Constitutional Underpinnings
What is politics?
Word Association
“
It has been said that politics is the second
oldest profession. I have learned that it
bears a striking resemblance to the first.”
Ronald Reagan
• What words come to mind when you hear
the word “politics”?
• Does the word have a more positive or
negative connotation?
Why Government?
• Government makes public policies made
for society.
• Governments must perform five basic
functions.
– Maintain a national defense.
– Provide public services.
– Preserve order.
– Socialize the young.
– Collect taxes.
Politics is People
• People Shape Policy
– People have interests, problems, and
concerns.
• A political issue arises when people
disagree about a problem or about a
public policy choice.
• Policy Agenda
– Government’s plan to address the people’s
problems and concerns.
Hearing Our Voice
• Linkage Institutions: the means by which
citizens can be involved in politics.
– political parties
– elections
– mass media
– interest groups.
A Policy Intro
• Public policy is a choice that government
makes in response to a political issue.
• Policy impacts are the effects a policy has
on people and problems.
• The four policymaking institutions are the
legislative branch, executive branch,
judicial branch, and the bureaucracy.
• Policies can be established through inaction
as well as action.
Policy
Machiavelli
• Machiavelli’s name is synonymous with
tough and dirty politics
• Author of The Prince. One of history’s first
political scientists.
Machiavelli Quotes
• “The ends justify the means.”
• “It is better to be feared than loved.”
• “By no means can a prudent ruler keep his
word. Because all men are bad and do not
keep promises to you, you likewise do not
have to keep your promises to them.”
Can we be hopeful about
politics?
Yes We Can
“straight talk” campaign
A neutral view of
politics
Harold D. Lasswell
• Who gets what, when, and how. (and
where)
• All of us are political, we’re just not used to
calling it that. You don’t have to take a
class to get politics. Aristotle was correct
when he wrote, “Man is by nature a
political animal.”
Enlightened Ideas
• Reason
– Absence of intolerance, bigotry & superstition
• Natural Laws
– Supersede man-made law
• Progress
– Laws would improve society, social progress
• Liberty
– Intellectual freedom a “natural right”, not restricted by
rulers
• Toleration
– Advocated full religious tolerance
Social Contract
Theory
• “The only valid government is one based
on the consent of the governed.” - Locke
• Rulers and citizens enter into an
agreement, or a social contract
• Government by the people, masses
Locke’s influence on
the US
• “A state also of equality, wherein all the
power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one
having more than another… - John Locke,
of Civil Government
• “We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal.”
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of
Independence
Other Influences
• Montesquieu
– in his Spirit of the
Laws, he concluded
that an ideal
government would
separate power
between the
legislative, executive
and judicial branches
so the no part of
government could
become too powerful
• Rousseau
– In his Social Contract,
he argued that
sovereign power lies in
the community, not the
ruler
– If a ruler fails to carry
out the will of the
people, the people
should remove the
ruler
Political Power
• Power – ability of one person to cause
another person to act in accordance
• Authority – right to use power
• Legitimacy – what makes the law or
leader a source of “right”
What makes a
Democracy?
Principles necessary for a democracy to
exist.
1. Universal suffrage (everyone vote)
2. Political Equality (all votes counted
equally)
3. Majority Rule
4. Government responds to public opinion
Winston’s Wisdom
• “The best argument against democracy
is a five-minute conversation with the
average voter.”
» Winston Churchill
• “It has been said that democracy is the
worst form of government except all
the others that have been tried.”
» Winston Churchill
Can uneducated/poor
people be trusted?
• Direct Democracy – citizens create/vote on laws
• Problems
1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise
• How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per
day on issues they no nothing about?
2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on
emotions (Hitler was elected)
• “The masses are turbulent and changing and
seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander
Hamilton
Traditional Democratic
Theory
• Democracy is a system in which policy
represents and responds to the public’s
preferences.
• Five components are:
• Equality in voting— the principle of “one person, one vote” is
basic to democracy.
• Effective participation— political participation must be
representative.
• Enlightened understanding— free press and free speech are
essential to civic understanding.
• Citizen control of the agenda— citizens should have the
collective right to control the government’s policy agenda.
• Inclusion— citizenship must be open to all within a nation.
