Chapter 1: The Study of American Government

What is political power? Power is the ability to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions. Authority It is defined as the right to use power. Formal authority is the right to exercise power vested in a governmental office.

What is political power? Legitimacy is political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.

What is democracy? It is defined as the rule of the many. Direct or participatory democracy is where all citizens directly hold office or make policy.

What is democracy? Representative democracy It is competitive for the people’s vote. It is also labeled as the following of elitist theory.

Is representative democracy best? Referendum (policy choice appears on the ballot) issues exist in some states. The framers believed government should mediate popular views.

Is representative democracy best? Locke vs. Hobbes Locke promoted People exist in a state of nature. Governmental powers should be separated. Hobbes promoted all powerful- centrist government.

How is political power distributed? Majoritarian Politics occurs when officials mirror the popular views of the people.

How is political power distributed? Elitist Theory Dominant social class such as Marxist proletarian rule.

How is political power distributed? Elitist Theory A group the wields power in their area, power elite view.

How is political power distributed? Elitist Theory Appointed bureaucrats or the bureaucratic view proposed by Max Weber.

How is political power distributed? Elitist Theory Representatives of large interest groups where no social class is dominant, it is also known as the pluralist view.

Alexis de Tocqueville He was a French author of American life and politics in the 19th century. He argued against the concept that all American politics was based on self- interest.