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Chapter One The Foundations of American Government

Chapter One The Foundations of American Government 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 What is Government?

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Chapter One The Foundations of American Government

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  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. 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… Political Ideology

  11. Hot Links to Selected Internet Resources: • http://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

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