The American The American GovernmentGovernment

Why to study how the government works-Why to study how the government works- Who Governs?Who Governs?

Who really has the power, who gets to use it?Who really has the power, who gets to use it? To What Ends?To What Ends?

How do the decisions of those with power affect How do the decisions of those with power affect the rest of us?the rest of us?

What is power? What is power?

The ability of one person to get another The ability of one person to get another to act in accordance with the first to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions. person’s intentions.

For this class- how does power affect For this class- how does power affect those who hold government office, and those who hold government office, and how do they behave?how do they behave?

Who has the power to deny you what you Who has the power to deny you what you want in life? Should the government be want in life? Should the government be involved in issues that used to be involved in issues that used to be considered private?considered private?

Authority- Authority- You can’t tell me what to do!!You can’t tell me what to do!!

Yes. . . Yes. I can !! Yes. . . Yes. I can !!The right to use powerThe right to use power ExamplesExamples

Your parents have authority over you.Your parents have authority over you.I get to have authority over you in my classroom. I get to have authority over you in my classroom. The principal has authority over me. The principal has authority over me. WPD have the authority to give you a traffic ticket WPD have the authority to give you a traffic ticket for doing something illegal. for doing something illegal. The President has authority over the Army.The President has authority over the Army.

How does each example establish their How does each example establish their legitimacy for the use of power?legitimacy for the use of power?

Questions of Authority v. LegitimacyQuestions of Authority v. Legitimacy Your parents get to have authority over you, if you are a Your parents get to have authority over you, if you are a minor, If you’re 18, they don’t have as much, but then they minor, If you’re 18, they don’t have as much, but then they

can legally kick you out of their house as well.can legally kick you out of their house as well. I get to have authority over you due to a legal idea called- I get to have authority over you due to a legal idea called- in loco parentisin loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent“. , Latin for "in the place of a parent“.

The Principal has authority over me as my Boss. The Principal has authority over me as my Boss.

WPD can give you a ticket- as representative of the city of WPD can give you a ticket- as representative of the city of Woodland- they can regulate behaviors and enforce order Woodland- they can regulate behaviors and enforce order within its territory- specifically public welfare, security, within its territory- specifically public welfare, security, morality, and safety.morality, and safety.

The President has authority over the Army, because the The President has authority over the Army, because the U.S. Constitution has outlined the specific powers of the U.S. Constitution has outlined the specific powers of the President. President.

You still can’t tell me what to do, this is a You still can’t tell me what to do, this is a Democracy !!Democracy !!

Well. . . Not really. . . . Well. . . Not really. . . .

In a true or “direct” democracy- every In a true or “direct” democracy- every citizen would actively participate in the citizen would actively participate in the government. government.

That type of system only works in small That type of system only works in small groups, or in places where everyone had a groups, or in places where everyone had a common goal in mind. common goal in mind.

What do we have?What do we have?

A representative democracyA representative democracy

What does this mean? What does this mean?

We vote (this is the democratic part) for people We vote (this is the democratic part) for people to represent us in government. to represent us in government. Basically we choose the best people (theoretically) to Basically we choose the best people (theoretically) to

make important decisions for us, because we don’t make important decisions for us, because we don’t have the time or experience to do it ourselves. have the time or experience to do it ourselves.

What are the problems with What are the problems with Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

Honest competitionHonest competition

An uninformed electorateAn uninformed electorate

A lack of variety of choices. A lack of variety of choices.

Too many officesToo many offices

Rotating political door- go from one office Rotating political door- go from one office to another, lack of new names. to another, lack of new names.

People vote for themselves, not for what is People vote for themselves, not for what is necessarily good for others. necessarily good for others.

Power Holders and UsersPower Holders and Users

Majoritarian Politics- officials acting as the Majoritarian Politics- officials acting as the majority of people would act. majority of people would act. Do current leaders actually act Do current leaders actually act with the majority in mind, or theirwith the majority in mind, or theirown groups political interests?own groups political interests?

Elite- an identifiable group of persons who Elite- an identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of possess a disproportionate share of political powerpolitical power

Theories of Elite InfluenceTheories of Elite InfluenceMarx- the government reflects the economic forces of a nation. A Marx- the government reflects the economic forces of a nation. A struggle between capitalists and workersstruggle between capitalists and workers

Mills- Three groups in power- corporate leaders, military leaders, Mills- Three groups in power- corporate leaders, military leaders, and political leadersand political leaders

Bureaucratic- The power lies within the bureaucracy, the people Bureaucratic- The power lies within the bureaucracy, the people

who actually run the day to day activities of the governmentwho actually run the day to day activities of the government

Pluralist- No single group or groups in charge, many different Pluralist- No single group or groups in charge, many different

groups all trying to get their part of the political power pie.groups all trying to get their part of the political power pie.

Regardless of your own feelings, all of these theories allow people who are Regardless of your own feelings, all of these theories allow people who are into conspiracy theories to thrive!into conspiracy theories to thrive!

Self- Interest v. Public GoodSelf- Interest v. Public Good

People do vote in self-interestPeople do vote in self-interestPeople act in the public good- marches, People act in the public good- marches, speeches, etc. . .speeches, etc. . .

And even sometimes, people vote for the public And even sometimes, people vote for the public good. good. Civil RightsCivil Rights Seniors voting for school reformSeniors voting for school reform Fire fighters taking a pay cut so other fire fighters Fire fighters taking a pay cut so other fire fighters

keep their jobs. keep their jobs.

Political ChangePolitical Change

The Federal government has increased its The Federal government has increased its power over our daily lives since the Great power over our daily lives since the Great Depression. Depression. Social SecuritySocial Security WelfareWelfare NCLBNCLB National debates over abortion. National debates over abortion.