & THEIR GOVERNMENT

• Authoritarian System• the people cannot hold

government accountable for its actions

• Democratic System• the people can hold

government accountable for its actions through competitive elections

• An autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power.

• Monarchies and dictatorships are both autocratic …… how are they different?

• A monarchy is an autocratic government led by a hereditary ruler – what theory?

• A dictatorship exists where there is rule by one that is NOT related to lineage…..

• Can a monarchy be a dictatorship?

Two Major Classifications of Governments:

1) AUTOCRACY:

Current Current “Dictatorships”“Dictatorships”

Comprehensive view of current world dictators and authoritarian regimes - a “dictator” being defined as the ruler of a land rated “Not Free” by the Freedom House in their annual survey of freedom.

• In a democracy,– supreme political authority rests with the

people.

• A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves.– Examples?

• In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will.– Examples?

2) Democracy:

What is a “republic?”

• A political system in which sovereignty rests with the people (as opposed to a monarch)

• A DEMOCRATIC A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC REPUBLIC is one in which the people elect representatives to make and enforce policies – an indirect democracy.

Legislative & Executive Branches Represent the People

• Presidential System• Independent Executive • President elected separately

from Congress

• Parliamentary System• Legislature (Parliament)

chooses Prime Minister who must retain support of Parliament

DEMOCRACY

• DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY – a means of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents & responds to the preferences, or will, of the public.– “Government of the people, by the people and for

the people.”

• Dahl’s criteria for an ideal democracy:(1) equality in voting – “one person, one vote”(2) effective OPPORTUNITIES for participation(3) Enlightened understanding - plethora of ideas.(4) citizen control of the agenda.(5) inclusion of all who are willing to participate.

Major Tenets of Democracy:

1.1. MAJORITY RULE MAJORITY RULE with minority rights

2. Worth of the individual3. Equality of all persons4. Necessity of compromise5. Individual Freedom

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes on individual rights:

“The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”

Politics• What is the difference between “politics”

and “government?”

– POLITICS IS A PROCESS; GOVERNMENT IS AN INSTITUTION

• Politics is the process that selects our leaders who then fulfill positions in institutions of government that make public policy, using the policymaking system.

• Politician: person who has the ability to persuade others that it is in their selfish interest to follow him!

• The end product of government & politics is PUBLIC POLICY.

GROUP THEORIESOF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

There are 3 theories of the impact of groups : (1) Pluralist theory Pluralist theory - competition among

groups such as NRA, NOW, UAW, AARP who all seek their own agenda

Most favorable view of democracy – no one group dominates, multiple access points to government

But, has modern society (technology) made these groups less effective? i.e., Group membership down….just write checks

(2) Elite & Class Theory Elite & Class Theory - Class splits, “Big Business & Upper Class rules! Most critical view of democracy

(3) HyperpluralismHyperpluralism – Too many groups divide gov’t, making it ineffective. . . . groups gone bad!

Question HOBBES LOCKE Agree?The Original State of Humankind

Divine Right or Social Contract?

State of NATURE

SOCIAL Contract

COMPARE (How are they similar?)

Question HOBBES LOCKE Agree?WHY Government?Where does sovereignty reside?Can a government’s power be limited?Right of REVOLUTION?

To Protect us FROM OURSELVES

To ProtectNATURAL RIGHTS

CONTRAST (How do they differ?)

The MONARCH The PEOPLE

NO YESNO YES