American Democracy Democracy is rule by the people

American Democracy

Democracy is rule by the people

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.

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 ever- shifting 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

Greco-Roman

and

Judeo-Christian

traditionsIn addition to liberty, equality, and self-government, American core political values include:CompromiseIndividualism: (personal initiative, self-sufficiency, material acquisitions, reaching potential)DiversityUnityE pluribus unumConsensus

“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.

P

olitics may be defined

as “the struggle over who gets what, when, and how.”

Harold

Lasswell Sources of political conflict:ScarcityDifferences in valuesPolitics 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.