American Democracy
Democracy: Rule by the People
Two Types:
A. Direct (pure): rule by the people
themselves.
B. Indirect (representative): rule
by elected representatives.
Founders' distrust of direct
democracy:
1. Impracticalities.
2. Fleeting passions of the
people --->concern that they
would be swayed by
demagogues.
Republic
*Indirect democracy, wherein elected
representatives are accountable to the
People.
“Secures the advantages of direct democracy
while curing its weaknesses.”
Fundamental Democratic Values
A. Popular sovereignty.
B. Respect for the
individual (State serves
individual, not vice versa.)
C.
Liberty.
D. Equality (of
opportunity, and before
the law.)
Fundamental Democratic Processes
A. Free and fair elections,
with competing political
parties.
B. Majority rule with minority
rights. (Fear of “tyranny of
the majority” led to
protection of property
rights.)
C. Freedom of expression.
D. Right to assemble and
protest.
Challenges to Democracy:
-Increased complexity of issues make it
harder for citizens to make decisions.
-Limited participation in government,
especially voting.
-Escalating campaign costs stop people
from running for office.
-Diverse political interests result into
policy gridlock.
Theories of Power:
Who Governs America?
• Majoritarianism
• Elitism
• Pluralism
–Hyperpluralism
• Bureaucratic Rule
Democratic Theory
A. Majoritarian politics view: numerical
majorities determine issues of policy.
Leaders are heavily influenced by the will
of the people.
B. Elite and Class Theory contends that
minorities dominate policy-making.
Societies are divided along class lines and
an upper-class elite will rule.
Elite politics view: Government
policies benefit those with money and
power.
1. Influence of economic elites.
2. Influence of power elites: corporate,
military, political (Eisenhower’s “military
industrial complex.”)
C. Pluralist Theory emphasizes
that politics is mainly a competition
among groups, each one pressing
for its own preferred policies.
Groups must bargain and
compromise to get policies.
Pluralist view:
1. Political resources are so scattered that
no single elite has a monopoly on them.
2. There are so many institutions in which
power is exercised that no single elite
could possibly control all of them.
3. Many groups compete with each other
for control over policy. Policy is therefore
the outcome of political haggling,
innumerable compromises, and evershifting alliances among groups.
Hyperpluralism is a theory of
government and politics contending
that groups are so strong that
government is weakened.
Confusing and contradictory policies
result from politicians trying to
placate every group.
Hyperpluralist View:
1. "Pluralism gone
sour." Policies are
decided through power
wielded by special
interest groups.
2. There are so many
competing groups, and
they are so strong, that
government has
become gridlocked and
is unable to act.
D. Bureaucratic Rule
• View that political power resides in the hands
of career government bureaucrats.
• Power gravitates towards experienced
administrators at the top of large-scale
government organizations.
• Raises possibility of a large, permanent
government run by unelected, unaccountable
administrators.
American Political Culture
Shaped by British heritage, molded by GrecoRoman and Judeo-Christian traditions
In addition to liberty, equality, and self-government,
American core political values include:
• Compromise
• Individualism: (personal initiative, self-sufficiency,
material acquisitions, reaching potential)
• Diversity
• Unity
• E pluribus unum
• Consensus
“Soil of Democracy”
For democracy to succeed…
• Active Citizen Participation
• Favorable Economy
• Educated Public
• Strong Civil Society
• Social Consensus
Questions about Democracy
– Are people knowledgeable about matters of
public policy?
– If there are choices, do the media help
citizens understand them?
– Is Congress representative of American
society, and is it capable of reacting to
changing times?
Politics
• Politics is the process by which we select
our governmental leaders and what
policies they pursue.
• Politics may be defined as “the struggle over
who gets what, when, and how.”Harold Lasswell
Sources of political conflict:
– Scarcity
– Differences in values
• Politics is the process by which society settles
its conflicts.
Assess how citizens can have an impact on public
policy and how policies can impact people.
-Citizens’ interests and concerns are transmitted
through linkage institutions to the agenda of the
policymaking institutions.
-The four linkage institutions are political parties,
elections, mass media, and interest groups.
-The policies that are made then influence peoples’
lives.