Chapter 1 Notes:
● Ideally, “we the people” could maintain control. However, previously, all major
republics in history have failed.
● Republic: a government in which citizens rule indirectly and make government
decisions through their elected representatives
● Theories of where power lies in American Govt:
○ Pluralist theory:
■ People can influence gov’t through the many interest groups that
spring up to champion everything from fighting global warming to
banning abortions. Pluralists suggest that interest groups give most
people a voice.
■ Location of political power: Interest Groups
■ Source of Influence: a group’s resources, political awareness and
connections
○ Elite Theory:
■ Counters that power actually rests in the hands of a small number
of wealthy and powerful individuals--particularly the richest
Americans, corporate executives, and the top gov’t officials--
especially in the executive branch.
■ Location of political power: “Power elite” in corporations,
government (especially the executive), the military, and an upper
class of billionaires
■ Source of Influence: Status based on economic influence and
leadership positions
○ Bureaucratic Theory:
■ Real control lies with the millions of men and women who carry out
the day-to-day operations of modern government. Bureaucratic
experts establish policy and sideline the influence of most
Americans.
■ Location of political power: Government organizations
■ Source of influence: organizational rules and day-to-day decisions
○ Social Movement Theory:
■ Emphasizes the power citizens can wield when they organize and
rise up in protest--regardless of who is in control of day-to-day
politics.
■ Location of political power: Protest movements
■ Source of influence: the ability to persuade the rest of the country to
support their cause.
Lecture Video 1:
1. How does American Politics Work?
, a. What is Politics?
b. How society makes collective decisions
i. Ideas
1. I.e. Gay marriage. Much of older pop culture would be
unacceptable nowadays
ii. Institutions
1. Create rules
iii. Interests
1. Rational choice theory (Lecture 1 Video)
iv. Individuals
1.
v. History
2. What does government do?
a. Why has the government grown so much?
i. We enshrined small or limited government when we created the
constitution, so why the expansion?
b. Some divide the society into three sectors (feminist critique of this division)
i. Private life - family, friends, school (is school really private? eh)
ii. Civil life - joining w others to achieve a goal, bible study, rotary club,
in person or over internet
iii. Government - making decisions for the whole of society
iv. Feminist critique - the public is private, the private is public.
1. The polls were dominated by men
2. Women operated in the private realm
a. Police could not interfere in that realm
b. Abuse was happening!
3. Public decisions affect private lives (contraceptives or
women’s healthcare)
c. Suspicion of government
i. Vast disapproval of our gov’t
ii. Distrust and dissatisfaction is at an all time low - congress,
president (trump being an issue. He’s an “outsider”)
iii. Really is a proper role of government.. Even the most libertarian ppl
believe so
iv. Consequences to everything. No perfect government.
3. What government does
a. What is government?
i. A distinction between power and authority
ii. The institution that creates and implements policies and laws that
create the conduct of the nation and its citizens
, 1. Institutions - organizations that manage political conflicts bw
political rivals to help find mutually acceptable solutions and
makes and enforces societies collective agreements
a. Size of military, tax what groups, etc.
b. Design is important
i. Help mitigate conflict
ii. Rule of the majority or minority
iii. No oversigt for the govt
iv. Encourages abuses or not
c. Constitution
i. Set of rules that establishes institutions and
procedures that our institutions/gov’t must
follow and must not follow to reach and enforce
collective agreement.
1. Congress
2. A gov’t then consists of institutions legally prescribed
processes for making and enforcing collective agreements
a. I.e. Alex jones. Did not have the license to be on the
air/radio
3. Institutional durability
a. Will the institution remain
b. Hard to agree on alternative
c. People have to have an expectation of it remaining
iii. The founders envisioned the basic functions of government to
establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote general welfare (social security), secure
the blessings of liberty (not encroaching upon rights).
1. Do we encompass this?
a. Maybe going too far. Provided so much for the
general welfare that we sacrifice liberty, not done
enough and people dont have equality
b. Cant do all without encroaching upon another idea
c. I.e. maximize general welfare or common defense or
domestic tranquility then you would have a police
state (against liberty)
d. Spend a lot of money on military
e. We have massive programs even when we want
limited government
i. We can’t cut these budgets
ii. This is due to democracy
● Ideally, “we the people” could maintain control. However, previously, all major
republics in history have failed.
