Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Chapter One The Foundations of American Government
2
What is politics? Chapter One David Easton – “ the authoritative allocation of values ” Harold Lasswell – “ who gets what, when and how. ” most definitions refer to the struggle over the distribution of benefits
3
What is Government? a permanent structure of decision makers who make society ’ s rules about conflict resolution and who make rules about the allocation of resources and who possess the power to enforce those rule
4
Why Do We Need Government? to provide structure for conflict resolution to provide public services to establish and implement public policies
5
Who Governs? totalitarian regime – rule by a small group or an individual dictator. oligarchy—rule by a few elites, who make decisions to benefit their own group aristocracy – rule by the best suited, through virtue, talent or education (now means rule by the upper class) anarchy – having no government or laws democracy – political power is vested in the people
6
Principles of American Democracy universal suffrage majority rule limited government popular sovereignty
7
Do we have a democracy? elite theory – the idea that society is ruled by a small group who exercise power in their self-interest pluralism – a theory that views politics as conflict among interest groups, where decisions are made through bargaining and compromise hyperpluralism – when interest groups are so powerful that they dominate decision-making, making individual input impossible
8
What is Political Culture? the collection of a beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation individuals learn political culture through political socialization political socialization occurs in many settings, including the family and schools
9
The Fundamental Values of American political culture liberty –the greatest freedom of individuals that is consistent with the freedom of other individuals in society equality – all people are of equal worth property – anything that can be subject to ownership
10
Political Ideology A set of beliefs about the goal of politics and the most desirable political order. Ideologue: A person who believes strongly about how government should operate. They can be placed on a continuum…
12
Hot Links to Selected Internet Resources: http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi- wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M2&discipline_number=20& product_isbn_issn=0534592651http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi- wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M2&discipline_number=20& product_isbn_issn=0534592651 http://www.wadsworth.com/politicalscience http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/govweb.html http://www.puaf.umd.edu/IPPP
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.