Elements of the Democratic Process

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Elements of the Democratic Process

• A. What is Government?
• The ordering of human relations by rules and
  regulations
  
• The way the state exerts its will and
  accomplishes its goals
  
• The institution by and through which public
  policy is made and the affairs of a nation are
  conducted

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A. What is government ?

• An organization extending to the whole society
  that can legitimately use force to carry out its
  decisions
  
• Institutions and procedures through which a
  territory and its people are ruled.

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B. Origins of Government

• 1. Instinct Theory
• 2. Force Theory
• 3. Outside Invasion Theory
• 4. Divine Right Theory
• 5. Protection Theory
• 6. Economic Theory
• 7. Social Contract Theory

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1. Instinct Theory

• Mankind wanted government.
• Social nature of man needed government.
• Evolved from family organization.
• City states formed from simpler government.

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Force Theory

• 1. The strong dominate the weak.
• Some leaders desire power.
• Land and power is taken by military control.

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Outside Invasion Theory

• 1. Tribes invade other tribes.
• 2. Attacks from foreign powers
• 3. Lands are invaded.
• 4. Guns, Germs, and Steel

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Divine Right Theory

• Doctrine that sovereigns are representatives of
  God and that their power comes from God.
  
• Hereditary rule
• Secular rule and Religious rule are connected.
• Examples King Louis XIV, XV, and XVI King
  Fahd-Saudi Arabia

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Protection Theory

• Man is evil and selfish and protection is needed
  against his neighbor.
  
• Thomas Hobbes viewed mans selfishness as a need
  for government.

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Economic Theory

• Theory founded by Karl Marx.
• He stated that mankind was motivated by economic
  necessity.
  
• Wealthy class use government to stay in power.
• Class struggle will occur- poor vs. rich
• Utopia will be the result.

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Social Contract Theory

• Theory developed by John Locke.
• Government will be created by mutual consent.
• People will agree to give up some of their
  liberty for the good of the group.
  
• Life, Liberty, and Property

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The Roles of Government

• 1. Anarchy
• 2. Communism
• 3. Individualism
• 4. Progressivism
• 5. Socialism

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Anarchy

• Government is bad and should be eliminated.
• Everybody rules or nobody rules.
• Chaos and anomie are created.

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Communism

• Based upon the writings of Karl Marx.
• Workers of the world unite.
• We will take from you ability and give according
  to your need.
  
• Dictatorship is necessary to educate the masses.
• Utopia will result. Government will disappear.

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Individualism

• Government is a necessary evil.
• We need some government.
• The least amount of government is the best kind
  of government.
  
• Laissez faire policy-Leave decisions to the
  individual.

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Progressivism

• Government should be active.
• Government is good to protect individual rights,
  political rights, and economic rights.
  
• Government should regulate business and society.
• Utilitarianism-the greatest good for the
  greatest number.

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Socialism

• Government controls major public industries.
• Can be implemented slowly and peacefully.
• Possible under many forms of government.
• Todays examples are
• Sweden, Denmark, and Great Britain.

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Historical Debate Over The Role of Government

• 1. Federalist vs. the Anti-Federalist-They
  argued the ratification of the U.S.
  Constitution.
  
• 2. The debate led to the formation of the Two
  Party System.
  
• 3. The first two parties were the Federalist and
  the Democratic Republicans.
  

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Two Parties

• Federalist
• Led by Hamilton
• Favored the rich and well born.
• Favored a strong central govt.
• They were pro-British.
• Feared the masses.

• Democratic Republicans
• Led by Jefferson
• Favored strong State govt.
• Farmers, westerners
• They were pro-French
• For individual rights
• Feared a strong govt.

