October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 1 Introduction Frank H. Brooks

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Introduction to American PoliticsIntroduction to American Politics 11

IntroductionIntroduction

Frank H. BrooksFrank H. Brooks


Course GoalsCourse GoalsAnalytical understanding of American politicsAnalytical understanding of American politicsLook first at “facts”Look first at “facts”– what government what government does/isdoes/is (policies, structures) (policies, structures)– how politics operateshow politics operates

Look also at idealsLook also at ideals– what government what government should doshould do– how politics should be conductedhow politics should be conducted– Typically, there’s Typically, there’s tensiontension between facts and ideals between facts and ideals

Finally, consider constraints and possibilitiesFinally, consider constraints and possibilities– what government can what government can reasonably be expected to doreasonably be expected to do– What are the limits to political action? What are the What are the limits to political action? What are the

possible changes?possible changes?– Influenced by personalities, resources, rhetoric, structuresInfluenced by personalities, resources, rhetoric, structures– Not simply strategy or “insider baseball”Not simply strategy or “insider baseball”

Must consider all three:Must consider all three: facts, ideals, constraintsfacts, ideals, constraints


Analytical FrameworkAnalytical FrameworkWhatWhat will be studied? will be studied?– U.S. U.S. nationalnational government (powers, structures, processes) government (powers, structures, processes)

– U.S. politics (resources, strategies, effects)U.S. politics (resources, strategies, effects)

– Policy only indirectly (as examples)Policy only indirectly (as examples)

HowHow will it be studied? will it be studied?– Structure (facts about organization and processes)Structure (facts about organization and processes)

– Ideology (values and rhetoric, e.g. liberty, equality)Ideology (values and rhetoric, e.g. liberty, equality)

– History (development of structure, policy over time)History (development of structure, policy over time)

– Sociology (sources of effective demands)Sociology (sources of effective demands)

– Economics (policy goals, metaphors)Economics (policy goals, metaphors)

– Comparison (with other countries, with states)Comparison (with other countries, with states)


Key Concept I: GovernmentKey Concept I: Government

Authoritative decision-making body in a Authoritative decision-making body in a society society

A human community that (successfully) A human community that (successfully) claims a monopoly of the legitimate use of claims a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory (Max physical force within a given territory (Max Weber)Weber)

A body with both tax-collecting and law-A body with both tax-collecting and law-making authoritymaking authority


Key Concept II: PoliticsKey Concept II: Politics

"Who gets what, when, and how“"Who gets what, when, and how“

authoritative allocation of authoritative allocation of valuesvalues within a within a society society


Other Key ConceptsOther Key Concepts

PowerPower

DemocracyDemocracy

PolicyPolicy

CitizenshipCitizenship

EfficacyEfficacy

ParticipationParticipation


U.S.U.S. Government/Politics Government/Politics

What kind of government?What kind of government?– democracy?democracy?– republic? republic? – limited government? limited government? – empire? empire?

What kind of politics do we have? What kind of politics do we have? – majority rule? majority rule? – pluralism? pluralism? – elite rule? elite rule?

Documents

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Introduction to American Politics 1 Introduction Frank H. Brooks