What is power? What is political power? Who has the power?

1. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What is power? • What is political power? • Who has the power?

2. WHAT IS POWER? Politics 101

3. DICTIONARY DEFINTION Power is the exercise of political authority over the actions, affairs, etc., of a political unit, people, etc., as well as the performance of certain functions for this unit or body; the action of governing; political rule and administration  

4. POWER The ability to get someone to do what you want them to do Examples?

5. WHAT IS POWER? Ability to make decisions Ability to control change Having influence over others Causing another to act on your intentions

6. POLITICAL POWER The ability to get someone to vote for you, support your policy or position, or to get them to do what you want in government.

7. WHAT IS POLITICAL POWER? •“Who gets what, when, and how.” -Harold Laswell • Political Power deals with people and their..... -NEEDS: $, protection, food, shelter, etc -VALUES: religion, morals, ethics -ATTITUDES: conservative vs liberal, etc

8. WHAT IS POLITICAL POWER? Political Power is based on 2 principles: • AUTHORITY- accepted expert • LEGITIMACY- Support of the people; Consent of the governed- Voting

9. AUTHORITY *General acceptance that one should be able to exercise a power

10. LEGITIMACY The right to use power granted by constitution, law, or the people.

11. WHO HAS POWER? The RICH? The INTELLIGENT? The MILITARY? The MEDIA? • The MAJORITY usually but not always -Whites? -Protestants? -Males?

12. PRIVATE v. PUBLIC MATTERS What should the government be allowed to regulate? What areas should always be private and not subject to government regulation? The enduring democratic debate!

13. TO WHAT ENDS? Why has the government gotten involved in so many things? What did the government do initially (1787)? Why did government get more power? Do we really need or want them to regulate so much? What areas should the government regulate? Has 9/11 changed what we want the government to do? Would you be willing to give up some freedom for additional protection?

14. TO WHAT ENDS? • Framers • Jefferson • Lincoln • FDR • JFK/LBJ • 9/11 • Today?

15. GOVERNMENT IMPACT Taxes! Traffic laws Education Criminal law codes Standardized weights and measures Guarantees of civil liberties/ rights Labor standards Quality standards Licensing of Professionals Protection/support for underprivileged Etc…

17. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What is power? • What is political power? • Who has the power?

18. Essential Questions • You will define the following terms…in your own words from the notes • Democracy • Government • Politics • Political Power • Policy Agenda • Policy • Linkage Institution

19. Foundations of Government “There has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free.” Thomas Jefferson

20. Government & Our Lives • How does government impact your life? • Why participate? • Those who participate in the political process are more likely to benefit from government programs & policies…Why? • For Your Own Good

21. What is Democracy? • Democracy: Govt. in which supreme power is vested in the people… • Means of organizing govt so policy represents & responds to the public’s preferences • Founders distrust of democracy led to… • Indirect Democracy: People elect representatives to rule in their interest • Why?

22. Political Cartoon • Founders Distrust of Democracy

23. What is Government? • Government: The institutions & processes thru which public policies are made for society • How should we govern? • What should government do? • Maintain National Defense • Provide Public Services • Public Goods: Services that everyone shares; can’t be denied (use of highways, clean air & water) • Preserve Order • Collect Taxes

24. What is Politics? • Politics: process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. • Who gets what, when, where, & why • Political Participation in U.S. • U.S. one of lowest voter participation rates in World • Why? • How can you participate? • U.S. voters: distorted sample…who makes up the voting bloc? How does this impact policy? • Elderly, Strong Party Affiliation, High SES

25. U.S. Voter Participation Rates • How does the U.S. stack up against other countries?

26. Policy and Politics • Political Power: • power used to determine who will hold office and how the govt will behave. • Policy: What Government Does… • Government + Politics = Policy • Policy Agenda: • Issues that attract the attention of public officials • Linkage Institution • Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, & Media • Connect people to government/policy makers • Policymaking Institutions?: • Legislature, Executive, Courts, & Bureaucracy

27. Roots of American Government • Historical Documents • Magna Carta (1215): Estbl. idea that the power of the monarch is not absolute and there are fundamental rights held by everyone. • Mayflower Compact (1620): Idea of colonial self-government • Petition of Rights (1628): challenged the idea of divine right and said the monarch had to obey the laws of the land. • English Bill of Rights (1688): William and Mary of Orange signed this and made representative govt. supreme

28. Roots of American Government—Enlightenment Philosophers • Hobbes & Locke • Hobbes • People naturally fight so need govt for protection (stability) • Social Contract • Locke: • Govt’s purpose is to reserve and protect people’s inalienable rights/property • Separation of Powers • Montesquieu: • Separation of Powers

29. Locke, Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence Primary Source Analysis

30. Locke & U.S. Government • Influence on Govt. • Govt. w/ consent of people • 3 fn. of govt.—laws, settle disputes, execute laws (sep. of powers) • Limited Government • Supreme power in the legislator • Influence on D.O.I • Govt. w/ consent of people • Natural Rights • Right to overthrow unjust/despotic governments

31. Jefferson & D.O.I • What’s Jefferson’s goal in listing abuses by King George (& Parliament)? • Abuses • 1-12: King George’s Estbl. of Tyrannical Rule in Place of Representative Govt. • 13-22: Involvement of Parliament in Destroying Self Rule (“King combined w/ others to…” • 23-27: Specific Actions King George Took to Abandon Colonies/Wage War

32. Who Governs: Theories • Elite Theory: A small # of rich, powerful people make the decisions; thus, it’s rarely responsive to the will of the people. • There is an identifiable group with a disproportionate share of power. Elite = powerful.. • Pluralism: So many groups vying for resources, it’s impossible for any one group to win…thus, there is compromise. More than one interest supports a decision/action. • Hyperpluralism: Too many groups to make any form of compromise → political gridlock.

