1. What is political power?
Chapter One
What is political power?

2. What is the definition of “power”
What is the definition of “power”? What is the difference between power and authority?

3. What is the definition of “power”
What is the definition of “power”? What is the difference between power and authority?
Power is the ability of one person to get another person to do as he/she wishes; authority is the right to use power.

4. 3. Briefly describe the concept of “legitimacy”.

5. 3. Briefly describe the concept of “legitimacy”.
Legitimate government actions cite a law or constitution as a source of governmental right.

6. 4. What sorts of things make a society democratic?

7. 4. What sorts of things make a society democratic?
Free elections
Free press
Free speech

8. 5. Describe the differences between democratic centralism, direct democracy, and representative democracy
Democratic centralism:
Direct democracy:
Representative democracy:

9. 5. Describe the differences between democratic centralism, direct democracy, and representative democracy
Democratic centralism: interests of the masses decided by party elites
Direct democracy:
Representative democracy:

10. 5. Describe the differences between democratic centralism, direct democracy, and representative democracy
Democratic centralism: interests of the masses decided by party elites
Direct democracy: most individual citizens are involved in holding office or making policy
Representative democracy:

11. 5. Describe the differences between democratic centralism, direct democracy, and representative democracy
Democratic centralism: interests of the masses decided by party elites
Direct democracy: most individual citizens are involved in holding office or making policy
Representative democracy: individuals acquire power by competing for votes

12. How can direct democracy lead to bad decisions?

13. How can direct democracy lead to bad decisions?
Direct democracy can easily lead to tyranny of the majority, as described in James Madison’s Federalist 10.

14. Majoritarian politics:
6. Briefly describe majoritarian politics. How is it that political elites affect non-majoritarian politics?
Majoritarian politics:

15. 6. Briefly describe majoritarian politics
6. Briefly describe majoritarian politics. How is it that political elites affect non-majoritarian politics?
Majoritarian politics: Office holders will follow the preferences of citizens very closely. In non-majoritarian politics, elites have a disproportionate share of power and influence over events.

18. CAFÉ Standards

21. In the power elite theory, what group makes up the coalition that runs government? What advantages do members of this coalition have?

22. In the power elite theory, what group makes up the coalition that runs government? What advantages do members of this coalition have?
Corporate leaders, top military officers, and a handful of key politicians; these have advantages of wealth, status, and/or organizational position

25. Are Campaign Finance Laws a good idea, or a violation of the First Amendment?

29. How does the bureaucratic model explain the machinations of government?

30. How does the bureaucratic model explain the machinations of government?
All institutions (governmental and non-governmental) have fallen under the control of the bureaucracy

31. Briefly describe the pluralist and hyperpluralist theories.

32. Briefly describe the pluralist and hyperpluralist theories.
Pluralism: So many groups are competing for power, no one group has a monopoly
Hyperpluralism:

33. Briefly describe the pluralist and hyperpluralist theories.
Pluralism: So many groups are competing for power, no one group has a monopoly
Hyperpluralism: So many groups are competing for power that nothing gets done

34. How has the public’s expectations of government changed from the 1920s to the present?
Prior to the 1920s, most Americans had little interaction with the federal government. From the 1930s through the 1970s, government was expected to solve all of our problems (FDR’s New Deal, LBJ’s Great Society). There was an attempt at shrinking the government in the 1980s and 1990s, which failed. Today, government is bigger and more powerful than ever, especially in entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security).

35. How has the public’s expectations of government changed from the 1920s to the present?
Prior to the 1920s, most Americans had little interaction with the federal government. From the 1930s through the 1970s, government was expected to solve all of our problems (FDR’s New Deal, LBJ’s Great Society). There was an attempt at shrinking the government in the 1980s and 1990s, which failed. Today, government is bigger and more powerful than ever, especially in entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security).

36. How has the public’s expectations of government changed from the 1920s to the present?
Prior to the 1920s, most Americans had little interaction with the federal government. From the 1930s through the 1970s, government was expected to solve all of our problems (FDR’s New Deal, LBJ’s Great Society). There was an attempt at shrinking the government in the 1980s and 1990s, which failed. Today, government is bigger and more powerful than ever, especially in entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security).

37. How has the public’s expectations of government changed from the 1920s to the present?
Prior to the 1920s, most Americans had little interaction with the federal government. From the 1930s through the 1970s, government was expected to solve all of our problems (FDR’s New Deal, LBJ’s Great Society). There was an attempt at shrinking the government in the 1980s and 1990s, which failed. Today, government is bigger and more powerful than ever, especially in entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security).

38. The Growth in Federal Spending

41. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats:
African-Americans:
Hispanic-Americans:
Environmental groups:
Farmers:

42. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats: Social welfare programs, environment, civil liberties
African-Americans:
Hispanic-Americans:
Environmental groups:
Farmers:

43. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats: Social welfare programs, environment, civil liberties
African-Americans: Civil Rights, job creation
Hispanic-Americans:
Environmental groups:
Farmers:

44. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats: Social welfare programs, environment, civil liberties
African-Americans: Civil Rights, job creation
Hispanic-Americans: Immigration reform
Environmental groups:
Farmers:

45. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats: Social welfare programs, environment, civil liberties
African-Americans: Civil Rights, job creation
Hispanic-Americans: Immigration reform
Environmental groups: Clean energy, stopping sprawl
Farmers:

46. Defining the public interest:
Republicans: Lower taxes, less government regulation, protecting Judeo-Christian societal foundation
Democrats: Social welfare programs, environment, civil liberties
African-Americans: Civil Rights, job creation
Hispanic-Americans: Immigration reform
Environmental groups: Clean energy, stopping sprawl
Farmers: Protecting subsidies