Understanding American Democracy: People, Politics, and Participation

1. Chapter 1 People, Politics, and Participation

2. Why should you study American Democracy • Politics: The process of deciding who gets what benefits in society and who is excluded from benefiting. • Changes in politics: Electronics, 9/11, Wars, Death of Soldiers.

3. Technology • World Wide Web has caused a massive change in politics. • Apply for student aid, S.S., contact congress persons, find jobs, and shipping packages

4. Political Context Now • 9/11 caused a dramatic change in politics. • Since the 1970’s Americans did not trust the government. ex: scandals, ect. • Gallup polls in 2000 stated that 64% undergrad students did not trust the government. It lacked efficacy. Only 36% went to vote in Presidential election. • Efficacy: Citizens belief that they have the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government listens to the people.

5. Effect of 9/11 • 60% of College students trusted the government now. • 92% considered themselves patriotic. • 77% believed politics was relevant to their lives now. • 80% believed they were ready to run the country. • President Bush and Congress received and approval rating of 80% now.

6. Change in 2004 &2008 Election • Voters 66-74 yrs old decreased in voting. • Voters 18-21 yrs old especially 19yr olds increased to rival people in the 30’s. • In 2008 there was a 2.2 million 18-20yr.old increase in voting. It was the first time since 1972.

7. What Government Does • Government: the institution that creates and implements policies and laws that guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens. • Citizens: members of the polity who, through birth or naturalization, enjoy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to membership of a nation.

8. What Government Does cont. • To protect their sovereign territory and their citizenry and to provide national defense. • To preserve order and stability • To establish and maintain a legal system • To provide services ex: public goods • To raise and spend money • To socialize new generations

9. Types of Government • Monarchy: government in which a royal family has absolute authority. • Oligarchy: government in which a few elite hold all the power. • Democracy: government in which the citizens hold all the power.

10. Systems of Government • Totalitarianism: government controls every aspect of citizens lives. • Authoritarianism: government has strong power but is checked by some forces. • Constitutionalism: government is structured by law and power is limited. • Limited government: government is restricted in what they can do so peoples rights are protected.

11. Origins of American Democracy • Greece: demokratia: power of people and poleis : politics. • City-States ruled by the people. Only men holding property. • Early European politics: Divine Right of Kings. • Protestants challenge church and king. • Ex: 1517 Martin Luther hammered 95 theses to Catholic Church door at Wittenberg Castle.

12. Origins Cont. • 16th Century Protestants wanted to purify the Church more thus Puritans were formed. • Puritans were persecuted and fled to the New World. • Mayflower Compact: 1620 the pilgrims made a social contract before reaching shore. • Social Contract: An agreement to give some of their freedoms to the government in return for protection and order.

13. Modern Political Philosophy • Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Believed in social contract, the strong will prey upon the weak. He believed that either a monarchy was needed or a social contract because anarchy would prevail if not.

14. Modern Philosophy Cont. • John Locke (1632-1704): He took Hobbs theory one step further. He did not believe in Kings ruling by scriptures, but natural rights. • Life, Liberty, and Property • Locke believe the people should accept government authority but if they do not protect these rights then the people have a right to rebel.

15. Modern Philosophy Cont. • Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): He took Lockes theory farther with the belief of popular sovereignty. • Popular sovereignty: the theory that government is created by the people and depends on the people for authority to rule.

16. U.S. Experimental Representative Democracy • Direct Democracy: a structure of government in which citizens discuss and decide policy through majority rule. Ex: town meetings • Indirect Democracy: Sometimes called representative government, a system in which citizens elect representatives who decide policies on behalf of their constituents.

17. Political Culture • Political Culture: the people’s collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political process. • Ideal Examples: • Liberty • Equality • Capitalism • Consent of the governed • Individual, Family, and Community.

18. Changing Democracy • First Census: 1790. Population fewer than 4 million. • 2010 Census: Projected amount is 300 million. • Between 1960-2000 the population increased 50%. • Population trends show that more people are moving from mid-west to south and west. • Population is aging and the baby boom is reaching the top of the age scale.

19. Changing Complexion: Race and Ethnicity • As of 2000 the Hispanic population surpassed the black population. 12.5% • Asian and Pacific Islander has doubled in the last decade from 2% to 4%. • African American population centered around urban areas. • Hispanic population is centered in the Texas and California, as well as along the boarder.

20. American Family • American family has changed since the Women’s liberation of the 1970’s. • Marriage between couples has declined to 52%. • Female ran households has remained the same.

21. Why Changing Population matters to the Government • Strain on resources. • Strain on government programs • Racial changes can affect political outcome.

22. Ideology • Political Ideology: integrated system of ideas or beliefs about political values in general and the role of government in particular.

23. Liberalism • Liberalism: advocates change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well being of individuals and to produce equality within society. • Emphasize civil liberties, especial 1st Amendments • Separation of Church and State ex: prayer in public school. • Support political equality, political rights of gays, and voting rights disenfranchised.

24. Liberalism Cont. • Roots are from Enlightenment- which is freedom of thought and exchange of ideas, limited government, rule of law in society, unfettered market economy, free public education. • Modern Liberalism: believe in the government taking a more active role in personal life. • Ex: increase in S.S., Medicare, Medicaid, government regulation of business and workplace conditions.

25. Conservatism • Conservatism: an ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community and family as mechanisms of continuity in society. • Believe in individual initiative, rule of law, limited Gov., unfettered market economy. Similar to Liberalism. • Difference is limited government and more state involvement. • Example: limit federal Gov. involvement with welfare, Medicaid, ect.

26. Other ideologies on the traditional spectrum • Socialism: ideology that advocates economic equality, theoretically achieved by having the government or workers own the industry. • Libertarianism: ideology believe that the government should have a “hands off” policy on most things. Ex: laissez- faire on the property and the economy.

27. Neo-conservatism • Neo-conservatism: advocates military over diplomatic solutions in forging policy and less concerned with restraining government activity in domestic politics than traditional conservatives. • Aka: Hawks • Gaining strength since war in Iraq, support the state of Israel and against Arab nations that harbor terrorist.

28. Acting on your views • www.politicalcompass.org • Civic Engagement: individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. • Political Engagement: Citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through political means. • Ex: Boycott or Buycott a good or service.