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Constitutional Underpinnings
What is politics?
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Word Association
• What words come to mind when you hear
the word “politics”?
• Does the word have a more positive or
negative connotation?
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Machiavelli
• Machiavelli’s name is synonymous with
tough and dirty politics
• Author of The Prince. One of history’s first
political scientists.
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Machiavelli Quotes
• “The ends justify the means.”
• “It is better to be feared than loved.”
• “By no means can a prudent ruler keep his
word. Because all men are bad and do not
keep promises to you, you likewise do not
have to keep your promises to them.”
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Can we be hopeful about
politics?
Yes We Can
“straight talk” campaign
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A neutral view of
politics
Harold D. Lasswell
• Who gets what, when, and how. (and
where)
• All of us are political, we’re just not used to
calling it that. You don’t have to take a
class to get politics. Aristotle was correct
when he wrote, “Man is by nature a
political animal.”
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State of Nature game
• Why were teams successful? Was it
strategy or an unfair advantage?
• How would the outcome be different if
teams were not allowed to attack, only
invest?
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Social Contract
Theory
• “The only valid government is one based
on the consent of the governed.” - Locke
• Rulers and citizens enter into an
agreement, or a social contract
• Government by the people, masses
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Locke’s influence on
the US
• “A state also of equality, wherein all the
power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one
having more than another… - John Locke,
of Civil Government
• “We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal.”
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of
Independence
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Political Power
• Power – ability of one person to cause
another person to act in accordance
• Authority – right to use power
• Legitimacy – what makes the law or leader
a source of “right”
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What makes a
Democracy?
Principles necessary for a democracy to
exist.
1. Universal suffrage (everyone vote)
2. Political Equality (all votes counted
equally)
3. Majority Rule
4. Government responds to public opinion
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Can uneducated/poor
people be trusted?
• Direct - Pure Democracy – citizens create/vote
on laws
• Problems
1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise
• How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per
day on issues they no nothing about?
2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on
emotions (Hitler was elected)
• “The masses are turbulent and changing and
seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander
Hamilton
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Representative
Democracy (Republic)
• Citizens elect representatives
• Gov’t MEDIATES popular views
– “Will of the people” ≠ “Common interest”
– EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights
• Reps are educated on issues at hand
• Prevents fast, sweeping change
• Minority rights more likely to be protected
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Theories explaining how
democracies ACTUALLY
function
1. Majoritarian Theory
2. Pluralist Theory
= leaders are forced to follow the
wishes of the people because
majority rules
= groups compete and compromise
with each other to get the gov’t
to do what they want
3. Elite Theory
4. Bureaucratic Theory
= groups or people who possess
= appointed officials dominate the
the most more power (money or
gov’t through unelected jobs
influence) dominate gov’t
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Democracy Theory Test
What theory is supported by the fact that…
1. The US holds mainly elections where the person who
receives the most votes wins.
2. Most US representatives are upper class people.
3. The President appoints hundreds of people for gov’t
jobs or judgeships, all have special powers.
4. Interest groups spend millions of dollars toward
campaigns of favored candidates.
5. Gov’t can call for referendums, or votes by the people
to pass or strike down potential laws.
6. The candidate who raises the most money for an
election almost always wins.
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Pluralism
1. Modern society consists of many groups (ex.
Economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that
compete with each other to achieve goals
2. Groups that influence gov’t, work hard, and
have largest membership get what they want
3. Even if the average citizen does not keep up
with politics, their interests will be protected by
their group.
4. Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals
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FOR
Arguments for and
against the Pluralist view
AGAINST
• Relatively low numbers of
• There is no unified
people join interest groups.
majority in the US that
always acts together. • Poor citizens have less
opportunity to join interest
• Gov’t leaders must
groups or contribute to
please groups to gain
them.
votes and money to be
reelected.
• One can’t assume that
group decisions are always
• Groups must compete
in the best interest of the
for gov’t services and
nation.
favorable laws.
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Marxist Theory (Elite)
• Control the economic system = control
the political system.
• Politicians require massive funding to win
elections, and rely on corporations to
supply them.
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A Reminder…
• These are only theories. They are
people’s perception of our democracy and
the way it functions.
• Which theory is correct???
– Pluralist – most popular today
– Majoritarian – popular pre-1950’s
– Elite – rising since the 80’s (Michael Moore)
– Bureaucratic – gov’t spending more than ever
before just to run itself