Chapter 1Political Thinking:

Becoming a Responsible Citizen

I. Learning to Think PoliticallyA. Barriers to Political ThinkingB. What Political Science Can

Contribute to Political ThinkingC. Political Culture

II. Politics and Power in America A. A Democratic System

B. A Constitutional SystemC. A Free Market System

D. Who Does Govern?

“The worth of the state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.”

John Stuart Mill

I. Learning to Think Politically

• Political thinking is the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming knowledgeable views of political developments.

• Political thinking is a key to responsible citizenship, but many citizens avoid it by virtue of paying scant attention to politics. – Barriers to political thinking

• Unwillingness to make an effort• Political “spin”

– White House Press Office– Talking Points

• Modern media– Liberal bias in “old media”– Right-wing radio and blogs– Internet & Social Media

I. Learning to Think Politically

• The tools of political science can contribute to effective political thinking.– Reliable information about the U.S. political

system– Systematic generalizations about major tendencies

in U.S. politics– Terms and concepts that precisely describe the

key aspects of politics

I. Learning to Think Politically

I. Learning to Think Politically

• Political Culture – The characteristic and deep-seated beliefs of a

particular people about government and politics.– Rooted in European heritage of the first white

settlers. – America’s national identity rests largely upon

shared political ideas – These beliefs are said to be mythic ideas• Symbolic postures that reflect partly what is ideal and

partly what is real

America’s Core Values

• Liberty• Equality• Self-Government• Individualism• Unity• Diversity

II. Politics & Power in America

• Politics is the process by which it is determined whose values will prevail in society.

• The basis of politics is conflict over scarce resources and competing values.

• Those who have power win out in this conflict and are able to control governing authority and policy choices.

• Authoritarian governments openly repress their political opponents– Totalitarianism: no limits on the power of the state

II. Politics & Power in America

• In the United States, no one faction controls all power and policy. – James Madison-Federalist No. 10-

• the dangers of faction• Government is most dangerous when a single group is

powerful enough to gain full political control– Majorities govern on some issues, while other issues are

dominated by:• Groups• Elites• Corporations• Individuals through judicial action• Officials who hold public office.

II. Politics & Power in America

• Politics in the United States plays out through rules of the game that include:– democracy– constitutionalism– A free market system

II. Politics & Power in America

• Democracy is rule by the people, which in practice refers to a representative system of government in which the people rule through their elected officials. – Majority rule through elections– Empowers majorities

(majoritarianism), groups (pluralism), and officials (authority)

II. Politics & Power in America

“demos” + “kratis” = “the people rule.”

• Constitutionalism refers to rules that limit the rightful power of government over citizens. – Based on the rule of law

• U.S. Constitution

– Legal protections for individuals• Bill of Rights

– Empowers individuals by enabling them to claim their rights in court (judicial action)• Gideon v. Wainwright- 6th Amendment

– “…if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be will be appointed for you.”

II. Politics & Power in America

• A free market system assigns private parties the dominant role in determining how economic costs and benefits are allocated.– A system that centers on transactions between

private parties– Empowers business firms (corporate power) & the

wealthy (elitism)

II. Politics & Power in America

American Political System

Inputs-Public Opinion

-Voting-Interest Groups

Political Institutions-Congress-President

-Exec. Branch Agencies-Courts

Outputs-Laws

-Programs-Other Actions

Ch. 1- Major Concepts• political thinking• The careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political

issue.

• political science• The systematic study of government and politics. • politics• The process through which a society settles its conflicts.

• power• The ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.

• democracy• A form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.

• majoritarianism• The idea that the majority prevails not only in elections but also in policy determination.

• pluralism• A theory of American politics that holds that society’s interests are substantially represented through power

exercised by groups.

• authority• The recognized right of officials to exercise power as a result of the positions they hold.

• constitutionalism• The idea that there are definable limits on the rightful power of a government over its citizens.

• judicial action• The use of courts of law as a means by which individuals protect their rights and settle their conflicts.

• free market system• An economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible.

Free enterprise and self-reliance are the collective and individual principles that underpin free markets.

• corporate power• The power that corporations exercise in their effort to influence government and maintain control of the workplace.

• elitism• The notion that wealthy and well-connected individuals exercise power over certain areas of public policy.

• public policies• Decisions by government to pursue particular courses of action.

Ch. 1- Major Concepts