Introduction

• The vocabulary of Political Science

– Politics

– Government

• Democracy

• Texas Creed

The Political Society• No rules or laws are needed in the state of

nature.– Individual existence or very small groups.

• However, as we formed societies of much larger groups, we demanded the imposition of rules to govern our neighbors and to ensure order.

• The political systems created to impose rules have varied throughout history.

Politics

• Politics is the authoritative allocation of values for a society.

• Values are both material and non material in nature.

• Values are limited which creates a competitive distribution system.

• Lasswell definition - the study of who gets what, when and how.

Government

• Government is the institutions and processes that make public policy for a society.

• Institutions are the structures making the decisions and rules.

• Process is how the decisions are made.• Policy is a decision made by a

government.• Sociology definition - a formal

organization that directs the political life of a society.

Social/Political Groups

• Family – state of nature

• Clan – state of nature

• Tribe – political society

• Nation – political society

• State – political society

• Nation-State – political society

Forms of Government

• Autocracy/Monarchy – rule by one

• Oligarchy/Aristocracy – rule by a few

• Democracy – rule by the people

• Theocracy – rule by religious decree

Democracy• Democracy is how a government makes

decision.

• Who participates and with how much weight is also critical.

• Conditions for Democracy Political Equality Fundamental Rights (Nontyranny) Participation - Available and

used Deliberation - Open discussion

Democracy in Action• The concept of self-government was discussed by

the ancient Greeks but fell out of favor.– This was classical democracy with direct citizen

participation.

• Democratic theory was revived in the United States in the 1780s.—Representative democracy was believed to be the only

viable form of democracy for the United States.—The presidential campaign is democracy in action.

Models of Democracy

• Classical Democracy – all individual citizens participates in directly in the policy process.

• Representative Democracy – individuals elect a person to represent them in the policy process.– Majoritarian - Majority rules. There is political

equality, centralize power in a single executive.

– Pluralistic - emphasis on minority rights. Power is dispersed in groups with decentralized authority and processes.

– Elitist - power is in the hands of small privileged group of people.

Core Ideals: Texas Creed

• Individualism – most important

• Liberty

• Equality

• Constitutionalism

• Democracy

Liberty

• Freedom to pursue personal goals without undo government restrictions.

• The regulation of individual activity and taxation are often cited as violations of individual liberty.

• Texans have always been more concerned with their individual rights than the rights of the government to regulate them.

Equality

• Political, economic and social equality.• Slavery, segregation, racial and ethnic

discrimination, and poverty demonstrate our lack of success in achieving equality.

• Equal opportunity or regulated equality?

Democracy

• Rule by the citizens of a state.• Since most early Texans came from the

southern United States, their views on democracy and the rule of the government come from the “Jacksonian” ideals of the 1830s.

• This continues today with Texas being one of the lowest tax and social spending states.

Constitutionalism

• The fundamental law of the land.

• Cannot be easily changed.

• Has consent of governed.

• Provides structure for power distribution and policy discussion.

Interaction:Core Ideals - Institutions

• Individualism Affects Politics

• Liberty

• Equality

• Constitutionalism Affects Government • Democracy

FamilyOther Institutional Education

Factors Religion