constitutional underpinnings defining government & the purpose of politics
TRANSCRIPT
Constitutional Underpinnings
Defining Government & The Purpose of Politics
Two Central Questions
• How should we be governed?– This course examines the workings of
democratic government (“good government”).
– WHO holds power (and/or authority and who influences the policies adopted by government.
• What should government do?– Does our government do what we want it to
do?– The essence of politics.
What is Government?
• Government:– “the institution that makes and enforces
public policies.” – Public policy: things a government
decides to do or not do.• imposing an income and/or property taxes• minimum wages
• maintaining armed forces.
• Government, politics and public policy are interrelated.
Every government has means of changing leaders
• Orderly & peaceful transition (US)
• Violent revolution (1917 Russian Revolution)
• In between (Fall of communism in East Germany)
What do governments do?
• Regardless of how they assume power, all serve same purpose.
• Functions of government:– Maintain national defense– Provide public goods– Provide order– Provide public services– Socialize the young into the political
culture– Collect taxes.
Individuals form governments for the following reasons…
• The purpose of the US Government is clearly communicated in the Preamble of the Constitution.– Form a more perfect union: in unity there is strength.
– To establish justice: justice is the reasonable, and impartial administration of the law. “equal protection under the law”.
– To insure domestic tranquility: without order, people would live in anarchy, and insecurity.
– Provide for the common defense: the country’s security rest upon wise defense & foreign policies.
– To promote general welfare: the country has a responsibility to provide a variety of public services.
– To secure blessings of liberty: freedom is necessary for democracy.
Classifying government
• No two governments are exactly alike.
• Analyze government based upon:– Distribution of power– Relationship between Legislature &
Executive branches.– The number who can participate.
Distribution of Power
• Unitary Government: Centralized government. Local government is created by central government.– State governments– Example: Great Britain
• Federal Government: Division of power between central and local governments.– Both act on their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies.– Example: United States
• Confederation: Alliance of independent states; central government has limited power.– Government possesses little authority to act on it’s own– Confederation of Independent States (countries of former
USSR).
Relationship between Legislative & Executive
• Presidential System:– Promotes majority rule & plurality rule– Separation of powers.
• Checks & balances• Executive powers not subject to direct control of the
legislature• Prevents tyranny, but high transaction costs.
– Branches are independent and coequal. – President chosen independently of the legislature.
• Parliamentary System:– Promotes majority rule– Branches are inter-connected.
• Legislative direct influence over executive.• Executive leader is of the majority party, and is chosen
by parliament. (so is his cabinet).• Executive Branch is subject to direct control of
legislature.
Participation in Government
Governments can form depending on number who can participate in governmental process.
– Dictatorship: exercise absolute, not limited authority over the people.
• Participation is limited to those who govern. • Government is NOT accountable to the people.
– Democracy: sovereignty is located with the people who hold the power
• consent of the governed (popular sovereignty).• Types:• Direct Democracy • Representative Democracy.
The Political System
• Political system: set of institutions and activities that link together government,
politics & public policy. • Political issues: arises when people
disagree about problem or choice.• Linkage system: parties, elections,
interest groups & media link preferences to
policy agenda.
Traditional Democratic Theory
• Specifies how a democratic government makes its decisions.
• Robert Dahl’s lists five criteria that are essential for "an ideal democratic process": – equality in voting: “One person, one vote”– effective participation: must be representative– enlightened understanding: free press & free
speech essential to civic understanding.– citizen control of the agenda:collective right to
control government’s agenda. – inclusion: citizenship open to all.
• Includes majority rule & preserve minority rights
Contemporary Theories of Democracy
• Pluralist Theory– Competition for power and control over public
policy.• No one group dominates.
– Peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles.
• Bargaining & compromise essential for democracy.
• Powers dispersed among various branches of government.
• Majority rule, not individual interest.
Contemporary Theories of Democracy
• Elite Class Theory– Minority has power and controls public
policy.• Based on social class.• Few have power, most do not.
– Wealth/Big Business = power • Politics benefit wealthy, not majority of citizens. • Public interest is rarely translated into public
policy.
Contemporary Theories of Democracy
• Hyperpluralism:– The number of groups competing makes
government is ineffective.• Argues that nobody rules. • Confusing, contradictory, and muddled policy (or
no policy at all).• Pluralism gone bad. It's grid lock. • Public interest is rarely translated into public
policy.
Challenges to Democracy
• How can people confront complex issues?– TDT:
• Ordinary citizens have good sense to reach political judgments
• Government has capacity to act on these judgments.
– It’s become more difficult to make knowledgeable decisions.
• Elite no longer based on property, but knowledge.
Challenges to Democracy
• Are citizens doing their job?– Citizens ignorant about leaders or policy
decisions.– Lack of political participation HUGE concern.
• Is American democracy dependent on money?– Campaign costs=dependency on PAC’s– PAC’s= undue influence on members of
Congress, widens gap between DT and reality.
Challenges to Democracy
• Can the political system adapt to rapidly changing world?– Rate of change has increased greatly over last
three decades.– Are institutions capable of keeping up pace of
change?
• Does American diversity produce gridlock?– Is diversity shifting America from pluralism to
hyperpluralism? (interest groups)– Decentralized government allows few groups to
block policy, creating gridlock.
Political Involvement
• Participation = ways in which people get involved in politics:– Voting
• US = one of lowest voter turnout in world.• Low turnout effects who holds political power.
– Vocational politics
• Single-issue groups: interest group that votes on single issue. – Ignore politician’s stand on everything
except issue.• Complicates efforts to find middle ground.
Public Policy
• End product of government & politics.– Citizens influence government policy.– Choice government makes in response to
citizens influence.
• Includes decisions & non-decisions of government.
• Changes regularly.– Problems concerning voters.– Do candidate shares your views? (voting)
Purpose of Politics
• Politics:“who gets what, when and how.”– The media = who of politics- voters,
candidates, groups & parties.– What = public policies enacted by
government.– How = bargaining, supporting,
compromising, and lobbying by citizens.
• Politics determines whom we select as governmental leaders and what policies they pursue.