Chapter I: The Political Landscape Outline

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Chapter I The Political Landscape Outline

• what government is and why we need it.
• the main types and functions of government.
• how the philosophies of Hobbes and Locke
  influenced the formation of the American
  political system.
• the changing characteristics and shared values of
  American political culture.
• the major ideologies in American culture and
  politics.

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Government What It Is Why We Need It

• Origins of Government
• Why is it necessary? Societal resources are
  limited, human nature will lead to violent
  struggles over resources. if men were angels
• What is it? .individuals and institutions
  through which policies are made and affairs of
  state are conducted.
• Must be considered in the context of
  politicsthe
• Study of who gets what, when, and how.

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Types of Government

• Monarchyrule by a single hereditary leader,
  authority derived from the divine right of
  kings
• Totalitarianrule by a single leader who attains
  complete political, military and economic
  control, authority from use of force no
  individual rights
• Democracythe people rule either directly or
  indirectly through elected reps, authority and
  legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

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Hobbes, Locke, and a Social Contract Theory of
Government

• Both argued that individuals were free and equal
  by natural right.
• This required that all men and women give their
  consent to be governed.
• Hobbes argued that mans natural state was war
  and without government life would be solitary,
  poor, nasty, brutish and short a struggle to
  survive. Therefore, there is a need for a
  single, strong ruler.
• Locke was more optimistic and preferred a less
  centralized authority that would preserve private
  property.
• They agree on the need for government but not on
  its form.

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Devising a National Government in the American
Colonies

• The colonists rejected a system with a single,
  all powerful ruler, preferred by Hobbes.
• They opted instead for a democratic system rooted
  in the principle of consent of the governed.
• Direct democracy
• Members of the polity meet to discuss all policy
  decisions and agree to abide by majority rule.
• Indirect democracy (representative)
• Gives citizens the opportunity to vote for
  representatives who will work on their behalf.
• Republic a representative or indirect
  democracy.

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Functions of Government

• creating mechanisms to allow individuals to
  solve conflicts in an orderly and peaceful
  manner.
• In the American system five defined functions
• Establishing Justice
• Ensuring Domestic Tranquility
• Providing for the Common Defense
• Promoting the General Welfare
• Securing the Blessings of Liberty

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How does our government fulfill those functions
today? Allocation of the Federal Budget, 2005
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Changing Characteristics of the American People

• Changing Demographics
• Immigration has changed the nation.
• 1600-1700 Western Europeans
• Gold Rush in 1848 Chinese
• 1850s Irish Catholics
• 1880s to 1910s Southeast Asians, Cubans, and
  Mexicans
• 1900s Eastern Europeans
• Racial balance still changing dramatically today.

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Changing Characteristics of the American People

• Age profile
• Baby Boomers 76.8 million 1946-1964
• Generation X 50 million, 1965-1976
• Generation Y, echo boomers60 million
  1977-1994
• U.S.A. is aging dramatically..by 2040 there will
  be nearly as many 65 as 0-17
• Policy Implications?

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Changing Characteristics of the American People

• Changes in Family and Family Size
• Large families were norm and gender roles were
  clearly defined.
• Industrialization and knowledge of birth control
  methods began to shrink family size.
• 1949-49 said 4 or more children was an ideal
  family size.
• 1997-only 8 favored large families.
• Since 1970 the number of female-headed families
  has increased from 5.5 million to 12.8 million.

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Shared Values that Define American Political
Culture

• Personal Liberty
• Equality
• Popular Consent
• The idea that governments must draw their powers
  from the consent of the governed.
• Majority Rule
• Central premise of direct democracy in which only
  policies that collectively garner the support of
  a majority of voters will be made into law.
• Popular Sovereignty
• Right of the majority to govern themselves
  because they are born inherently free and equal.

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Shared values continued..

• Civil Society
• Society is created when citizens are allowed to
  organize and express their views publicly as they
  engage in open debate about public policy.
• Individualism
• The rights and choices of the individual are
  paramount. The state serves the citizen,not
  vice-versa.

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Ideology of the American Public

• Ideologya coherent sent of values and beliefs
  about the purpose and scope of government held by
  groups and individuals
• What is your political ideology?
  http//www.gotoquiz.com/what_is_your_political_ide
  ology
• Conservative
• Government is best that governs least big
  government can only infringe on individual,
  personal and economic rights.
• Liberal
• Favors extensive governmental involvement in the
  economy and the provision of social services
  takes an activist role in protecting rights of
  women, elderly, minorities, and the environment.

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Ideology of the American Public

• Libertarians
• One who favors a free-market economy and no
  governmental interference in personal liberties.
• Problems with Political Labels
• Can be misleading
• May not predict political opinions
• Often opinions are mixed conservative on some
  issues, liberal on others
• Cut across ideological boundaries

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The Election
Bush
Kerry
(Republican) 286
(Democrat) 252
Electoral College Map (Final Results)
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