Who runs the government? (No, rich white men will not be an acceptable answer on the AP Exam)

Intermediate Knowledge (4) A person seeking to score at the next level must know the lower level(s). Examples of Pluralism, Elitism and Hyper-Pluralism C Wright Mill, Max Weber, etc. Ability to explain the policymaking system Advanced Level (5) Clear understanding of Pluralism, Elitism and Hyperpluralism Understanding of Democracy vs. Republic Can give basic examples of P, E, HP Understands the difference between policy and law Intermediate Knowledge (4) Basic Knowledge (3) Basic understanding of Pluralism, Elitism and Hyper-Pluralism Basic understanding of what a democracy is- why America is a republic

The Problem With Government We all notice the things government stops us from doing…. “I can’t believe the cops pulled me over… I was just doing 15 mph over the speed limit by that school” “The second amendment says I have a right to bear arms… so why can’t I have a rocket launcher?” “I’m sorry I tried to kill Ben Affleck but damnit nobody wants to see him as Batman, Mr. Officer.” What we don’t notice/acknowledge is what government helps us do

What Government Does Do This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy.  I then took a shower in the clean water provided by a municipal water utility.  After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC-regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like, using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  I watched this while eating my breakfast of U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  At the appropriate time, as regulated by the U.S. Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Naval Observatory, I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-approved automobile and set out to work on the roads build by the local, state, and federal Departments of Transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank.  On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the U.S. Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.  After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and Fire Marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all its valuables thanks to the local police department. 

Democracy Types of Democracy Direct Democracy Representative Democracy A system in which the people hold sovereignty and make decisions directly An indirect democracy where sovereignty is held by representatives elected by the people

Political System A political system is a set of institutions and activities that link together government, politics, and public policy. Government (The Structure) Public Policy (The Action/Result) Politics (The Process) Linkage Institutions are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Political Parties Elections Media Interest Groups

Policymaking Policymaking begins with “people.” (Or in the name of the “people.”) All Americans have Interests Problems Concerns Policy Agenda Definition: The policy agenda are issues that attract the serious attention of public officials. A political issue arises when people disagree about a problem or about a public policy choice made to fix a problem.

Policymaking Institutions Definition: Policymaking institutions are the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL LEVEL STATE LEVEL Legislative Congress State Legislature Executive President Governor Judicial Supreme Court State Supreme Court Bureaucracy Agency Workers

Policies Impact People Policy impacts are the effects that a policy has on people and on society’s problems. Does it solve the problem? Does it create more problems? Depending on the answer, policy impacts carry the political system back to its point of origin: the concerns of people. Questions How is policy made? In whose name is policy made?

How is political power distributed? Majoritarian politics: Concept where nearly everyone has a say in making a decision (Will of the majority) Elitist politics: Concept where decisions are made by groups with a disproportionate amount of some valuable resource

Elitist Theories Elitist Power Theory (C. Wright Mills) Marxist Theory (Karl Marx) Bureaucratic Theory (Max Weber) Pluralist Theory Hyperpluralist Theory

Explaining Influence of Elites Elitist Power (C Wright Mills): Coalition of corporations, military, and government officials dominate political power & make decisions on their behalf--iron triangles Many would add media chiefs & labor officials to the coalition—issues network Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites Marxist (Karl Marx): Government is influenced by economic elites-those who control the economy, control the government. “He who pays the piper, calls the tune.” In the U.S., capitalists dominate the economy and therefore government. Decisions benefit the business owners and capitalists. Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites Bureaucratic (Max Weber): Government power is in the hands of a small group of bureaucrats (civil servants) who translate law into policy. Bureaucrats enforce policies according to their own guidelines. Bureaucrats are hired for expertise but rarely fired for incompetence. Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites Pluralist: No single elite dominates politics; resources are too widely spread out; too many institutions Many groups compete with each other for control over policy Multiple access points to government Policy is the outcome of political haggling, compromise, & shifting alliances among groups Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites Hyperpluralism: No single elite dominates politics; resources are too widely spread out; too many institutions Groups have gotten so powerful that they actually have weakened the government Groups control the policy and prevent government from taking any action Policy is the outcome of political haggling, compromise, & shifting alliances among groups Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group Proof? Examples?