● Republic: a government in which citizens rule indirectly and make government
decisions through their elected representatives
● Theories of where power lies in American Govt:
○ Pluralist theory:
■ People can influence gov’t through the many interest groups that
spring up to champion everything from fighting global warming to
banning abortions. Pluralists suggest that interest groups give most
people a voice.
■ Location of political power: Interest Groups
■ Source of Influence: a group’s resources, political awareness and
connections
○ Elite Theory:
■ Counters that power actually rests in the hands of a small number
of wealthy and powerful individuals--particularly the richest
Americans, corporate executives, and the top gov’t officials--
especially in the executive branch.
■ Location of political power: “Power elite” in corporations,
government (especially the executive), the military, and an upper
class of billionaires
■ Source of Influence: Status based on economic influence and
leadership positions
○ Bureaucratic Theory:
■ Real control lies with the millions of men and women who carry out
the day-to-day operations of modern government. Bureaucratic
experts establish policy and sideline the influence of most
Americans.
■ Location of political power: Government organizations
■ Source of influence: organizational rules and day-to-day decisions
○ Social Movement Theory:
■ Emphasizes the power citizens can wield when they organize and
rise up in protest--regardless of who is in control of day-to-day
politics.
■ Location of political power: Protest movements
■ Source of influence: the ability to persuade the rest of the country to
support their cause.
Lecture Video 1:
1. How does American Politics Work?
, a. What is Politics?
b. How society makes collective decisions
i. Ideas
1. I.e. Gay marriage. Much of older pop culture would be
unacceptable nowadays
ii. Institutions
1. Create rules
iii. Interests
1. Rational choice theory (Lecture 1 Video)
iv. Individuals
1.
v. History
2. What does government do?
a. Why has the government grown so much?
i. We enshrined small or limited government when we created the
constitution, so why the expansion?
b. Some divide the society into three sectors (feminist critique of this division)
i. Private life - family, friends, school (is school really private? eh)
ii. Civil life - joining w others to achieve a goal, bible study, rotary club,
in person or over internet
iii. Government - making decisions for the whole of society
iv. Feminist critique - the public is private, the private is public.
1. The polls were dominated by men
2. Women operated in the private realm
a. Police could not interfere in that realm
b. Abuse was happening!
3. Public decisions affect private lives (contraceptives or
women’s healthcare)
c. Suspicion of government
i. Vast disapproval of our gov’t
ii. Distrust and dissatisfaction is at an all time low - congress,
president (trump being an issue. He’s an “outsider”)
iii. Really is a proper role of government.. Even the most libertarian ppl
believe so
iv. Consequences to everything. No perfect government.
3. What government does
a. What is government?
i. A distinction between power and authority
ii. The institution that creates and implements policies and laws that
create the conduct of the nation and its citizens
, 1. Institutions - organizations that manage political conflicts bw
political rivals to help find mutually acceptable solutions and
makes and enforces societies collective agreements
a. Size of military, tax what groups, etc.
b. Design is important
i. Help mitigate conflict
ii. Rule of the majority or minority
iii. No oversigt for the govt
iv. Encourages abuses or not
c. Constitution
i. Set of rules that establishes institutions and
procedures that our institutions/gov’t must
follow and must not follow to reach and enforce
collective agreement.
1. Congress
2. A gov’t then consists of institutions legally prescribed
processes for making and enforcing collective agreements
a. I.e. Alex jones. Did not have the license to be on the
air/radio
3. Institutional durability
a. Will the institution remain
b. Hard to agree on alternative
c. People have to have an expectation of it remaining
iii. The founders envisioned the basic functions of government to
establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote general welfare (social security), secure
the blessings of liberty (not encroaching upon rights).
1. Do we encompass this?
a. Maybe going too far. Provided so much for the
general welfare that we sacrifice liberty, not done
enough and people dont have equality
b. Cant do all without encroaching upon another idea
c. I.e. maximize general welfare or common defense or
domestic tranquility then you would have a police
state (against liberty)
d. Spend a lot of money on military
e. We have massive programs even when we want
limited government
i. We can’t cut these budgets
ii. This is due to democracy
