Politics
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Politics is a social process through which people
and groups acquire, exercise, maintain, or lose
power over others. (Sociology)
Politics is the art or science of government or
governing, especially the governing of a political
entity, such as a nation, and the administration and
control of its internal and external affairs.
Politics is the activities or affairs engaged in by a
government, politician, or political party.
“All politics is local”--Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.
“Politics have appealed to me since I was at Oxford because they are
exciting morning, noon, and night”-- Jeffrey Archer
Political Systems
• Authoritarian—power is monopolized by a small
elite (or a single leader) who govern without
constitutional limits and who recognize
responsibility only to themselves rather than the
general public
• Democratic—power is based on popular
participation in decision making, where ultimate
authority is vested in people
Authority and Power
• Authority is legitimate power that has widespread
social approval and is obeyed because people
believe that those who exercise it have a right to
do so--or because people see no need or way to
change it
– Traditional—based on custom or habit
– Legal-rational—based on rules, regulations, and
procedures
– Charismatic—based on a leader’s personal qualities
– Expertise—derived from the possession of specialized
knowledge
Institutions
• Institution perpetuate ideologies, often, without
conscious, explicit, or reasoned methodology,
power and procedures become traditional
—makes things seem natural
—makes things invisible
Issues
• Issues influenced by politics do not
stay confined to one area of the “pie;”
they are complex—like humans
– Abortion: Can be influenced by or
exercise influence upon all of these areas
• Family
• Religion
• Work
• School
• Government
• Media
Political Spectrum
• Continuum
• Measures social or economic issues
• In the USA, these positions (in totality)
vary by state
Range of Political Ideas
• Far Left —Left—Middle—Right—Far Right
• Extreme Liberal--------------Extreme Conservative
• Political Attitudes Change over Time
– Mid 1960s, majority of population leaned left
• Civil Rights
• Women’s Rights
– 1980s, majority shifted to right
• Anti-ERA movement
• Moral majority
Left
Right
Variations in Political Ideas
• By Time
• By Region
– Massachusetts and Minnesota
• Liberal
– Indiana and Texas
• Conservative
• By Ethnicity and Religion
– Jewish
– Asians
Liberal
Conservative
• By Gender
– Women are more liberal than men, especially female
feminists, and become more liberal as they age; men become
more conservative as they age.
Social Liberals
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Lean to the left (side of the continuum)
Shape their own lifestyles
Want freedom to decide on moral questions
Favor expanding opportunities for women
Pro-Choice
Propose [equal] rights for gay men and lesbians
Social Conservatives
• On the right (side of the continuum)
• Respect the traditional family
– Marriage forever
– Children are valued but subordinate
– Men at work, women at home
• Criticize too much individualism
• Favor Pro-Life
• Look to the past, to tradition, for answers
Economic
• Decisions about how a society should distribute its material resources
– How much control government should have
– How much social inequality there should be
• Liberals favor government regulation of the economy to reduce
inequality
– Free-market, laissez-faire is BAD
– Higher minimum wage and high taxes on rich to pay for social
services for the poor
• Conservatives want limited government role
– Market sets wage levels
– Want lower tax rates so people keep more of their earnings and
take responsibility for themselves
Existing Political System
• Both Liberal and Conservatives want changes to
occur within the current system
• Radicals, those “off the spectrum,” want change of
the system, itself
– Extremely liberal or extremely conservative
Demographics of Representation
• Blacks in the 108th Congress
– 39 in House: 39 Democrats; 0 in Senate
• Hispanics in the 108th Congress
– 25 in House: 5 Republicans, 20 Democrats; 0 in Senate
• Asians and Pacific Islanders in the 108th Congress
– 5 in House: 5Democrats; 2 in Senate: 2 Democrats
• American Indians in the 108th Congress
– 2 in House: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican; 1 in Senate: 1
Republican
• Women in the 108th Congress
– 62 in House: 21Republicans, 41 Democrats; 14 in Senate: 5
Republicans, 9 Democrats
– Of these 62, approximately 12 are also Black and 7 are also
Hispanic
Abortion Controversy
• Liberals: Legal access to abortion is the key to
women having control over their bodies
(economy, career, etc.) during childbearing years
and for their entire life.
– Establishes independence from men when they
(women) have more income earning opportunities.
Abortion Controversy
• Conservatives: Killing of unborn children; the
issue is a matter of life and death
– Nothing to do with economics or independence
Mild Statistics
• A typical woman receiving an abortion:
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Is in her 20s
Has already had one
Is probably white (58%)
Is unmarried (81%)
Social
– Political debates about moral judgments about how people
should live
Feminism
Abortion
Homosexual Marriages
Death Penalty
–Liberals
–Favor expanding opportunities for women
–Pro-choice
–Greater rights for homosexuals
–Conservatives
–Want women to stick to , embrace, and enjoy traditional roles
–Pro-Life
–Homosexuals should choose traditional roles
–Endorse Death Penalty
Politics by Demographics
• High Education, Good Wealth lead to “good” social
position
– Tend to be Liberal, more tolerant of difference in lifestyles
• Little Education, Little Wealth tend to have “lower”
social position
– Tend to be conservative on social issues
– Tend to be liberal on economic issues
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Very little difference in the way men and women vote or make decisions.
Social position determines political ideology.