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Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 1 | 1

Chapter One

• The Study of American

Government


Two Key Questions

• Who governs? Those who govern will affect us.

• To what ends? How will government affect our lives?


What is Political Power?

• Power: the ability of one person to cause another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions

• Authority: the right to use power

• Legitimacy: what makes a law or constitution a source of right


Kinds of Democracy

• Direct democracy: A form of democracy in which most, or all, of the citizenry participate directly.

• Representative democracy: A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.


The Framers’ View

• Government would mediate, nor mirror, popular views

• People were viewed as lacking knowledge and susceptible to manipulation

• Framers’ goal: to minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by officeholders


Theories of Government

• Marxism: Those who own the means of production, controlling the economic system, will control the government

• Power Elite: A few top leaders, drawn from the major sectors of the United States polity, will make all important decisions


Theories of Government

• Bureaucratic: Appointed civil servants control the government, without consulting the public.

• Pluralist: Competition among affected interests shapes public policy decision-making


Pluralism and Self-Interest

• Is pluralist democracy driven by selfish desire? No, because:– policies can be good or bad, regardless of the

motives of their proponents;– the belief that people always act in their own self-

interest has been refuted in practice (i.e. heroic actions of September 11th)

– public-spirited behavior was behind many of our greatest social movements (like the Civil Rights movement)


Answer the following

• Which of the following statements best describes the consequences of elite class theory?

• A. it encourages the formation of third political parties.• B. Competing special interests can unduly influence the

legislative process.• C. A centrist philosophy would emerge resulting in

gridlock.• D. The elite in society would play a dominant role in the

political process.• E. The elite would clash with the middle class resulting in

class warfare.


FRQTopic and evidence

• What is political power? What role does it play in bicameral system?

• How is political power distributed?

• Is democracy driven by self-interest?

• Is representative democracy best? Why or why not?

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