When it works…
• Democracies must practice majority
rule and preserve minority rights.
• The relationship between the few
leaders and the many followers is one of
representation:
• The closer the correspondence between
representatives and their electoral
majority, the closer the approximation to
democracy.
Representative
Democracy (Republic)
• Citizens elect representatives
• Gov’t MEDIATES popular views
– “Will of the people” ≠ “Common interest”
– EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights
• Reps are educated on issues at hand
• Prevents fast, sweeping change
• Minority rights more likely to be protected
Political Culture
• America is unified by ideology and political
culture—which is unusual compared to
most countries with strong nationalistic
characteristics and a longer history.
• Five elements of political culture shape
American democracy.
American Democracy
• Liberty: Liberty is one of Jefferson’s
inalienable rights and a cornerstone of the Bill
of Rights.
• Egalitarianism: Equality of opportunity,
especially social equality, has promoted
increasing political equality.
• Individualism: American individualism
developed in part from the western frontier
and the immigrants’ flight from government
oppression. (sometimes “rugged” is added)
American Democracy
• Laissez-faire economics: The American
government taxes and regulates less than
most countries at its equivalent level of
development.
• Populism: The common, ordinary citizens are
idealized in American politics, and both
liberals and conservatives claim to be their
protectors.
Theories explaining how
democracies ACTUALLY
function
1. Majoritarian Theory
2. Pluralist Theory
= leaders are forced to follow the
wishes of the people because
majority rules
= groups compete and compromise
with each other to get the gov’t
to do what they want
3. Hyperpluralist Theory
4. Bureaucracratic Theory
= groups are so strong and hold
such divergent views that in
trying please all – gov’t is
weakened and nothing gets
done
= (Max Weber) appointed officials
dominate the gov’t through
unelected jobs
5. Elite Theory
= groups or people who possess
the most more power (money or
influence) dominate gov’t
Democracy Theory Test
What theory is supported by the fact that…
1. The US holds mainly elections where the person who
receives the most votes wins.
2. Most US representatives are upper class people.
3. The President appoints hundreds of people for gov’t
jobs or judgeships, all have special powers.
4. Interest groups spend millions of dollars toward
campaigns of favored candidates.
5. Gov’t can call for referendums, or votes by the people
to pass or strike down potential laws.
6. The candidate who raises the most money for an
election almost always wins.
Pluralism
1. Modern society consists of many groups (ex.
Economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that
compete with each other to achieve goals
2. Groups that influence gov’t, work hard, and
have largest membership get what they want
3. Even if the average citizen does not keep up
with politics, their interests will be protected by
their group.
4. Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals
Arguments for and
against the Pluralist view
FOR
AGAINST
• Relatively low numbers of
• There is no unified
people join interest groups.
majority in the US that
always acts together. • Poor citizens have less
opportunity to join interest
• Gov’t leaders must
groups or contribute to
please groups to gain
them.
votes and money to be
reelected.
• One can’t assume that
group decisions are always
• Groups must compete
in the best interest of the
for gov’t services and
nation.
favorable laws.
Hyper-pluralism
• The theory of government and politics where
contending that groups are so strong that
government is weakened.
• These groups have multiple ways to both
prevent policies they disagree with and
promote those they support.
• Confusing and contradictory policies result
from politicians trying to placate every group.
Elite (Class) Theory
• Society is divided along class lines.
• An upper-class elite rules, regardless of
governmental organization.
• Wealth is the basis of class power: a few
powerful Americans are the policymakers.
• Big business and its power is at the center of
most elite and class theories.
• Some observers argue that elitism is
increasing in recent times.
Elite Theory
• Control the economic system = control
the political system.
• Politicians require massive funding to win
elections, and rely on corporations to
supply them.
A Reminder…
• These are only theories. They are
people’s perception of our democracy and
the way it functions.
• Which theory is correct???
– Pluralist – most popular today
– Majoritarian – popular pre-1950’s
– Elite – rising since the 80’s (Michael Moore)
– Hyper-Pluralist – gov’t tries to please all
groups so nothing gets done
Things to Ponder…
–What role did the Constitution’s
authors foresee for the federal
government?
–Does the public favor a large, active
government?
–Is Congress too responsive to the
demands of the public and
organized interests?