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Chapter 1 |
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Politics and Government
In governmental politics decisions affect the entire society and are backed by legitimacy. Legitimacy is based on the consent of the governed in society and provides the justification of use of force when necessary to enforce governmental decisions. The people can disagree with the law and protest by speaking out, demonstrating, petitioning, forming interest groups or in some cases through civil disobedience if they feel morally justified.
The Purposes of Government
The purposes of American government are found in the preamble to the Constitution, which reflects a form of social contract in which people obey laws in exchange for certain rights:
1. "To establish Justice and Insure Domestic Tranquility," as through control of crime.
2. "To provide for the Common Defense," as through maintenance of the armed forces.
3. "To promote the General Welfare," as through provision of public goods (things the market cannot provide for all) like roads and schools, or through income transfers like payments to the ill and elderly.
4. "To Secure the Blessings of Liberty," as through the protection of civil rights and liberties.
The Meaning of Democracy
Democracy derives from a Greek word meaning "rule by the many." There are four democratic ideals at its core:
1. Individual dignity, which implies personal freedom.
2. Equality in the form of equal protection under the law.
3. Participation in decision-making, as through voting.
4. Majority rule, on the principle of one person-one vote, regardless of status.
The Paradox of Democracy
The need to protect individual freedom from the potential power of majority rule is referred to as the paradox of democracy. While a democracy typically relies on majority rule, individual liberty can be preserved by placing limitations on government power through a written constitution. Constitutional government places checks and balances on government power that stand above the wishes of majority rule. The power of judicial review of the courts allows them to place a check on the laws passed by Congress. The Bill of Rights protects many individual liberties. By contrast, a totalitarian government retains all power over the lives of its citizens, thus the individual has no personal liberty. Nazism is the best example of a totalitarian government.
Direct versus Representative Democracy
In direct democracy all citizens may vote on every important governmental decision, as in New England town meetings or statewide referenda issues. Representative democracy is far more common and dominates American politics. Under representative democracy, representatives are periodically selected by vote under universal suffrage in competitive elections under conditions of free speech, and it is these representatives, not the voters directly, who vote upon proposed legislation.
Who Really Governs
Is democracy really attainable? The debate over who "really governs" America is epitomized by the contrast of two perspectives.
The elitist theory holds that decisions reflect the interests of a relatively small number of individuals and groups known as the elite. For instance, sociologist C. Wright Mills held key decisions were made by a "power elite," composed of institutional elites in corporations, government, and the military. Elitism may, of course, be benevolent or malevolent: elite theory only holds that an elite makes key decisions, particularly those affecting the economic and other important interests of an institutionalized elite. The masses typically pay little attention to the decisions made by government and are often easily influenced by what they see on television – a medium controlled by elites.
The pluralist perspective holds that key decisions reflect the compromises resulting from the clash of diverse interests, such as government bureaucracies, large corporations, television media, labor unions, public interest groups, and many others. Each sector usually has great internal diversity such that one may find, for example, some media for an issue and others against. That is, pluralism holds diverse interests in American politics that constitute countervailing powers which keep any one interest from dominating. Individuals can join various interest groups that bargain on their behalf. Political parties are coalitions of such groups who seek to win elections.
Democracy in America
While democracy is strong in America, there are growing questions about the rising power of elites and their impact on individual liberty. The question of “who gets what, when and how” is the central focus of this textbook.
Chapter Objectives
After mastering the concepts in this chapter, you will be able to:
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