U.S. Government and Democracy Overview

U.S. Government Overview

  • The U.S. government is an institution making authoritative decisions for society.

  • There are about 500,000 elected officials in the U.S.

Power & Authority in Government

  • Politics: Activity involving issue agitation or settlement.

  • Power: Ability of one individual to align another's actions with their intentions.

  • Authority: Legitimacy to use power, defined by law or constitution.

Definitions of Democracy

  • Democracy: Government power derived from the people.

  • Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on decisions.

  • Participatory Democracy: Citizens influence policies, but do not make them directly.

  • Representative Democracy: Citizens elect officials to represent their interests.

  • Pluralist vs. Elite Democracy: Pluralist emphasizes group activism; elite consists of educated, affluent individuals influencing decisions.

Principles of Democracy

  • Majority Rule & Minority Rights: Majority makes decisions while protecting minority rights.

Theories of American Democracy

  • Pluralist Theory: Politics is a competition among groups, none too dominant.

  • Elitism/Class Theory: A small elite influences politics for the collective good.

  • Hyperpluralism: Too many strong groups weaken government, leading to policy confusion.

  • Cordial Passion View: Morally-driven elites instigate significant change.

  • Bureaucratic Theory: Bureaucrats hold substantial influence over policies.

Politics and Policy-Making

  • Politics: Defines leadership selection and policy direction, encapsulated by "who gets what, when, and how."

  • Single-issue Groups: Focus on narrow interests and often avoid compromise.

  • Policymaking System: Involves interests generating political issues affecting policies.

Impact on Policy Agenda

  • Influenced by shared values, tradition, events, and political elite discourse.

    • Policymaking Institutions: Includes Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy.

Public Policy

  • Definition: Government decisions impacting citizens through laws and regulations.

  • Types: E.g., Social Security Act, Food and Drug Administration.

Policy Impact Assessment

  • Evaluate policies on whether they effectively solve issues or create new problems.

Types of Politics

  • Majoritarian Politics: Broad benefits for almost everyone (e.g., Social Security).

  • Interest Group Politics: Competing interests oppose each other.

  • Client Politics: Small groups benefit at the cost of larger groups.

  • Entrepreneurial Politics: Broad benefits with a small group bearing high costs.