Who Governs?

Key concepts

I. AnarchyAnarchy (no government) is efficient, but lacks a method for resolving disputes.

II. MonarchyMonarchy (government by a hereditary leader) is efficient, but usually results in arbitrary leadership.

III. OligarchyOligarchy (rule by elites) is efficient, but usually becomes arbitrary and self-serving.

IV. Direct democracyDirect democracy (all citizens participating in all decisions) is inefficient, but eliminates arbitrariness.

V. Representative democracyRepresentative democracy (decision-making by elected representatives) is inefficient, but eliminates many of the disadvantagesof other systems.

I. Anarchy

anarchy: The condition of having no government and no laws.

In anarchy, citizens set their own rules and act in their own self-interest.A. Advantages

1. Simple2. No bureaucracy3. Maximum freedom4. Few constraints

B. Disadvantages1. No method of

a) resolving disputesb) protecting the weak from the strongc) prevent the irresponsible from harming others

II. Monarchy

monarchy: Governance by a hereditary, unelected leader, often based on perceived divine right.

Monarchy is the most common way people throughout history have organized governments.A. Advantage

1. Efficiencya) The monarch decrees laws and everyone obeys them (or else).

B. Disadvantage1. Arbitrariness

a) Citizens have no protection against the monarch’s whims.

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Constitutional Principles

III. Oligarchy

oligarchy: Government by a small, elite group.

Oligarchy is government by elites.A. Advantages

1. Some people are smarter and wiser than ordinary citizens.Note: Most organizations are run by elites; most people in a society are unprepared to govern.2. When the most competent people rule, society is protected from the uninformed.

Joseph Schumpeter (1883–1950): Austrian political economist who developed a unique philosophy of capitalism anddemocratic political institutions.

“When a typical citizen of democracy turns toward politics he yields to extra-rational or irrational prejudices and impulses.He will relax his usual moral standards as well, and occasionally give in to dark urges. This may prove fatal to his nation.”Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy (1942)

B. Disadvantages1. Elites may be

a) self-servingb) evilc) arbitraryd) unconcerned with protecting individual rights

C. Does the United States have elements of elitist rule?1. American sociologist C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) wrote The Power Elite (1956).

a) Mills claimed that an elite group of corporations controls the U.S. economy, government, entertainment,and food supply.

Example: A small number of corporations control the flow of vast amounts of information.2. President Eisenhower warned of a “military-industrial complex” in 1961.

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought,by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”President Dwight Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 17, 1961

military-industrial complex: An informal alliance of military leaders and corporations that devise schemes for spendingtax revenue for its own benefit.

IV. Direct democracy

History provides very few examples of direct democracy.

direct democracy: A model of government in which all citizens meet periodically to discuss and then vote on almost allmatters related to government.

Example: In ancient Athens, all citizens met to pass laws and discuss all government matters.

sidebar: Athenian citizenship was limited to native-born adult males—women and slaves were excluded.

A. Remnants of direct democracy remain in some New England towns.1. Adult citizens meet once a year to vote on budgets and make other political decisions.

B. Advantages1.Reduces the opportunities for arbitrariness.

C. Disadvantages1. Direct democracy is very inefficient.2. Many people will not participate because of time constraints.3. Many people will be ill informed.4. The rights of minorities may be sacrificed.Note: The Founders feared that direct democracy would deteriorate into mob rule as it did in ancient Athens.

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American Government

“There is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party, or an obnoxious individual.”James Madison, Federalist No. 10, November 22, 1787

V. Representative democracy

In a representative democracy, citizens delegate political authority to others.

representative democracy: A republic; specifically, a government whose authority is obtained and held, directly or indirectly,through free elections in which all competent adult citizens are allowed to participate.

A. Characteristics1. Regular, fair elections2. The right to express ideas and criticize candidates3. The right to voteNote: The governments of the U.S. and most other western countries are representative democracies.

B. Advantages1. Representative democracy

a) limits arbitrary governmentb) protects individual rightsc) may protect minoritiesd) creates loyalty and legitimacy

C. Disadvantages1. Representative democracy

a) is slow and inefficientb) may oppress minoritiesc) may be overwhelmed by ignorant and intolerant votersd) may be hijacked by corporate wealth

2. Constitutions and bills of rights limit the actions of government, guard against tyrannical majorities, andprotect minority rights. Not all western democracies have these safeguards.

Bill of RightsConstitutionCountryyes (1791)yes (1788)United Statesno*noUnited Kingdomyes (1960)yes (1982)Canada noyes (1900)Australia

*An English Bill of Rights in 1689 dealt only with relations between parliament and the monarch.

3. When deciding among different forms of government, people have tried to increase the advantages andreduce the shortcomings of each.4. Democracy—warts and all—may offer the most benefits and fewest drawbacks of any system so far.

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Constitutional Principles