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Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Government and People. I. Political Power. A. 2 questions 1. Who governs? 2. To what ends? B. Power 1. Definition: Ability of 1 person to cause another to act in accordance with his/her intentions. 2. Authority: right to use power. What is Democracy?.

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Chapter 1

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  1. Chapter 1 Government and People

  2. I. Political Power • A. 2 questions • 1. Who governs? • 2. To what ends? • B. Power • 1. Definition: Ability of 1 person to cause another to act in accordance with his/her intentions. • 2. Authority: right to use power

  3. What is Democracy? A. The True interests of the people are served whether or not those people directly affect the decision making process. B. Acquisition of power via competitive elections. (representative democracy vs. elitist theory of democracy) C. We have a representative democracy (Republic) 1. government mediates or mirrors popular views 2. People were viewed as lacking knowledge and susceptible to manipulation. 3. Goal = to minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by office holders.

  4. How is power distributed in a democracy? A. Majoritarian Politics 1. Leaders follow wishes of people closely 2. Applies when issues are simple or Clear - Easy = 9/11 - Difficult = Mideast (Israeli – Palestine)

  5. Israel vs. Palestine • U.S. involvement in Israeli-Palestinian conflict? • To what extent should we be involved? • What are our motives? • What are the consequences for various levels of support given to the side we support?

  6. 1948: The UN partitioned British Palestine into a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab state (Palestine). • 1956: Britain, France, & Israel invaded Egypt to force open the Suez Canal; • 1967: Israel won the "Six Day War" and occupied Gaza & Sinai (from Egypt); the West Bank (from Jordan). Jerusalem, split in 1948 between Israel & Palestine (and then Jordan), was unified under Israel; • 1973: A bloody war ended with no changed borders, but established the groundwork for an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty in 1979. • 1982: Israel invaded Lebanon in response to terrorist attackes by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

  7. 1987: Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank began an uprising against Israel, called "the Intifadeh." The PLO's Arafat signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1993, granting Palestine eventual self-rule in Gaza and the West Bank -- this is the peace treaty which is still being phased in today. Jordan also signed a peace treaty with Israel, in 1994. • 1996: Arafat is elected president of the "Palestinian Authority", and renounces the PLO Charter's clause calling for the destruction of Israel. In 1998, the Wye River Accords (under Pres. Clinton) negotiated further Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank. In 2000, a "Second Intifadeh" began in the West Bank; it continues today.

  8. Israel vs. Palestine • U.S. involvement in Israeli-Palestinian conflict? • To what extent should we be involved? • What are our motives? • What are the consequences for various levels of support given to the side we support?

  9. Democracy (Demos – Kratia) • U.S. = Republic • Democracy = power flows from the people • Majority rule with minority rights / views protected • Equality (worth regardless of ability) • Basic Rights = Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion • Government is limited by legal instruments (documents) • Ideals are there but not always practiced or upheld

  10. Elitism A. Rule by an identifiable group of people who possess a disproportionate share of Political Power. 1. Karl Marx = government is a reflection of underlying economic forces -- a pattern of ownership of means of production. 2. Wright Mills = Power elite is composed of key corporate leaders, military leaders, and political leaders who control and are served by government. 3. Max Weber = expertise and specialized competence (bureaucrats) will dominate. 4. Pluralist view: no single elite has monopoly on power; hence must bargain and compromise while, being responsive to followers.

  11. B. Cynical view = politics as self-seeking enterprise but… 1. Policy does not necessarily reflect author’s motives 2. self-interest = incomplete guide to decisions. a. AFL-CIO supported civil rights in 1960swithout personal or organizational government b. Civil Aeronautics Board works for deregulations in 1970s

  12. Reciprocal Nature of Democracy A. Impact of government on people 1. government in daily life 2. college grants 3. traffic regulations 4. 2 taxes (state, local, and federal) 5. Public schools, unemployment, social security, medicare/medicade 6. Government is complex system B. Impact of people on Government 1. power flows from people to government 2. Principles vs. practice a. voting b. party activity c. public opinion d. interest groups e. direct actions

  13. Public Policy A. Decisions made by government and the resulting action of those decisions. B. Implementation is the action taken to carry out policy C. Impact is measured in its consequences to others Distribution = policy benefits a group vs. Redistribution = take from one and give to another group

  14. Woll Reader Assignment • Locke pg. 4 of Woll Reader • Review and Ch. 1 Vocab Check • TEST Ch. 1

  15. Political Change A. Necessary to refer to History frequently since no single theory is adequate 1. Government today influenced by yesterday 2. Government today is evolving and responds to changing beliefs B. Social changes impact political change 1. Communications (information available = demands on Government) 2. TV after WWII TV ads for candidates and press coverage of war 3. Defense – aerospace industry (star wars program) 4. Pollution 5. Balance of nature b/c of growing need for energy and natural resources and pollution

  16. Political Change (cont.) C. Consent of the Governed 1. Viable political systems adapt to change 2. Vietnam and Watergate lead congress and the public to question presidential system 3. American Political system relies on consent of the governed but that consent requires that leaders earn trust of the people.

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