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Textbook from amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0495910503/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used. So…who are you?. Name What do you like to be called? Where are you from? Do you have any experience in politics or government?
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Textbook from amazon.com • http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0495910503/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
So…who are you? • Name • What do you like to be called? • Where are you from? • Do you have any experience in politics or government? • Why are you taking this class? (Constitution requirement, prospective political science major, general interest, etc.)
Social Science • The use of scientific methods to study some aspect of society (human beings and their interactions). • Anthropology • Economics • History • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology • Etc.
Political Science • Study of power and the organization of power • Harold Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how.” • Power: Creation and enforcement of laws and rules deciding • What you have the right to do (MAY) • What you have the obligation to do (MUST) • What you’re prohibited from doing (MAY NOT)
Political Science • Use of the scientific method to: • Observe: “What’s happening?” • Explain: “Why is it happening? Why is it happening that way?” • Predict: “What’s going to happen?”
Complete Freedom • Do whatever you want • No rules, no laws, no restrictions • Unlimited right to acquire property • What’s the problem?
Complete Freedom • No way to protect your own property or otherwise prevent your rights from being violated • What’s the answer?
Rules and Laws • Give up some of your complete freedom in exchange for the protection of your remaining freedom • You agree not to steal, and others agree not to steal from you • Are you better off? • Who makes the rules and laws?
Basis of Government • Government in a free society exists to make and enforce laws in a way that protects the rights of the people • Power to make rules and laws gives you a great deal of power over others’ lives • Imprisonment • Taxation • Etc.
Who Gets to Govern? • Divine Right • Monarch endowed by God with power • Democracy • People govern directly • Republic/Indirect Democracy • People choose leaders who make decisions • Dictatorship • I make the rules because I have the biggest gun.
Next Class: • isidewith.com/political–quiz • Did your results surprise you? • Theories of Power