October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 1 Introduction Frank H. Brooks

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 2 Course Goals Analytical understanding of American politics Look first at “facts” –what government does/is (policies, structures) –how politics operates Look also at ideals –what government should do –how politics should be conducted –Typically, there’s tension between facts and ideals Finally, consider constraints and possibilities –what government can reasonably be expected to do –What are the limits to political action? What are the possible changes? –Influenced by personalities, resources, rhetoric, structures –Not simply strategy or “insider baseball” Must consider all three: facts, ideals, constraints

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 3 Analytical Framework What will be studied? –U.S. national government (powers, structures, processes) –U.S. politics (resources, strategies, effects) –Policy only indirectly (as examples) How will it be studied? –Structure (facts about organization and processes) –Ideology (values and rhetoric, e.g. liberty, equality) –History (development of structure, policy over time) –Sociology (sources of effective demands) –Economics (policy goals, metaphors) –Comparison (with other countries, with states)

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 4 Key Concept I: Government Authoritative decision-making body in a society A human community that (successfully) claims a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory (Max Weber) A body with both tax-collecting and law- making authority

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 5 Key Concept II: Politics "Who gets what, when, and how“ authoritative allocation of values within a society

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 6 Other Key Concepts PowerDemocracyPolicyCitizenshipEfficacyParticipation

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 7 U.S. Government/Politics What kind of government? –democracy? –republic? –limited government? –empire? What kind of politics do we have? –majority rule? –pluralism? –elite rule?