Chapter 1Chapter 1

People, Politics, and ParticipationPeople, Politics, and Participation

Why should you study American Why should you study American DemocracyDemocracy

Politics: The process of deciding who gets Politics: The process of deciding who gets what benefits in society and who is excluded what benefits in society and who is excluded from benefiting.from benefiting.

Changes in politics: Electronics, 9/11, Wars, Changes in politics: Electronics, 9/11, Wars, Death of Soldiers.Death of Soldiers.

TechnologyTechnology

World Wide Web has caused a massive World Wide Web has caused a massive change in politics.change in politics.

Apply for student aid, S.S., contact congress Apply for student aid, S.S., contact congress persons, find jobs, and shipping packagespersons, find jobs, and shipping packages

Political Context NowPolitical Context Now

9/11 caused a dramatic change in politics.9/11 caused a dramatic change in politics. Since the 1970’s Americans did not trust the Since the 1970’s Americans did not trust the

government. ex: scandals, ect.government. ex: scandals, ect. Gallup polls in 2000 stated that 64% undergrad Gallup polls in 2000 stated that 64% undergrad

students did not trust the government. It lacked students did not trust the government. It lacked efficacy. Only 36% went to vote in Presidential efficacy. Only 36% went to vote in Presidential election.election.

Efficacy: Citizens belief that they have the ability to Efficacy: Citizens belief that they have the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government achieve something desirable and that the government listens to the people.listens to the people.

Effect of 9/11Effect of 9/11

60% of College students trusted the 60% of College students trusted the government now.government now.

92% considered themselves patriotic.92% considered themselves patriotic. 77% believed politics was relevant to their 77% believed politics was relevant to their

lives now.lives now. 80% believed they were ready to run the 80% believed they were ready to run the

country.country. President Bush and Congress received and President Bush and Congress received and

approval rating of 80% now.approval rating of 80% now.

Change in 2004 &2008 ElectionChange in 2004 &2008 Election

Voters 66-74 yrs old decreased in voting.Voters 66-74 yrs old decreased in voting.

Voters 18-21 yrs old especially 19yr olds Voters 18-21 yrs old especially 19yr olds increased to rival people in the 30’s.increased to rival people in the 30’s.

In 2008 there was a 2.2 million 18-20yr.old In 2008 there was a 2.2 million 18-20yr.old increase in voting. It was the first time since increase in voting. It was the first time since 1972.1972.

What Government DoesWhat Government Does

Government: the institution that creates and Government: the institution that creates and implements policies and laws that guide the implements policies and laws that guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens.conduct of the nation and its citizens.

Citizens: members of the polity who, through Citizens: members of the polity who, through birth or naturalization, enjoy the rights, birth or naturalization, enjoy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to privileges, and responsibilities attached to membership of a nation. membership of a nation.

What Government Does cont.What Government Does cont.

To protect their sovereign territory and their To protect their sovereign territory and their citizenry and to provide national defense.citizenry and to provide national defense.

To preserve order and stabilityTo preserve order and stability To establish and maintain a legal systemTo establish and maintain a legal system To provide services To provide services ex: public goodsex: public goods

To raise and spend moneyTo raise and spend money To socialize new generationsTo socialize new generations

Types of GovernmentTypes of Government

Monarchy: government in which a royal Monarchy: government in which a royal family has absolute authority. family has absolute authority.

Oligarchy: government in which a few elite Oligarchy: government in which a few elite hold all the power.hold all the power.

Democracy: government in which the citizens Democracy: government in which the citizens hold all the power.hold all the power.

Systems of GovernmentSystems of Government Totalitarianism: government controls every aspect of Totalitarianism: government controls every aspect of

citizens lives.citizens lives.

Authoritarianism: government has strong power but Authoritarianism: government has strong power but is checked by some forces.is checked by some forces.

Constitutionalism: government is structured by law Constitutionalism: government is structured by law and power is limited.and power is limited.

Limited government: government is restricted in Limited government: government is restricted in what they can do so peoples rights are protected.what they can do so peoples rights are protected.

