POLITICAL SCIENCE 201-003:AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

FALL 2015MONDAY 6:30-9:15 PM,

OWENS 103

Dr. John HolderInstructor in Political Science

Bancroft 340 (Mailing address Bancroft 346)

(803) 323-4665 holderj@winthrop.edu

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/holderj/plsc201003.htm

Office Hours M 3:30-6:00, TR 2:00-3:15, or by appointment

TextbookSusan Welch, John Gruhl, Sue Thomas and Maryanne BorrelliUnderstanding American Government

Fourteenth Edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES FOR THE

TEXTBOOK

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-American-Government-CourseReader-0-30/dp/1133955746/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440068438&sr=8-2&keywords=Susan+Welch+Understanding+American+Government http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/US/storefront/US?cmd=CLHeaderSearch&fieldValue=978-1-133-95574

So…who are you?

Name What do you like to be called? Where are you from? Do you have any experience in politics or

government? Why are you taking this class?

(Constitution requirement, prospective political science major, general interest, etc.)

Social Science The use of scientific methods to study

some aspect of society (human beings and their interactions). Anthropology Economics History Political Science Psychology Sociology Etc.

Political Science

Study of power and the organization of power

Harold Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how.”

Power: Creation and enforcement of laws and rules deciding What you have the right to do (MAY) What you have the obligation to do (MUST) What you’re prohibited from doing (MAY NOT)

Political Science

Use of the scientific method to: Observe: “What’s happening?” Explain: “Why is it happening?

Why is it happening that way?” Predict: “What’s going to

happen?”

Complete Freedom

Do whatever you want No rules, no laws, no

restrictions Unlimited right to acquire

property What’s the problem?

Complete Freedom

No way to protect your own property or otherwise prevent your rights from being violated

What’s the answer?

Basis of Government Government in a free society exists

to make and enforce laws in a way that protects the rights of the people

Power to make rules and laws gives you a great deal of power over others’ livesImprisonmentTaxationEtc.

Who Gets to Govern? Divine Right

Monarch endowed by God with power Democracy

People govern directly Republic/Indirect Democracy

People choose leaders who make decisions

Dictatorship I make the rules because I have the

biggest gun.

Next Week:

http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016-presidential-quiz

Did your results surprise you?

Theories of power