Presentation Transcript

1. Political theories of power

   Pluralism: power is exercised by groups (plural = more than one) More than one person in each group More than one group Groups (parties, economic classes, interest groups) compete for power Everyone wins some of the time Everyone gets some of what they want No one always wins/gets everything
2. Political theories of power Elite theory
3. Elite theory Society is organized like a pyramid Many at the bottom, few at the top Those at the top have all the power, all the time (political, economic, military, etc.), so they always win Upward mobility: Just enough opportunity for the lower classes to enter the upper class to prevent dissatisfaction/revolution The “Occupy Wall St. Movement” and “We Are the 99%!” – this is elite theory in action
4. Political Culture Daniel J. Elazar Perceptions of what government is Kinds of people who become active in politics and government Actual way government is conducted
5. Types of Political Culture Individualistic Democracy as marketplace No gov’t. concern for “good society” Limited intervention into private activities Politics as a business Predominant in the West, Midwest
6. Types of Political Culture Moralistic Commonwealth Search for “Good Society” Politics to promote public good Issues and ethics in government are important Predominant in Midwest, New England
7. Types of Political Culture Traditionalistic Paternalistic and elitist Government exists to preserve order Hierarchy with limited political participation Predominant in the South
8. Western Political Thought Aristotle Greek philosopher, 3rd Century B.C. Man has the power to reason “Absolute justice” derived from reason Natural law: reason produces common views on the nature of universal justice
9. Western Political Thought St. Thomas Aquinas (13th Century) - God is source of man’s ability to reason - Natural law, absolute justice, government are God’s gifts to mankind - Leads to philosophy of natural rights
10. Western Political Thought John Locke, British philosopher Second Treatise, on Civil Government (1690) Agrees with Aquinas on existence of natural law, but doubts the source Power derived from people, not from God Challenge to theory of divine right (basis of English monarch’s power)
11. Locke: Second Treatise, on Civil Government (1690) Natural Rights Human beings have certain rights by virtue of their existence. God grants these rights, not the King. Because the King doesn’t grant them, he can’t take them away. Challenge to idea of Divine Right
12. Natural Rights Most important of the natural rights are “life, liberty, property”
13. “State of Nature” Perfect freedom and equality No rules, laws or regulations “Not a state of license” to harm others or oneself Punishment of violators must not be arbitrary or disproportionate to the offense
14. What’s Missing from the State of Nature? “Established, settled, known law” accepted by common consent. “Known, indifferent [impartial] judge” to administer justice. “Power to back and support the sentence when right.”
15. Locke on theDissolution of Government Government exists only to protect the rights of the people. Locke argues that the people have a right to dissolve a government that violates or does not protect their rights.
16. Thomas Hobbes English philosopher, same era as Locke State of nature is highly undesirable Human life is “nasty, brutish and short” Social contract theory
17. Social Contract Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosopher The social contract is the idea that people give up some of their rights in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights (Give up unlimited right to acquire property in exchange for protection against theft)
18. Importance to American Political Thought: Thomas Jefferson got many of the philosophical ideas in the Declaration of Independence from Locke
19. Declaration of Independence We, the people of the… united States or United States ?
20. Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths” [facts] “to be self-evident” [no need for explanation] “all Men are created equal” [less inclusive definition of equality than today]
21. “Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” [Locke on natural, God-given rights that can’t be taken away]
22. Unalienable rights Locke: “Life, liberty and property” Jefferson: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
23. Purpose of Government “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men” [Social contract: Government exists only to protect the rights of the people]
24. Powers of Government “…deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” Government may only do what is just Consent of the people is required
25. Dissolution of Government “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it”
26. “Call to Arms” …”appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World…[asking God’s help] do…Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States…” [This statement is the literal Declaration of Independence]
27. [And Finally…] “And for the support of this Declaration…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
28. Articles of Confederation First national government, 1781-1787 National government deliberately made much weaker than state governments Jefferson: more power to states Hamilton: more power to national gov’t.
29. Articles of Confederation Article II: “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence” National government has only those powers which the states specifically give it. State laws supersede nat’l. laws.
30. Articles of Confederation Article VI: States required to maintain a militia With consent of Congress, states may conduct foreign policy, maintain an army or navy, declare war (against other nations, Indian tribes) National defense force came only from state militias and state funds
31. Articles of Confederation National government had limited power to regulate commerce among the states States could impose tariffs on each other’s products States and national government all issued currency Interstate commerce made extremely difficult
32. Articles of Confederation National government had no power to tax Dependent on voluntary state contributions to fund national government No executive branch or separate judiciary One-house legislature, each state had one vote Delegates to national legislature were considered officials of state governments
33. Articles of Confederation Nine out of 13 states required to pass most legislation Unanimous agreement required on some significant matters Very difficult to accomplish anything Convention called in Philadelphia, 1787, to revise Articles, instead threw it out and drafted Constitution (still in effect)