Origins of American DemocracyOrigins of American Democracy

Greece: Greece: demokratiademokratia: power of people and : power of people and poleis :poleis : politics. politics.

City-States ruled by the people. Only men City-States ruled by the people. Only men holding property.holding property.

Early European politics: Divine Right of Early European politics: Divine Right of Kings.Kings.

Protestants challenge church and king.Protestants challenge church and king. Ex: 1517 Martin Luther hammered Ex: 1517 Martin Luther hammered 95 theses95 theses

to Catholic Church door at Wittenberg Castle. to Catholic Church door at Wittenberg Castle.

Origins Cont.Origins Cont.

1616thth Century Protestants wanted to purify the Century Protestants wanted to purify the Church more thus Puritans were formed.Church more thus Puritans were formed.

Puritans were persecuted and fled to the New Puritans were persecuted and fled to the New World.World.

Mayflower Compact: 1620 the pilgrims made Mayflower Compact: 1620 the pilgrims made a social contract before reaching shore.a social contract before reaching shore.

Social Contract: An agreement to give some Social Contract: An agreement to give some of their freedoms to the government in return of their freedoms to the government in return for protection and order.for protection and order.

Modern Political PhilosophyModern Political Philosophy

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Believed in Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Believed in social contract, the strong will prey upon the social contract, the strong will prey upon the weak. He believed that either a monarchy was weak. He believed that either a monarchy was needed or a social contract because anarchy needed or a social contract because anarchy would prevail if not.would prevail if not.

Modern Philosophy Cont.Modern Philosophy Cont.

John Locke (1632-1704): He took Hobbs theory one John Locke (1632-1704): He took Hobbs theory one step further. He did not believe in Kings ruling by step further. He did not believe in Kings ruling by scriptures, but natural rights. scriptures, but natural rights.

Life, Liberty, and PropertyLife, Liberty, and Property Locke believe the people should accept government Locke believe the people should accept government

authority but if they do not protect these rights then authority but if they do not protect these rights then the people have a right to rebel.the people have a right to rebel.

Modern Philosophy Cont.Modern Philosophy Cont.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): He took Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): He took Lockes theory farther with the belief of popular Lockes theory farther with the belief of popular sovereignty. sovereignty.

Popular sovereignty: the theory that Popular sovereignty: the theory that government is created by the people and government is created by the people and depends on the people for authority to rule.depends on the people for authority to rule.

U.S. Experimental Representative U.S. Experimental Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Direct Democracy: a structure of government Direct Democracy: a structure of government in which citizens discuss and decide policy in which citizens discuss and decide policy through majority rule. Ex: through majority rule. Ex: town meetingstown meetings

Indirect Democracy: Sometimes called Indirect Democracy: Sometimes called representative government, a system in which representative government, a system in which citizens elect representatives who decide citizens elect representatives who decide policies on behalf of their constituents.policies on behalf of their constituents.

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Political Culture: the people’s collective beliefs and Political Culture: the people’s collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political process.attitudes about government and political process.

Ideal Examples:Ideal Examples: Liberty Liberty EqualityEquality CapitalismCapitalism Consent of the governedConsent of the governed Individual, Family, and Community.Individual, Family, and Community.

Changing DemocracyChanging Democracy

First Census: 1790. Population fewer than 4 First Census: 1790. Population fewer than 4 million.million.

2010 Census: Projected amount is 300 million.2010 Census: Projected amount is 300 million. Between 1960-2000 the population increased Between 1960-2000 the population increased

50%.50%. Population trends show that more people are Population trends show that more people are

moving from mid-west to south and west.moving from mid-west to south and west. Population is aging and the baby boom is Population is aging and the baby boom is

reaching the top of the age scale.reaching the top of the age scale.

Changing Complexion: Race and Changing Complexion: Race and EthnicityEthnicity

As of 2000 the Hispanic population surpassed As of 2000 the Hispanic population surpassed the black population. 12.5%the black population. 12.5%

Asian and Pacific Islander has doubled in the Asian and Pacific Islander has doubled in the last decade from 2% to 4%.last decade from 2% to 4%.

