Issue
A topic that is of important concern
German scholar Max Weber
________ argued that to become successful, the modern state puts its affairs in the hands of appointed bureaucrats.
Politics
The activity by which decisions are being made.
multiple levels
In the pluralist view, no single entity, group, or social class has complete control because political resources are so widespread, and because there are ________ of governmental institutions.
Power
The ability to get someone to do something
Authority
The right to use power
Karl Marx
The class view, inspired by ________, holds that the rich have more influence over government policy than the poor; essentially that economic inequality leads to political inequality.
Legitimacy
Having the right to govern based on the consent of the governed
Democracy
The rule of the many
creedal passion view
In the ________, people are driven by a desire to maintain and perpetuate their own power.
Direct or Participatory Democracy
A government in which all or most citizens participate directly
Representative Democracy
A government in which people elect other people to represent them in the government
Elite
People who have an uneven share of valued resources
Class view
View that the government is dominated by the wealthy
Power elite view
Government is dominated by a few top leaders, who are outside of government
Bureaucratic view
Government is dominated by appointed officials
Pluralist view
No one entity dominates, due to resources being widespread
In the United States, there are five main views on how political power is distributed
class view, power elite view, bureaucratic view, pluralist view, and creed passion view
The politics of different policy issues can be classified according to how the costs and benefits of the policy are distributed, which gives us four categories
majoritarian, interest group, client, and entrepreneurial
Political Power in America
Five Views
Shared political values
if people believe poverty is a result of social forces, they have a reason to expand government programs to combat poverty
Weight of custom and tradition
people will usually accept what the government customarily does
Importance of events
war, terrorist attacks, or severe economic downturns can alter our sense of proper role of government
Terms of debate
the way in which political elites discuss issues influences how the public will view political priorities
Groups
Many policies are the result of small groups of people enlarging the scope of government by their demands
Issue
a topic that is of important concern
Politics
The activity by which decisions are being made
Power
The ability to get someone to do something
Authority
The right to use power
Legitimacy
Having the right to govern based on the consent of the governed
Democracy
The rule of the many
Direct or Participatory Democracy
A government in which all or most citizens participate directly
Representative Democracy
A government in which people elect other people to represent them in the government
Elite
People who have an uneven share of valued resources
Class view
View that the government is dominated by the wealthy
Power elite view
Government is dominated by a few top leaders, who are outside of government
Bureaucratic view
Government is dominated by appointed officials
Pluralist view
No one entity dominates, due to resources being widespread
Creedal passion view
People driven by their own desires drive important political changes
Political agenda
Issues that people believe require governmental action
Cost
what you give up in order to obtain something
Benefit
anything that provides utility or satisfaction
Majoritarian politics
everyone benefits, but everyone pays
Interest group politics
small amount of people benefit and pay
Client politics
small amount of people benefit, everyone pays
Entrepreneurial politics
everyone benefits, small amount of people pay
Pork Barrel Legislation
legislative acts that bring federal money into a state or district
Log-rolling
Legislators trade votes - support a proposal in exchange for someone else to support their proposal
Policy entrepreneurs
Make a political majority for unorganized interests not well represented by the government
Creedal passion view
People driven by their own desires drive important political changes
Political agenda
Issues that people believe require governmental action
Cost
What you give up in order to obtain something
Benefit
Anything that provides utility or satisfaction
Majoritarian politics
Everyone benefits, but everyone pays
Interest group politics
Small amount of people benefit and pay
Client politics
Small amount of people benefit, everyone pays
Entrepreneurial politics
Everyone benefits, small amount of people pay
Pork Barrel Legislation
Legislative acts that bring federal money into a state or district
Log-rolling
Legislators trade votes - support a proposal in exchange for someone else to support their proposal
Policy entrepreneurs
They make a political majority for unorganized interests not well represented by the government