POLS 207 chapter 1 powerpoint: State and Local Politics — Introduction (Notes)

Opening Quote

  • “Question Everything Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” — Ernest Benn

Why Government Matters

  • Government is unavoidable: you cannot escape it.

  • It is pervasive: it is everywhere, and we often do not realize it or take it for granted.

I’m From Texas (Illustrative Points)

  • Associated with cultural touchstones: Oil, Horses, Cowboys, Country Music.

  • Stereotypical view: everything is “bigger and better.”

  • Prompt to reflect: not everything fits this stereotype.

The Policymaking System

  • Definition: Policymaking System describes how policy comes into being and evolves over time.

  • Core components (as a system):

    • People

    • Linkage Institutions

    • Policymaking Institutions

    • Policies

    • Policy Implementation

    • Policy Evaluation

    • Feedback Loop (connecting outputs back to inputs)

Linkage Institutions

  • Components within Linkage Institutions: Public Opinion, Media, Political Parties, Interest Groups, Elections.

  • Role: connect the public to policymakers and influence what issues rise on the policy agenda.

Policymaking Institutions

  • Core institutions that formulate and adopt policy: State Legislature, Executive and Bureaucracy, Judiciary.

  • Interaction: People and Linkage Institutions interact with these Policymaking Institutions to produce policy.

Policies and Policy Areas

  • What policymakers create: Policies.

  • Examples (as listed):

    • Fiscal policies

    • Education policies

    • Social Services policies

  • These policies interact with and affect people and the broader system.

Policy Implementation, Evaluation, and Feedback

  • Policy Implementation: the process of putting adopted policies into effect.

  • Feedback Loop: information about implementation and outcomes flows back to policymakers and stakeholders.

  • Policy Evaluation: assessment of policy outcomes and impacts, informing potential revisions or new policies.

  • The cycle emphasizes that policy is dynamic and iterative, not a one-time act.

Political Culture

  • Definition: Political culture = broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how government and society should function.

  • In the United States, Daniel Elazar’s typology identifies three ideal types of state political cultures:

    • Moralistic

    • Individualistic

    • Traditionalistic

Texas Political Culture

  • Texas blends individualistic and traditionalistic elements:

    • Emphasis on low taxes and low government services.

    • Dominance of business interests and special interests in policy outcomes.

  • This mix shapes policy preferences and political dynamics within the state.

Government and Politics (Key Distinctions)

  • Government: the institutions that make authoritatively binding decisions for society.

  • Politics: the process through which those decisions are made.

  • Harold Laswell’s often-cited characterization: politics concerns the question—

    • "Who gets what, when, and how?"

Comparative Study of States and Communities

  • Purpose: describe politics and public policy, and explain differences across states and communities.

  • Method: analyze socioeconomic and political environments to arrive at explanations.

  • Why it matters: states and communities function as “laboratories” for comparative analysis of policy and political dynamics.

What Can We Compare?

  • Socioeconomic factors

  • Education

  • Income

  • Race and Ethnic Composition

  • Ideologies (broad political orientations):

    • Liberalism

    • Conservatism

Liberalism and Conservatism in the States

  • Liberalism (state-level tendencies):

    • Expand welfare benefits

    • Regulate business

    • Adopt progressive state income taxes

    • Use government to achieve social change

  • Conservatism (state-level tendencies):

    • Limit welfare benefits

    • Deregulate business

    • Keep taxes low

    • Rely more on individuals and the marketplace to achieve social goals

Government is an unavoidable and pervasive force that shapes society, operating through a dynamic policymaking system. This system involves inputs from citizens and linkage institutions (public opinion, media, political parties, interest groups, and elections) which then inform policymaking institutions (legislature, executive, and judiciary) to craft policies. These policies are subsequently implemented, evaluated, and feed back into the system, emphasizing its iterative nature. Political culture—broadly shared values and beliefs about government—significantly influences this process; for example, Texas exhibits a blend of individualistic and traditionalistic cultures, prioritizing low taxes, limited government services, and business interests. While government refers to the institutions that make binding decisions, politics is the process by which these decisions are made, addressing "Who gets what, when, and how?" A comparative study of states and communities helps explain variations in public policy, considering socioeconomic factors and differing ideologies such as liberalism (favoring expanded welfare, business regulation, and government-driven social change) and conservatism (advocating for limited welfare, deregulation, low taxes, and reliance on individuals and the marketplace).