African American population centered around African American population centered around urban areas.urban areas.

Hispanic population is centered in the Texas Hispanic population is centered in the Texas and California, as well as along the boarder.and California, as well as along the boarder.

American FamilyAmerican Family

American family has American family has changed since the changed since the Women’s liberation of Women’s liberation of the 1970’s.the 1970’s.

Marriage between Marriage between couples has declined to couples has declined to 52%.52%.

Female ran households Female ran households has remained the same.has remained the same.

Why Changing Population matters Why Changing Population matters to the Governmentto the Government

Strain on resources.Strain on resources.

Strain on government programsStrain on government programs

Racial changes can affect political outcome.Racial changes can affect political outcome.

IdeologyIdeology

Political Ideology: integrated system of ideas Political Ideology: integrated system of ideas or beliefs about political values in general and or beliefs about political values in general and the role of government in particular.the role of government in particular.

LiberalismLiberalism

Liberalism: advocates change in the social, political, Liberalism: advocates change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well being and economic realms to better protect the well being of individuals and to produce equality within society.of individuals and to produce equality within society.

Emphasize civil liberties, especial 1Emphasize civil liberties, especial 1stst Amendments Amendments Separation of Church and State ex: prayer in public Separation of Church and State ex: prayer in public

school.school. Support political equality, political rights of gays, and Support political equality, political rights of gays, and

voting rights disenfranchised.voting rights disenfranchised.

Liberalism Cont.Liberalism Cont.

Roots are from Enlightenment- which is freedom of Roots are from Enlightenment- which is freedom of thought and exchange of ideas, limited government, thought and exchange of ideas, limited government, rule of law in society, unfettered market economy, rule of law in society, unfettered market economy, free public education.free public education.

Modern Liberalism: believe in the government taking Modern Liberalism: believe in the government taking a more active role in personal life.a more active role in personal life.

Ex: increase in S.S., Medicare, Medicaid, government Ex: increase in S.S., Medicare, Medicaid, government regulation of business and workplace conditions.regulation of business and workplace conditions.

ConservatismConservatism

Conservatism: an ideology that emphasizes Conservatism: an ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community and preserving tradition and relying on community and family as mechanisms of continuity in society.family as mechanisms of continuity in society.

Believe in individual initiative, rule of law, limited Believe in individual initiative, rule of law, limited Gov., unfettered market economy. Similar to Gov., unfettered market economy. Similar to Liberalism.Liberalism.

Difference is limited government and more state Difference is limited government and more state involvement. involvement.

Example: limit federal Gov. involvement with Example: limit federal Gov. involvement with welfare, Medicaid, ect.welfare, Medicaid, ect.

Other ideologies on the traditional Other ideologies on the traditional spectrumspectrum

Socialism: ideology that advocates economic Socialism: ideology that advocates economic equality, theoretically achieved by having the equality, theoretically achieved by having the government or workers own the industry.government or workers own the industry.

Libertarianism: ideology believe that the Libertarianism: ideology believe that the government should have a “hands off” policy government should have a “hands off” policy on most things. Ex: on most things. Ex: laissez- faire laissez- faire on the on the property and the economy.property and the economy.

Neo-conservatismNeo-conservatism

Neo-conservatism: advocates military over Neo-conservatism: advocates military over diplomatic solutions in forging policy and less diplomatic solutions in forging policy and less concerned with restraining government concerned with restraining government activity in domestic politics than traditional activity in domestic politics than traditional conservatives.conservatives.

Aka: HawksAka: Hawks Gaining strength since war in Iraq, support the Gaining strength since war in Iraq, support the

state of Israel and against Arab nations that state of Israel and against Arab nations that harbor terrorist.harbor terrorist.

Acting on your viewsActing on your views

www.politicalcompass.orgwww.politicalcompass.org Civic Engagement: individual and collective Civic Engagement: individual and collective

actions designed to identify and address issues actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.of public concern.

Political Engagement: Citizen actions that are Political Engagement: Citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through intended to solve public problems through political means. political means.

Ex: Boycott or Buycott a good or service.Ex: Boycott or Buycott a good or service.