Chapters 1Chapters 1 and 2and 2Thinking about Politics and

the American Creed

GovernmentGovernment

• Politics– Individual and collective efforts to

influence the workings of government

• Government – The institutions that have the

authority and capacity to create and enforce public policies for a specific territory and people

Why does government Why does government exist?exist?

• Government exists to:– Maintain order / Settle Disputes– Protect Liberty

• Principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights and freedoms of others.

– Provide public goods• Goods and services that are enjoyed by

all citizens.

• Social Contract– An agreement among members of

society to form and recognize the authority of a centralized government that is empowered to make and enforce laws governing the members of society.

Different Types of Different Types of GovernmentGovernment

• Democracy- Form of government in which the people

govern, either directly or through elected representatives

• Oligarchy- Form of government in which control rests

with a few persons at the top.

• Autocracy- Form of government in which absolute

control rests with one single person

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy

• Direct Democracy– A form of democracy in which the

people themselves make laws and set the policies adopted by the government.

Dangers of Direct Dangers of Direct DemocracyDemocracy

• Direct Democracy can be dangerous– Requires a high level of information– Requires a high level of participation– Potential for “Tyranny of the Majority”

The American The American DemocracyDemocracy

• The American System is Representative

• Representative Democracy– A form of democracy in which the

people, through free elections, select representatives to make laws on their behalf and set polices adopted by the government (indirect-democracy)

The American The American DemocracyDemocracy

• The American System is Constitutional– Constitutional Democracy

• A form of democracy in which there is a foundational document that describes the structure, powers and limits of government.

The American SystemThe American System

• The American System is Presidential rather than Parliamentary– Presidential System

• A political system in which the head of the executive branch is selected by some form of popular vote

– Parliamentary System • A political system in which the head of the

executive branch is selected by members of the legislature.

““American ideas”American ideas”

• Political Culture– The values and beliefs of citizens

toward the political system and toward themselves as actors in it. In the US, it is called the “American Creed”

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Equality– The value that all Americans should

be treated the same under the law, be able to influence government, and have equal opportunity to succeed in life.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Individualism– Belief that all individuals should be

able to succeed to the maximum extent possible given their talents and abilities, regardless of race, religion or other group characteristics.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Democratic ideals– Hinges on the beliefs that

government should reflect the will of the people, and that government exists because people consent to be governed.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Liberty– Principle that individuals should be

free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the rights and freedoms of others.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Natural Rights– Rights inherent in the essence of

people as human beings; government does not provide these rights.

– Americans believe government exists to protect these rights, not to restrict them.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Property Rights– The belief that people should be able

to acquire, own, and use goods and assets free from government constraints, as long as their acquisition and use does not interfere with the rights of other individuals.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Religious Freedom– A belief that individuals should be

free to choose and practice their religious faith and that government should not establish any particular religion as the official or preferred religion.

Aspects of the Aspects of the American CreedAmerican Creed

• Limited Government– The idea that the scope of

government activities should be narrow and that government should act only when the need is great and other sectors of society are unable to meet the need.