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LECTURE NOTES

 

Unit 1

Government and the People

Issue: What makes a nation a true democracy?

During the course of lecture and study, define the following and explain the significance of:

a.      Government - Composed of people and institutions (structures) ex. Congress, courts who make binding decisions for society. Necessary to prevent anarchy. Passes laws, rules, regulations

b.      Politics - Any activity attempting to influence government. Ex: voting, contributing money to a candidate for a cause you believe in, demonstrations, letter campaigns, joining an interest groups, personal visits.

c.      Political culture - the beliefs practices and traditions of a group of people. (G)

d.      Political socialization - the process of how have you acquired you political beliefs and attitudes (p.206)

e.        Elite - Those at the top of society that dominate and control it. Ex: wealth, media name affiliations with political powers, knowledge, and family connections.

f.      Democracy - Governments of limited power. And secondly democracies are governments guided by public opinion.

1.      Direct Democracy - you have a vote on every issue that comes up. – New England town meeting.

2.      Indirect Democracy - Representative Democracy. The voters elect representatives at all levels of government. They listen to our opinions and vote according to our concerns.

g.      Ideology - political beliefs our political philosophy.

Discuss the ten essentials for a representative democracy and five resulting problems.

Ten Essentials

1.      Freedom of speech - right to criticize government and express dissent and unpopular viewpoints.

2.      Free and open elections - a choice of two parties or sets of candidates must exist. – to give the voters a choice.

3.      Freedom of press - ex: newspapers, magazines, Internet. Necessary to have an educated and informed public. Must have no government influence, be independent. Allowed to criticize the government. – no government censorship.

4.      Freedom of assembly - The right to organize. Allows you to join the organizations of your choice. Protects opposition groups and unpopular groups.

5.      Freedom of thought - (Religion) Free to chose political, economic, and religious beliefs.

6.      Equality - all has equal rights. Also equal treatment. Equal opportunity.

7.      Decisions made by majority rule. Determines winning candidates, bills become laws.

8.      Minority Rights - example no segregation. No prayer in public schools. No loss of vote. The losers do not lose any fundamental rights.

9.      Limited Government - by constitution.

10.   Right to remove government Officials - by 3 processes: impeachment,    recall, and elections.

     Problems with Democracy

•                     Democracies are slow

  • Require a consensus

  •  Require compromise

  • Must follow procedural rules-must allow for a debate

  •  Voter Ignorance - through laziness

  •  Voter Apathy - people just don’t care.

  •  Conflict Between Majority rule and Minority Rights

  • Low voter turnout - allows a minority of voters to control what goes on in government

·        School Prayer

·        Segregation

  • Constitutional Procedures & Protections - Limit Governments Power to deal with problems

                  Examples

1.                              Pornography vs. Freedom Of Press

2.                              Fighting Crimes vs. 4th Amendment & 5th Amendment

3.                              Abortion vs. Right to Privacy

4.                              National Security vs. Freedom Of Press

5.                              Racist or Dissenting & College Speech Codes  vs. Free Speech      

 

Define and compare and contrast Liberals and Conservatives on the important issues of today.

     Republicans are generally conservative and Democrats are generally liberal.

CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL   COMPARISON

ISSUE

LIBERAL

CONSERVATIVE

DEFINITION

 

1.  favor activist govt.

2.  Pro-change–things can always be improved       

3.  top priority–increase equality & make it  available for more Americans

1.  favor passive govt.

2.  Anti-change–if it works, don’t fix it

3.  top priority–indiv. Liberty,  freedom, & order & stability

TAXATION

 

Progressive–fairer to pay according to ability to pay redistributes wealth by wealthy paying more, can cut tax rate on m. class & poor

regressive–fairer for all to pay same rate;

don’t penalize wealthy by taxing at higher rate doesn’t weaken work incentive

EXPENDITURES

 

Favor social programs to help poor, disadvantaged, elderly Govt. has responsibility to help underdog

More willing to engage in deficit spending

Favor defense, business incentives, and infra structural spending: roads, bridges, ports, etc.

Stress balanced budget

ECONOMIC REGULATION

Favor govt. regulation of business to prevent business abuses & protect worker & consumer

Favor fewer govt. regulations of the economy–too costly, cuts profits, red tape

LABOR UNIONS

 

Necessary to protect worker from business abuses–workplace now a safer place; right to strike, join a union, bargain collectively

Have become too powerful & may have outlived usefulness; lead to strikes & are inflationary corrupt; need to be regulated

LAW &ORDER

 

 

Rehabilitation; solve root social causes: poverty, racism, discrimination, unemployment; favor handgun control (too easy to conceal) & anti-death penalty-unfairly used

Favor strong law & order: tougher penalties; pro- death penalty; anti-gun control– only criminals will have guns

More police, prisons

ENVIRONMENT

 

 

Govt. regulations necessary because business won’t police itself; major polluters (industry) should pay cost of cleanup

We have over-regulated the environment; hurts business; leads to loss of jobs & makes Am. businesses less competitive

Everyone should pay for cleanup

CIVIL RIGHTS

 

A top govt. priority; pro ERA, pro-affirmative action; tougher laws & penalties needed

 

Not as important a problem; Anti-ERA & affirmative action; Affirm. Action = reverse discrimination

CIVIL LIBERTIES

school prayer

exclusionary rule

Miranda rights

Fewer restrictions

Anti-; separation of church/state

Pro–prevents illegal searches

Pro–protects uneducated

More restrictions if needed

Pro–right of maj. to practice

Anti–allows guilty to go free

Anti–your responsibility

MORAL  ISSUES

pornography

gay rights

abortion

Fewer restrictions–indiv. choice Adults-freedom of choice, privacy

Pro; Freedom of choice, privacy

Pro-choice; privacy rights

More restrictions–pub. morality

Not protected by const.

Anti–protect public morality

Pro-life; = murder

DEFENSE & FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Peace thru arms control & negotiations; econ. aid & social reforms best way to fight communism in third world

Peace thru strength;

don’t be too trusting of communists; mili. aid best way to fight communism in world

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

 

Activist government, esp. nat’l. if  government doesn’t step in to solve problems; it’s a tool to be used to improve society

more passive govt.; state or local govt. if any govt. makes problems worse govt. a danger to our liberties lack confidence in govt. & its ability to solve problems

 

    Radicals - favor massive revolutionary change even at the cost of violence

Reactionary - Is an extreme conservative. - change back to the past (example - segregation, kings, queens) Both are willing to use violence, any means necessary to achieve their goals

 

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