Political Power: the ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions Use of power: Overt power:

The Study of American

Government

Political Power: the ability

of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions Use of power:

Overt power: President tells the air force to build a bomber

Subtle power: Economic advisors tell

President to implement price controls

Corporations close a factory in a small town

Aim: What is Political power?

Political authority: the

right to use power Legitimacy: political

authority is the right to act in certain ways conferred by law or by a state or national constitution Example:

Constitutional Convention 1787

Constitution Civil War New Deal

Aim: What is Political power?

Democracy: a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows people to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. Democratic Centralism: whereby the

true interests of the masses were discovered through discussion within the Communist party and then decisions were made under central leadership to serve

Direct or participatory government: all/some citizens participate directly in holding office and making decisions

Representative democracy: achieves authority through voter consent

Aim: What is Democracy?

Direct vs. Representative

democracy: Representative government

works when there is genuine leadership competition Individuals/parties run for

political office Free communication Voters perceive a

meaningful choice exists Elected vs. appointed

Money for campaigns Party choses

Aim: What is Democracy?

Direct Democracy:

Smaller self-government Increased citizen participation Referendum issues: policy can

be voted on a ballot Will of the people prevails

Framers: Common interest does not

equal public good Representative over Direct Mediate not mirror popular

views Represent not register majority

sentiment

Aim: What is Democracy?

http://www.youtube.c

om/watch?v=d_TKI9QfmI8

Occupy Wall Street

Representative democracy:

Power is given to those who are elected

Popular vote What type of leader comes to power

Examples: Nixon vs. Carter FDR vs. Reagan

Preferences of the electorate Majoritarian politics promotes active

citizenship Political elites: an identified group of

persons who posses a disproportionate share of some valued resource

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of political

elites: Karl Marx:

Government is a reflection of underlying economic forces

Pattern of ownership of the means of production

Society divided into classes based on relationship of the people to the economy Capitalists vs. Workers

Control of economy = government control

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of

political elites: Power elite theory:

Non-governmental elites make most major decisions

Corporate leaders do not hold exclusive decision making privileges

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of political

elites: Power Elite theory: (cont.) C. Wright Mills-The Power Elite

Loose coalition of corporate leaders, military officers, political leaders

Media/Special interest groups Government dominated by the

few “Establishment” Bureaucrats: appointed

officials who operate government agencies

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of

political elites: Power Elite theory:

(cont.) Max Weber

Rational decision making

(State Department) Disadvantages: over

towering power

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of

political elites: Pluralist view:

No single political elite has a monopoly of power

Pluralist democracy Power is scattered

Levels of government Federalism

Political policies are the outcome of negotiation

Political resources not distributed equally

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?

Four theories of

political elites: Pluralist view:

Politics driven by personal gain ?

People act based on self-interest

AFL-Civil Rights http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGdo3hOGqYo

Aim: How is power distributed in a

democracy?