American Government
Who Cares?
Should we care?
Lois and the Undecided Voters
Undecided voters
 What can you infer from the video clip
concerning political power?
 Who gave Lois and Mayor West power?
 Does the video clip seem accurate in its
portrayal of power and the citizen?
 What is power anyway?
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Political Power
Political power is one person or group that
gets another person or group to agree
with or acts in accordance to the first
person’s or group’s intentions.
 For one to be successful in this, one needs
authority and legitimacy.
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Authority
Stewie Vader
 Why does Stewie listen to Mayor West?
 Authority is when an individual listens to
or behaves as another wishes because
that same individual gives that other
person authority to rule them.
 Authority, however, is not always
legitimate.
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Legitimacy
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Homer votes for Obama
According to Homer’s vote, who should be president?
Why did Homer give legitimacy to McCain when the
vacuum of death was sucking him up? What does this
tell you as to the various ways legitimacy is gained?
Legitimacy:
1.according to law; lawful: the property's legitimate
owner.
2. in accordance with established rules, principles,
or standards.
3. born in wedlock or of legally married parents:
legitimate children.

Individuals and society grant legitimacy
Applying what you have learned
He-Man
Who or what gives He-Man his power to rule?
Does He-Man have authority to rule? Why or
why not?
 Does He-Man have legitimacy to rule? Why or
why not?
 Who does not accept He-Man’s power, authority
and legitimacy to rule? What does Skeletor’s
refusal of He-Man’s political power create?
 Can these ideas be transferred over to events in
places you are familiar with?
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Your Task
Remember, for one to have political power
one must have authority and legitimacy.
 Who has political power in the following and
why?

Friends
Home
 Class
 Siblings
 Your city
 Your state
 Name a few more areas where you see political
power in action for extra credit.
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