Politics as Institution

6. Politics as Institution The Distribution of Power in Society

7. Key Terms • Politics – System of distributing power and decision making • Power – The ability to achieve desired ends despite opposition • Authority – Use of power perceived as legitimate • The State – The highest political authority within a given territory • Government – Set of people engaged in directing the state

8. Theories of Political Power • Pluralist Model • Analysis of politics that views power as dispersed among many competing interest groups • Power Elite Model • View that political power is concentrated among the wealthy and political elite

9. The Structure ofThe United States’ Political System:

10. Branches of Federal Government • Executive • Prez, Veeper, Cabinet, Agencies • Legislative • House of Reps (435 members), Senate (100 members) • Judicial • District Federal Courts (circuits) • US Supreme Court

11. Winner-Take-All System • Rule with 50% + 1 of votes cast • Sociological significance of “winner-take-all” • Narrows the political spectrum • Diminishes impact of “third” parties (E.g. Green, Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, etc.)

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15. Current World Leaders (Syria) (China) (Zimbabwe) (Israel) (Canada) (Venezuela) (S.A.) (U.K.) (India) (Italy) (Spain) (Germany) (Palestinian Authority) (Australia) (U.K. Labour Party) (European Council) (France) (Greek Opposition Leader)

16. Two Major Parties • Democrats • Republicans What’s the difference? Democrats are more likely to regulate finances and mitigate extremes, while Republicans generally want more “free market” principles. Generally speaking, most non-economic domestic issues (LGBTQ rights, abortion, gun laws, etc.) are wedge issues. And regarding foreign policy, these two parties are virtually identical.

17. Do we live in a democracy?If so, when did the U.S. become one?

18. Democracy? • Black men denied the vote until 1870 • Women denied the vote until 1920 • 18-20 year-olds given right to vote in 1971 • Today: 4.7 million current and former felons denied the right to vote

19. Is Our Government Representative? The 112th Congress The 113th Congress • 12.6% of U.S. is Black • 44 Blacks in House (all Democrats) = 10.1% • 0 Blacks in Senate = 0% • 16.3% of U.S. is Latino • 26 Latinos in House = 6% • 2 Latinos in Senate = 2% • 51% of U.S. is Women • 74 Women in House = 17% • 17 Women in Senate = 17% • 5% of U.S. is Asian or Pacific Islander • 11 Asian/Pacific Islanders in House = 2.5% • 2 Asian/Pacific Islanders in Senate = 2% • 0.9% of U.S. is Native • 1 Natives in House = 0.2% • 0 Natives in Senate = 0% • Black • 43 in House = 9.9% • 2in Senate = 2% • Latino • 33in House = 7.6% • 4in Senate = 4% • Women • 81 in House = 18.6% • 20 in Senate = 20% • Asian or Pacific Islander • 12 in House = 2.75% • 1 in Senate = 1% • Native American • 2 in House = 0.4% • 0 in Senate = 0% • Gov. data from Congressional Research Service, Oct. 31, 2013 • https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42964.pdf • Pop. Data from 2010 census

20. More Progress Toward Representation • 113th Congress • First openly gay Senator • First openly bisexual Representative • 3 Buddhists (2 in House, 1 in Senate) • 1 Hindu in the House • 2 Muslims in the House • White men are in the minority of House Democrats for the first time in history

21. Is Our Government Representative? • About 1% of U.S. population are millionaires • Nearly 50% of Congress are millionaires

22. Institutional Intersections – Politics and… • Education • Public funding for higher education has declined to 35.7% (currently) from 74% in 1991 • Result: higher tuition for students • Economics: Big Money Politics • “Money Primary” • Campaign contributions – fecinfo.com • Citizens United: prohibits the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions. • Who’s your lobbyist?

23. Where do YOU fall on the political spectrum?