The Nature of Power, Politics, and Government Learning Outcomes 1.Understand why it is important to care about power, politics, and government. 2.Evaluate and rate multiple ‘power quotes’ using the rating scale provided in class. 3.Create a chart that portrays the five “political games” that are commonly played in politics.

Kickoff Question: Nature of Power, Politics, and Government

Focus Question: Nature of Power, Politics, and Government

History: Most Americans Distrust Gov… John Locke = Social Contract = Give to Get Still…We Look to Gov. to Provide For Us Formal Authority = Legal and Official Legitimacy = We ‘Accept’ That They Lead Politics = Competition = A Game Politics= People Work to Influence Groups A Gov. Must Use Coercion and Collect $$$ How Can Gov. Give Us What We Want? Why Should You Care About Power, Politics, and Government? The Nature of Power, Politics, and Government

” “ Processing Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love, The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 8

” “ Processing Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 9

” “ Processing It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Aung San Suu Kyi “Freedom from fear” speech, The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 10

” “ Processing Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Mao Zedong The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 11

” “ Processing Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. Ronald Reagan First Inaugural Address, The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 12

” “ Processing When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. Mohandas Gandhi The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 13

” “ Processing When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 14

” “ Processing This country has been strip-mined by rich and powerful interests. If you don’t like what they’re doing, don’t just sit there. Ralph Nader The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 15

” “ Processing The quote above is… Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable. John F. Kennedy Speech at Amherst College,

GameDescriptionExample Horse TradingGive up something in exchange for something of equal or greater value. Win-win situation. Missouri Compromise WalkoutWalk out and refuse to return until the opposition agrees to give them something they want. Cesar Chavez and the Grape Strike Power StruggleTrying to win by outfoxing or overpowering their opponents. A Machiavelli idea. Cuban Missile Crisis Demolition DerbyThe goal is complete destruction of your opponent. Eliminate real and perceived enemies. Roman Army Third Punic War Civil DisobediencePublicly shame the opposition by deliberately disobeying what they think is an unjust law. Mohandas Gandhi

Exit Slip: Nature of Power, Politics, and Government