Chapter 1
The Political Landscape
Where can this passage be found?
When was it written?
• We the people of the United States, in Order to form
a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
Some terminology..
• Government: a collective of individuals and
institutions, the formal vehicles through which
policies are made and affairs of state are conducted.
• Citizens: by law, are members of the political
community who by nature are entitled to all of the
freedoms guaranteed by the government.
• Politics: how policy decisions are made.
What is the Government?
• In exchange for our freedoms and guidance, the
government expects us to obey the government, its
laws and the constitution.
• Citizens can support their government by joining the
military, paying taxes, and voting.
• Social Contract
Functions of Government.
• The Framers outlined key ideas over 200 years later!
• People should be able to solve their own problems
and make decisions once a simple mechanism, or
vehicle was established.
• The greatest debate our nation faces is over power.
How much do the people have to give up to be
guaranteed a comfortable level of security?
– Freedom v. Order
Establishing Justice!
• One thing expected from governments is a system of
laws for individuals to follow. Thus giving us: the Bill
of Rights.
• The Bill of Rights entitles people to a trial by jury, to
know the charges against them, and to be tried in a
courtroom presided over by an impartial judge.
• Constitution
Ensuring Domestic
Tranquility.
• The protect the people local governments have
police forces and States have national guards.
• After the September 11, 2001 attacks all
governments took extraordinary measures to contain
the threat of terrorism.
• Department of Homeland Security: was created to
coordinate U.S security. The most recent Department
created (15/15)
Providing for the Common
Defense!
• The framers did many things to help protect
the United States from outside dangers
– making the President of the United States the
Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
– Congress was also given the ability to raise an
army in of times of need.
Promoting the General Welfare
• When the Framers added it to their list, it was
more of an ideal than a mandate for
government
• Our views on what government should do
have expanded over time.
• Any government program providing aid
(health care, Social Security income)
Securing the Blessings of Liberty
• In a free society people are free to criticize
their government and even petition it when
they disagree with it’s actions.
Types of Governments…
• Monarchy: government in which power is vested in
hereditary kings and queens who govern in the
interests of all.
• Totalitarian: an economic system in which the
government has total control over the economy.
• Oligarchy: the right to participate is conditioned on
the possession of wealth, social status, military
position, or achievement.
• Democracy: a system of government that gives
power to the people, whether directly or through
elected representatives.
Ideology and the Scope of
Government
Social Contracts:
• Social Contract: an agreement between the people
and their government signifying their consent to be
ruled.
• What was the first Social Contract in America?
– Mayflower Compact
• Social Contract Theory: The belief that people are
free and equal by God-given right and that this in
turn requires that all people give their consent to be
governed. (Locke and Hobbes)
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
John Locke (1632-1704)
Leviathan (1651)
Second Treatise on Civil Government (1689)
Both argue that all individual rights are free and equal by natural right.
Also that all men and woman give their consent to be governed.
• Argued that mans natural
state is war. He theorized
that a monarchy is
necessary to restrain man’s
bestial tendencies.
• Warned life without
government would be
“solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short.”
• Argues strongly that a single
leader is needed to protect
the rights of the people.
Also that a mans
fundamental right is
property.
• Said that people form
governments to preserve
life, liberty property and to
ensure justice.
Any of this sound familiar yet….?
Hobbes and Locke
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Hobbes, Locke, and Social Contract
Theory
• Hobbes argued for a single ruler
• John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau saw
the need for less centralized power
• Colonists rejected a strong ruler upon
declaring independence
• Fled religious persecution, escaped a tyrant.
Virginia House of Burgesses
• Created in 1619, was the first representative
assemble in North America.
• The New England Town meetings today survive as an
example of Direct Democracy: a system of
government in which members of the polity meet to
discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide
by majority rule.
• Indirect Democracy: is a system of government that
gives citizens the opportunity to vote for
representatives who will work on their behalf.
Republic!
• A government rooted in the consent of the
governed; a representative or indirect
democracy.
