Module 1: Introduction/Political Theory

Correlates with Berman Chapter 1

Democracy

a set of ideals that the United States attempt to live up to, but sometimes fall short

• we will always be approaching democracy

• democracy is never finished

EXAM: What are ANARCHIST?

People who believe that people are naturally cooperative and capable of creating free and decent societies without the need of a government. They believe that government corrupts people.

However, if you put people in groups, people change.

• “a PERSON is smart, PEOPLE are ignorant etc…“

Berman makes the assumption that we’re better off with government than without.

Ways in which we take steps forwards in democracy and steps back in democracy

Forward:

• women’s right to vote

• people of color’s right to vote

• non-property owner’s right to vote

• 18 year olds can vote

Back:

• voter supression

• gerrymandering

• January 6th (storming the capital) ← attempt to disrupt democratic process + peaceful transfer of power

procedural democrats

• stresses MAJORITY RULE

  • If minorities disobeyed majority rule, it could result in anarchy or evil war

• democracy is a means to make decisions

  • acceptance of this key norm allows government to operate

• everyone should have an equal vote

Majority Rule

a decision-making system where the choice or candidate with more than half of the total votes wins and makes the final decision for the whole group

Principal Democrats

• stresses MINORITY RIGHTS

  • majority should not compel minority to join majority

  • minorities hope to become majority and want minority to obey laws they pass

    • minorities → majority should happen through popular input and rational argument NOT through force

• democracy assumes and protects certain values, principles, or freedoms

Minority Rights

rights given those in the minority; minorities shouldn’t get treated badly by the majorities

EXAM: Paradox of Democracy

Majority rule might not be compatible with minority rights.

[Affected by the political polarization between conservatives and liberals.]

EXAM: Popular Sovereignty

people are the ultimate source of government authority and powers

• ordinary people want to rule themselves and are capable of doing so

Critiques of the Assumptions of Democracy

Critiques the assumption that “everyone is equal“

• Everyone IS EQUAL by LAW, everyone is NOT EQUAL HOLISTICALLY

  • ex) intelligence, athletic ability, creativity etc.

EXAM: Direct Democracy

people vote for laws and candidates directly without elected representatives

people → laws

works well in small, homogenized groups

ex) California Referendum

EXAM: Indirect Democracy

people elect for representatives to represent and vote in their best interests/wishes

people → representatives → laws

ex) Senate

FINAL: Delegates vs Trustees

• Delegates: representatives should vote for the wishes of the people

  • CON: people could not be informed (misinformation)

• Trustees: representatives should vote on people’s self-interest

  • CON: but power can corrupt (representatives’ lives are different from the people who voted for them)

pluralism

government responds to citizens organized into groups; people form interest groups who lobby representatives who make laws on their behalf

people (form) → groups (lobby/influence) → representatives → laws

people develop interest in politics or issues that are relevant to them

• determined by cultural background, values, and personal characteristics

EXAM: Iron Law of Oligarchy

in any given group only a few wield power or influence

NOT IN EXAM: Hyperpluralism

interest groups have captured or disproportionally influenced government

• public policy outputs are often distorted

  • belief of too many interest groups

Normative Democratic Elitism

stresses that the elites, not the authoritarian minded masses, protect democratic values

Critiques of Democracy

Aristotle

• democracy is in the hands of low birth, no property, vulgar employments

• endorsed mixed system of rule

  • rule by one: president

  • rule by few: Senate + Supreme Court

  • rule by many: House + Citizens

Plato

• advocated for aristocracy of Guardians and Philosopher King

What are GROUPS?

Groups are DYNAMIC (they form, die, changed by time)

• depends on the standards established

  • DEFINITION is IMPORTANT

How is the United States different from other countries?

The US is not bounded by blood or language, but by IDEAS

• formed a state before a nation

state: political and legal entity with a permanent population, defined territory, government, and sovereignty (independence)

nation: cultural or social group of people bound together by a shared language, history, traditions, and identity, but lacking a formal government

EXAM: Out of the 3 political values (ORDER,FREEDOM,EQUALITY), which is ranked #1 importance for Americans?

FREEDOM (Australians also rank this #1)

Order

condition in which structure is defined and maintained by rule of law and police power of state

• oldest traditional function of government

• protect territory and provide national defense

  • military

  • police

• provide emergency service and security during natural disasters

• provide legal systems to administer justice and impose penalties on lawbreakers

  • courts

  • laws

  • regulations

Order places limits on certain individual freedoms and violates certain notions of equality.

Young people rank order as the least important political value HOWEVER there is still significant military spending.

Freedom

idea that no individual should be within the power or under the control of another

• negative freedom

  • freedom FROM… government power and regulation

  • political liberty: principle which citizens in democracy are protected from government interference

• positive freedom

  • freedom TO… vote, equal access etc.

  • equal protection: treated the same by government

Equality

Government achieves equality through providing…

• meat inspection

• roads

• bridges

• transportation

• education

• health services

• clean water/air

• airport security

• highways

Equality of Opportunity

• idea that people should have equal rights and opportunities to develop their talent

  • all people should have the chance to begin at the same starting point

Equality of Result

• all forms of inequality should be eradicated

  • support redistribution of benefits after competition has took place

  • taking from those who have more and giving it to people who have less

United States is the most individualistic in the world, they don’t want the government to play a major role in determining life’s economic outcomes.

EXAM: What is the state of wealth and income inequality in the United States

Wealth and income inequality is SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER in the US compared to other countries.