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Democrats and Republicans

• Pro-labor, blue collar
• Government programs
• Education
• Environment
• Regulation on business
• Liberal approach
• ProChoice
• For Individual Rights
• Minority groups

• Pro-business
• lower taxes
• Strong Military
• Less Government
• Individualism
• Conservative approach
• Pro-Life
• Support the war on terrorism
• Law and Order

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The Scope and Role of Government Changed in 1933

• After the election of FDR the role of the Federal
  Government changed dramatically. The Stock
  Market crash and the Great Depression created a
  need for change.
• President Herbert Hoover had promoted rugged
  individualism and the depression worsened.
  
• FDR promised a New Deal for America
• People were ready for change.
• It took several years and a world war for the
  conditions to improve.
  
• Today big government is with us and there are no
  signs of shrinkage.

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Forms of Government

• 1. Autocracy is a form in which a single
  individual-a king or dictator-rules.
  
• Examples are Bahrain- Emir
• Saudi Arabia-King Faud-Prince Abdullah
• In the past Hitler, Mussolini, Amin, Saddam
  Hussein

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Forms of Government

• 2. Oligarchy is form of government which a small
  group-landowners, military officers, or wealthy
  merchants-control most of the governing
  decisions.
• Examples are Iran, Afghanistan (Taliban),
• Rwanda, Gambia, Chad, and Algeria

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Forms of Government

• 3. Democracy means the people rule. It is a
  system of rule that permits citizens to play a
  significant part in the government process,
  usually through elections of key public offices.
• Representative democracy is a system where
  citizens elect officials to make decisions for
  them. It is a republic.
  
• Pure or direct democracy is where citizens vote
  on every issue through the referendum process.
  States do it and so did Switzerland for many
  years.

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How Do Countries Govern?

• 1. Constitutional governments are limited by
  written law republics- United States, Russia,
  England, Sweden are some examples. 20 out 200
  nations of the world have constitutions like the
  United States.
• 2. Authoritarian governments are systems that
  the government recognizes no formal limits but is
  restrained by some social institution. Examples
  are Iran, middle eastern countries, countries
  controlled by small groups of individuals or
  groups.
• 3. Totalitarian governments are systems that
  recognize no limits of power or force. They rule
  by fear and are many times militaristic,
  imperialistic, racists, and nationalistic.
  Violence is used to keep power. Examples are
  Cuba, North Korea, Iraq under Saddam Hussein,
  Germany under Hitler, etc.

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Political Participation

• Politics is a conflict over leadership,
  structure, and organization of government. Who
  gets what, when, and how?
  
• Participation can take many forms Running for
  office, Voting, Writing letters, joining a group,
  voicing your opinion, and reading the news.
  
• Pluralism is the theory that all interests should
  be free to compete foe influence in government .
  The outcome of this competition is compromise.
  Conflicting groups keep the system somewhat
  honest and legitimate. Bargaining takes place.

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Political Culture

• Political culture refers to the shared values,
  beliefs, and attitudes that serve to hold a
  nation and its people together.

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American Political Culture

• Government of, by, and for _____.
• Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of ______.
• All men are created ______.
• one nation, under God, indivisible,
• with ______ and ______ for all.
• Political culture refers to the shared values,
  beliefs, and attitudes that serve to hold a
  nation and its people together.

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Core values central to American identity

• 1. Liberty
• 2. Equality
• 3. Democracy

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Core Values

• 1. Liberty is the right of an individual to make
  choices.
  
• The right to control ones labor and the right to
  receive rewards.
  
• The right to worship as you desire.
• Liberty is choice and the freedom that goes with
  it.
  
• Slavery cast a shadow over liberty in America.

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Core Value 2

• Equality has caused many conflicts in our
  nation.
  
• Equality of access vs. Equality of opportunity.
• Can the government make everyone equal?
• Can the government insure equal opportunity?

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Core Value 3

• Democracy involves the participation of
  citizens.
  
• Political authority in the hands of the people.
• Popular sovereignty is self determination.
• Majority rule with the protection of the
  minority.
  
• The Bill of Right was added to protect the people
  from the government.