American Political Culture and the
Characteristics of American Democracy
• Political Culture: commonly shared attitudes, beliefs,
and core values about how government should
operate.
• American political culture emphasizes the values of:
personal liberty, equality, popular consent and
majority rule, popular sovereignty, civil society and
individualism.
Personal Liberty..
• One of the most important characteristics of
American democracy, personal liberty is
defined as: Initially meaning freedom from
governmental interference, today it includes
demands for freedom to engage in practices
free from governmental discrimination.
(Political) Equality!
• A second key
characteristic of our
democracy.
• While some individuals
clearly have more
political pull than others,
the adage “one person,
one vote” implies a
sense of political
equality for all.
• Equal protection under
laws (14th Amendment)
Popular Consent and Majority Rule
• Popular Consent: the idea that government must
draw their powers from the consent of the governed.
• Majority rule: the central premise of direct
democracy in which only policies that collectively
garner the support of a majority of voters will be
made into law.
• It should also be mentioned that the Bill of Rights is
an example of the importance to
protect minority rights.
Popular Sovereignty..
• Popular Sovereignty: The right of the majority
to govern themselves. – Although not widely
used until pre-civil war times, popular
sovereignty is an idea found widely in our
constitution. It is considered a natural law.
• Natural Law: a doctrine that society should be
governed by certain ethical principles that are
part of nature and as such, can be understood
by reason.
The Changing Characteristics of the
American People
• Differences in Americans are what make up
the political conflicts among the electorate.
• A changing population size is America’s
biggest changing characteristic. As of 2005
there were more than 293 million Americans!
• As a result of this growth, many Americans
feel far removed from their government.
Cont’d.
• Just as the diversity America is changing, the
average age of American’s is increasing.
• “Graying of America”- The U.S. population is
getting older
• How does average age affect policies
implemented? –well, consider Florida. Most of
Florida’s population is 65+, making policies
•
like social security a much larger
issue to them than, let’s say, public
•
schools.
Ideology of the American People
• Political Ideology: the coherent set of values
and beliefs about the purpose and scope of
government held by groups and individuals.
• In general, conservatives tend to identify with
the Republican Party while liberals usually
identify with the Democratic Party.
The Concepts of
Freedom, Order, and Equality
• Freedom is used in two major senses:
– Freedom of: the absence of constraints on
behavior - freedom to do something (liberty)
– Freedom from: immunity from fear and want; the
fight against exploitation and oppression.
Conservatives:
• Conservative: one thought to believe that
government is best that governs least and that big
government can only infringe on individual, personal,
and economic rights.
• Less centralized government.
• Oppose abortion
• Oppose gun control laws
• Oppose environmental regulations
• Oppose social welfare programs
Liberals:
• Liberal: one considered to favor extensive
governmental involvement in the economy and the
provision of social services and to take an activist
role in protecting the rights of women, the elderly,
minorities, and the environment.
• Favor more governmental involvement in general
• Favor abortion rights
• Favor environmental regulation
• Favor gun control laws
• Favor social welfare programs
Libertarians:
• Libertarian: one who favors a free market
economy and no governmental interference in
personal liberties
– Favor abortion rights
– Oppose environmental regulation
– Oppose gun control laws
– Oppose social welfare programs
Problems With Political Labels
• Labels can be misleading
• More people consider themselves moderate,
tend to vote for the best candidate or issues
• Party Polarization: the tendency of the
Democratic and Republican parties to be
divisively separated by issues and ideas.
– issues tend to separate (polarize) the parties
further from the moderate stance
Current attitudes towards
Government
• High Expectations
– Expectations have changed as a result of major
crises
• Great Depression: people began to look to government
for relief
• Politicians promises
• Has led to a decreasing faith in government
Current attitudes towards
Government
• Voter Apathy: Voters do not care, have little
interest or concern regarding government
– Can influence political efficacy, the belief that one
can make a difference in politics through acting
politically.
• Lack of perceived qualified candidates, lack
real choices