Chapter 1Political Theory

• Politics comes from the Ancient Greek word Polis, which means city-state

• Republic comes from the Roman words res publica, meaning for the public matter – this was opposed to a monarchy

• All societies throughout time have had some form of government

• After 1776 America wanted to get as far away from a monarchy as possible

Politics

Government• Even the most basic societies require rules

(Constitution)

• BUT, successful government requires informed and active citizens

The United States• A country formed by rejects, exiles, runaways,

criminals, and adventurers

• We believe we should make the country better for our children

• We are optimistic

• We are risk takers

• We believe that our system, which may not be perfect, is the best possible

• “One nation under God”

Politics Today•Who gets what, when, and how

Public Policy• Four key institutions that make

public policy at the national level:–Congress–President–The Courts–Bureaucracy - Cabinet

Functions of all Governments

• 1. Establish the laws societies need laws and the rational dispensing of justice

• 2. Insures domestic tranquility

•3. Provide for Common Defense- Commander in Chief

•4. Promoting the General Welfare- Social Security

•5. Securing the Blessings of Liberty - citizens enjoy liberties (freedoms)

What do you want from your government?

Why are rules important?

Who makes the rules and why?

What rules do you think should apply at South Cobb?

Will there be a revolution?

Can there be a compromise?

Why did the United States want to separate from Great Britain?

LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE

Communist Centrist Fascist___________________________________

Political Spectrum

Demos Reps

Conservatives = Against changeLiberals = Freedom (Libertarians) COMPROMISE!!!!!!

Political Ideology

• Fascists – extreme Right-wing

• Communist – extreme Left-wing

• Liberal – wants political, economic, and social change to develop equality

• Conservative – wants to maintain the status quo

• Libertarian – oppose government intervention in personal liberties

Traditional Democratic Theory

• 1. Equality in voting• 2. Effective representation• 3. Enlightened understanding• 4. Citizen control of agenda• 5. Inclusion

Representation

• Relationship between the few leaders & the many followers

Contemporary Theories

• 1. Pluralist Theory — many centers of influence compete for power– All groups can make themselves heard

at some stage or level– No one group or set of groups

dominates

• 2. Elite & Class Theory — claims our society is divided among class lines– Upper class rules– Wealth is basis of class power– Big business at center

• 3. Hyperpluralism — pluralism gone bad– Many groups are so strong that

government is unable to act– Creates muddled policy or no policy at

all

Challenges to Democracy

• 1. Technical expertise• 2. Limited participation• 3. Rising campaign costs• 4. Diversity of American political

interests

Government Spending• National defense takes 1/6 of

federal budget• Social Security takes more than

1/5 — largest item on budget

American Government• Our govt actually does less & is quite

small compared to others– Tax burden on us– relatively small– You get what you pay for– All candidates can promise to lower

taxes

Individualism

• Dominant theme• Highly valued in U.S.—strong

preference for free markets & limited govt.

Changing Demographics

• America is getting older and more diverse

Classical Origins

• Ancient Greece– Athenian Democracy

• The Assembly• Citizenship

• Ancient Rome– Republic in Rome

• The Senate• The Consuls

English Heritage• Magna Carta (1215)

– Nobles vs. King John– Limited monarchy to guarantee nobles rights and

protections

• Parliament– House of Lords– House of Commons

• Petition of Right (1628)– Applied protections of the Magna Carta to rest of

the English citizens– Restricted the monarchy further

• English Bill of Rights (1689)– Free parliamentary elections, speedy trials,

prohibit cruel and unusual punishment, petition the monarch, no taxation without consent of Parliament

The Enlightenment16th-18th Centuries

• Age of Reason (Enlightenment)– Inspired by the Scientific Revolution– Empiricism and Logic applied to human behavior– Break from tradition, heredity, religion (divine-right of kings)

• Natural Laws applied to society - Natural Rights– Each individual born with natural rights such as life, liberty, property– Could never be denied like the laws of nature

• Social Contracts– Established relationships between individuals/citizens and governments– Based on mutual consent – Mayflower Compact

The Enlightenment from England

• Social Contract Theory• Thomas Hobbes

– Leviathan

• Society inherently evil and thus requires a strong central government ex. absolute monarch

• John Locke– Second Treatise on Civil Government

• State of nature - life, liberty, and property

• Consent of the governed

• Right to revolution

The Philosophes

• Baron de Montesquieu– Spirit of the Laws

• Checks and balances• Three branches of government

• Voltaire– Advocated individual freedoms; criticized traditional institutions

– Candide

• Rousseau– On the Social Contract

• Based on the General Will

• Was for complete freedom without constraints