Copyright © 2010
Lesson 2: Power
To consider the concept of power and develop your understanding of it
To understand what active citizenship means
To know the terms power, authority and legitimacy
Copyright © 2010
Lord Acton 1834-1902
George Orwell, 1984
Mao Tse-Tung (1893-1976) Chinese statesman
John Stuart Mill 1806-73
Will Pitt, 1708-78, Whig Politician, Prime Minister
Sir William Jones 1746-94 English Jurist
Watch the videos of these political figures. What are your views on each of their quotes?
Copyright © 2010
Look at the images of the different people. Which one is the most powerful and why?
Most Powerful
LeastPowerful
Copyright © 2010
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts Absolutely”
Lord Acton 1834-1902
“Power is not a means, it isan end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” George Orwell, 1984
Every Communist must grasp the truth, ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’
Mao Tse-Tung (1893-1976) Chinese Statesman
“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant”
John Stuart Mill 1806-73
'Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it'
Will Pitt, 1708-78, Whig Politician, Prime Minister
The quotes suggest that power can corrupt or be dangerous.
What are they talking about?
In what ways might a leader abuse their power?
Make a list of five things a person in power might do that you would consider to be corrupt.
These might be things that have happened that you know of or things that you think could or might happen.
Copyright © 2010
The ability to do something; the ability to cause something to happen,
this could be by force. Power can exist without authority.
You may have rated the image of the man with the gun as being the most powerful but that man may not have the
authority to have that gun.
An armed police officer may have power and authority.
AUTHORITYA dictionary definition: the power to issue directives accompanied by the right to expect obedience.
A textbook definition:The right to exercise power, rather than the exercise of power itself. Authority is granted to rulers or anyone in power by those over whom power is to be exercised. Without authority, power becomes mere force.
Copyright © 2010
In groups of 4 or 5 research and prepare a presentation about a country
where the leaders have been accused of corruption.
Copyright © 2010
Refers to the degree to which the state or its government can be considered to have the right to exercise power. A state or government can be said to be legitimate if it has a valid claim to rule.
LEGITIMACY refers to the degree to which the ____________ or
_______________
can be considered to have the ______________ to exercise
________________. A state or government can be said to be
________________if it has a _____________
claim to __________’.
stateit’s governmentright
power
legitimate
validrule
Legitimacy
Copyright © 2010
Discuss...
What gives a Government a valid claim to rule?
Copyright © 2010
Charismatic authority
“When the citizens accept the authority of their leader because of his or her charm and personality. They are obeyed because of who they are rather than their office. There is something about them that attracts the citizens to their leadership.”
Traditional authority
This is based on a long-established custom that the citizens simply accept such as a village elder or a long-reigning monarch
Legal-rational authority
“This is authority based on formal rules and procedure. Politicians are obeyed because they have been appointed and/or elected on a legal basis. “
Copyright © 2010
Within a family
At school
Voting
Parliament
Pressure groups
Copyright © 2010
As well as power, it is possible to have influence on the political system.
- Power means that you can achieve your goals. - Influence is the ability to shape a decision through bringing pressure in one way or another.
Activity : In pairs, discuss ways that you consider you could have some influence in the political system.
Given what you know about power, why is it important that citizens are involved in the political process in some way?
Copyright © 2010
Given what you know about power, why is it important that citizens are involved in the political process in some way?
Consider ways you could have some influence in the political
system
Copyright © 2010
1 thing I am not sure
about
2 question you would like to
ask
3 things that you have
learnt this lesson
Copyright © 2010
Lesson 2: Power
To consider the concept of power and develop your understanding of it
To understand what active citizenship means
To know the terms power, authority and legitimacy