33. Essential Questions • You will define the following terms…in your own words from the notes • Democracy • Government • Politics • Political Power • Policy Agenda • Policy • Linkage Institution

34. Essential Questions • What are governments for? • How did governments emerge? • When did democratic governments emerge? • What is the difference between a state and a nation? • What are multinational states, stateless nations? • What are criticism of government? Alternatives?

35. What are Governments For?

36. What does government do for us?

37. Maintain Social Order Our government makes laws to prohibit “crimes” (murder, rape, assault, theft, etc.) and punishes those who break them. Government also provides courts to resolve disputes between individuals. Provides Public Services Our government provides public roads, bridges, sewer systems, health & safety inspectors, public education, public libraries, etc. Purpose & Functions of Government Provide National Security Our government provides a military to protect us from attack, provides border patrol, provides intelligence agencies to spy for potential threats, etc. Make Economic Decisions Our government provides a monetary system (U.S. Dollars), controls interest rates and inflation, and provides aid to the poor so that Americans enjoy a high standard of living.

38. Other functions of governments 1. Community and nation building teaching common language, heritage, values, symbols, myths, identity 2. Security and order Internal and external security

39. Other functions 3. Protecting property and other rights Without protections of property, people won’t work to create sustained economic growth 4. Promoting economic efficiency and growth to prevent economic failure Provide public goods (national defense, clean air, parks) Externalities---natural monopolies

40. Other functions 5. Social justice Create level playing field through redistribution 6. Protect the weak Children Aged Disabled Animals Environment

41. Theories on the Origins of Government Evolutionary Theory As the extended family grew in size, the elders became the governing body of that society. Force Theory Those who were stronger and/or had the backing of a military brought areas under their control by force and thus became the government. How did governments come into existence? Divine Right Theory The people in some societies believed that their leaders (Kings, Emperors, etc.) were chosen by God so by obeying these leaders they were obeying God. Social Contract Theory (by Thomas Hobbes) The people saw the brutality of life w/out laws, so they agreed to create a government and accepted the government’s authority over them. In exchange, the people expected the government to protect them.

42. SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT RULE BY THE PEOPLE DEMOCRACY- REPUBLIC- (INDIRECT DEMOC.) CONFEDERATION UNITARY- AUTOCRACY- OLIGARCHY- ARISTOCRACY- THEOCRACY- RULE BY REPRESENTATIVES RULE BY SEP., INDEP. PARTS RULE BY 1 CENTRAL AUTHORITY RULE BY SINGLE LEADER RULE BY SELECTED FEW RULE BY UPPER CLASS RULE BY RELIGIOUS LEADER

43. When and where did democratic government first develop? Many historians believe that democracy first developed in Ancient Athens approximately 508 BC

44. What is the difference between a state and a nation? State Definition – a political community that occupies a definite territory, has an organized government, and has sovereignty (has supreme & absolute authority w/in its territorial boundaries) Nation Definition – a sizeable group of people that share common bonds of race, language, customs, and religion *The geographic boundaries of states and nations do not always match.

45. What is the difference between a state and a nation? State Definition – a political community that occupies a definite territory, has an organized government, and has sovereignty (has supreme & absolute authority w/in its territorial boundaries) Nation Definition – a sizeable group of people that share common bonds of race, language, customs, and religion *The geographic boundaries of states and nations do not always match. Examples of Multi-Nation States: Canada (English-Speaking Canadians & French Canadians) Iraq (Sunnis, Kurds, & Shiites) Israel (Jews & Palestinians)

46. What is the difference between a state and a nation? State Definition – a political community that occupies a definite territory, has an organized government, and has sovereignty (has supreme & absolute authority w/in its territorial boundaries) Nation Definition – a sizeable group of people that share common bonds of race, language, customs, and religion *The geographic boundaries of states and nations do not always match. Examples of Nations W/out a State of Their Own: Kurds (live primarily in Northern Iraq & Southeastern Turkey) Palestinians (live in Israel) Chechens (live in part of Russia)

47. What is the difference between a state and a nation? State Definition – a political community that occupies a definite territory, has an organized government, and has sovereignty (has supreme & absolute authority w/in its territorial boundaries) Nation Definition – a sizeable group of people that share common bonds of race, language, customs, and religion *The geographic boundaries of states and nations do not always match. Examples of Multi-Nation States: Canada (English-Speaking Canadians & French Canadians) Iraq (Sunnis, Kurds, & Shiites) Israel (Jews & Palestinians) Examples of Nations W/out a State of Their Own: Kurds (live primarily in Northern Iraq & Southeastern Turkey) Palestinians (live in Israel) Chechens (live in part of Russia) Then there are nation-states like Japan, Iceland, Denmark… where everything matches

48. Critics of governments Anarchists Communitarians Believe governments destroy communities Libertarians Individualists Governments violate basic rights of people

49. Other criticisms of government • Creates economic inefficiency---government has too much involvement in the economy • Government is good for private gain---common in poor societies where politics is the path to wealth • Government protects vested interests---the larger the government, harder to change

50. Alternatives Markets Libertarians argue that less government is more government Voluntary Coordination Anarchists would like to see the office holders closer to the people and more opportunities for people to participate in decision making