THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMPOLITICAL SYSTEM

LECTURE 1András Tarnóc PhD

GENERAL TERMSGENERAL TERMS

Politics: who gets what, when and how—the distribution of power (Harold Laswell)

Government/governing: legitimate use of force in order to regulate human behavior within territorial boundaries

POLITICAL IDEAS FROM ANTIQUITYPOLITICAL IDEAS FROM ANTIQUITY

◦First known written code of laws: Code of Hammurabi (1790 B.C, Amorite king ruling Babylon), laws chiseled in stone columns

◦Laws of early Hebrews, Ten Commandments◦Direct democracy in Athens Assembly selected

a Council to preside over its meetings, a Board of Generals to lead the army and a Board of Officials to direct courts

POLITICAL IDEAS FROM ANTIQUITYPOLITICAL IDEAS FROM ANTIQUITY

Representative democracy—Roman Republic: Consuls, Senate, Tribunes

Consuls elected by the Patricians’ Assembly annually

Consuls appoint SenatorsPlebeians’ Assembly elected TribunesHeads of state: 2 consuls with veto power

over each other

THE RISE OF REPRESENTATIVE THE RISE OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Henry II (1154-1189) trial by juryMagna Carta (1215) nobles could not be

taxed without their consent, no unlawful arrests

1265 Simon de Montfort’s rebellion, the formation of Parliament

1400: House of Lords, House of Commons1628: Petition of Right further limiting the

king

PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND OF PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan (1651)—state of nature, life is nasty, brutish, and short,

Governed: pledges obedience to ruler in return for protection of life

1620: Mayflower Compact: foundation of consensual government—government is based on the consent of the governed

John Locke: Two Treatises on Government (1690) natural rights, life, liberty, property

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKTHEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Main responsibilities of government:Maintenance of law and orderPromotion of public welfarePromotion of equality in society

THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF 1689THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF 1689

A major landmark in the development of democratic government

Eliminating the divine right principleTrial by juryMonarch may not suspend ParliamentPunishment for a crime should not be

cruel and unusual

LAW AND ORDERLAW AND ORDER

Protection of social orderUse of police power: the power of

government protecting the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people

Protection of life, property, maintenance of the traditional pattern of social relations

EQUALITYEQUALITY

Political equality-one person—one voteEquality of opportunity—no titles of

nobility, lack of property requirements for holding public office, free public education

Equality of results: must maintain actual equality in society

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIESPOLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Totalitarian government: government controls all aspects of public life Nazi Germany, Soviet Union

Socialism: based on the ideas of Marx, government controls goods, services, economy, and the means of production

Capitalism: free enterprise, private property

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIESPOLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Libertarianism: laissez faire economic policy, limited government, rejection of governmental action or interference except for the protection of life and liberty

Anarchism: prime value: freedomLiberal v. Conservative

LIBERALISMLIBERALISM

Protection of equality (opportunity)Positive discrimination-affirmative action

compensatory policies for past discrimination

Favors minorities, womenAgainst limitation of civil liberties (rights

of flag burning as a political statement, arguing against capital punishment or the death penalty

CONSERVATISMCONSERVATISM

Limited governmentAgainst governmental interference in the

economyRejection of positive discriminationProtection of law and orderFor death penalty, against abortion

CLASSIC GREEK CATEGORIES OF CLASSIC GREEK CATEGORIES OF GOVERNINGGOVERNING

Autocracy-rule by one personOligarchy-rule by the fewDemocracy-popular sovereigntyDemos: people, kratos: power

PROCEDURAL DEMOCRACYPROCEDURAL DEMOCRACY

Who participates in the decision-making process?

What is the value of the vote?How many votes are needed to make a

decision?Direct v. indirect democracy

MAIN PRINCIPLES OF MAIN PRINCIPLES OF PROCEDURAL DEMOCRACYPROCEDURAL DEMOCRACY

Full participation in the political processPolitical equalityRule by the majorityThe power of public opinion-government

is accountable to people

CONTENT/SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT/SUBSTANTIVE DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Emphasis on content over procedureProtection of civil liberties (freedom of

speech, press, religion)No specific criteria to determine whether

government is truly democraticThe mere existence of guarantees for civil

liberties do not necessary guarantee democracy

INSTITUTIONAL MODELS OF INSTITUTIONAL MODELS OF DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Majority model: emphasis on individual participation

Referendum—people vote on a potential governmental action, in U.S., no national referendum, in Hungary, referendum on joining NATO, EU

Initiative: based on the petition

DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM V. THE DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM V. THE POWER ELITEPOWER ELITE

Politics is the result of competition between interest groups

Power Elite C. Wright Mills, land mark work in the 1950s, the powerful few influences government, a small minority controls a large majority

American democracy is more pluralist than majority based