Chapter 2 – Gov AP Notes

·         Columbine Shooting: debate of gun control policies b/w gov’t and NRA; even though not much Nat’l action, state of Colorado went on to pass one for the state

 

·         Democratic theory: originated in Greek political thought back in the day

o   Autocracy: one individual has exclusive power to govern (Saddam Hussein)

o   Oligarchy: elite group has the power

o   Democracy: theoretically, people rule (directly or indirectly)

§  Originated 500 BC in Greece (dema – people; kratos – power); still, Greeks feared rule by ppl, leading to demagogue: a person/leader appealing/deceiving ppl by tapping at emotions and prejudices in order to obtain power

§  Two schools of thought in regards to democracy:

·         A. a form of gov’t; emphasizes procedures that enable the people to govern (discussing, voting, running for office)

·         B. democracy seen in stubstance of gov’t policies, in freedom of religion and provision for human needs

·         Procedure: how decisions made; Substantive: what gov’t actually does

Random Photo: Columbine… even though US Gov’t does nothing, CO and OR approve gun control law.

Random Photo #2: Hallmark of Democracy – Voting; Ghana (long lines), Czech (door to door ballots)

·         Procedural democratic theory: view of democracy as being embodied in a decision=making process, involving universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness

o   Main 3 ideas behind this:

§  Who should participate? 

·         All adults should be allowed to vote, some people should be barred only practical or political reason (nutjob radicals, immigrants)

·         A.K.A. Universal Participation: everyone in a democracy should participate in governmental decision making

§  How much should each vote count?

·         Political equality: all votes counted equally; one per person

§  How many votes needed to reach a consensus?

·         Majority Vote: 50% + 1

 

·          Small groups of ppl can meet principles with direct democracy (participatory democracy): all members of the group meet to decide, rather than have elected representatives

o   New England back in 1600s: town meeting did the same thing; neighborhood council in some areas as well.

o   Rousseau: true democracy is impossible unless all citizens gather to make decisions and supervise gov’t; decisions by gov’t should embody general will, which can’t be represented; but in US, this system is rare due to impracticality along with low support

o   Representative gov’t: citizens elect ppl to represent interests and ppl; how US is run

o   Responsiveness: decision-making principle, necessitated by representative gov’t, implying that elected representatives should do what most ppl want

o   THEREFORE, 4 MAIN PRINCIPLES:

§  Universal participation, Political Equality, Majority Rule, Gov’t Responsiveness

·         Substantive View of Democracy

o   Procedural theory – principle of responsiveness is absolute; gov’t should meet demands of majority (though it seems all wonderful and stuff, it’s considerably impractical, which is why it is important to look to and consider substantive democratic theory: democracy is embodied in the substance of gov’t policy rather than its procedure

§  Ex. Rejecting compulsory Bible Study in public HS (freedom of religion issues)

§  Most theorists agree on the following: gov’t policy should guarantee civil liberties and civil rights

·         Agreement dies when civil rights moves to social/economic rights; ppl don’t think gov’t needs to promote social equality to be called a democracy

·         Conservatives: narrow scope and narrow view of socioeconomic rights

·         Liberals believe in the opposite… I think we all know this pretty well

 

·         Problem with Substantive: not a clear/precise way to do things and is open to criticism of truly “democratic” policies

·         Problem with Procedural: seems to step on the minorities’ toes way too often, clashing with minority rights: all citizens are entitled to certain things regardless of lack of majority

o   Ways to counter it: 2/3 majority needed in Congress; Constitution

o   Issue of prayer required in school: can’t be passed cuz Constitution forbids it

·         Thus, both Procedural and Substantive are needed to ensure good gov’t

 

·         Some theorists argue in favor of principles of majority rule and responsiveness; others argue for institutions allowing groups of citizens to defend interests in policy-making process

 

·         Majoritarian Model of Democracy: gov’t by people is interpreted as gov’t by majority of ppl; tries approximating ppl’s role in direct democracy w/i limitations of represent. gov’t and it all depends on various mechanisms allowing ppl to participate directly:

o   Popular election of gov’t officials (choosing wisely for optimal conduct)

§  Elections are also used to determine and settle gov’t policies

§  Election on a policy – referendum

§  Policy question gaining signatures – initiative

§  Kicking out some official – recall

o   Statewide Initiative and Referenda important, but not really at the state level

§  No provisions for referenda in US govt. , but sometimes in other places (Ireland)

§  However, most Americans favor such a system; some ppl support public opinion polls (used in 1930s); also, computerized voting for referenda

§  PPL defending majoritarian democracy say though Americans may be in the dark on certain issues, entire public still has strong opinions on major policy queries

 

·         Alternative Method: Pluralist Democracy ; many groups expressing votes and interests of ppl; interest group (lobbyist): organized group seeking to influence public policy

o   Pluralist model of democracy: gov’t by ppl is taken to mean gov’t by ppl operating through competing interest groups

o   Two major mechanisms:

§  Interest Groups + Decentralized Gov’t Structure giving access to gov’t policies

o   Some watchwords of pluralist democracy: divided authority, decentralization, and open access

o   In spite of all that there is to support these pluralistic groups, membership is declining

·         Majoritarian: ppl control most of gov’t and are usually quite aware; Pluralist: ppl don’t need to be necessarily qualified, gov’t run by a bunch of special interest groups and more emphasis is somewhat made with equality

 

·         Elite Theory: a small group of ppl actually make most of the important gov’t decisions; usually a group of rich white business men (case in point: Dick Cheney + Halliburton)

o   US isn’t a democracy, but an oligarchy (according to some ppl) because only a few powerful ppl in society are usually the ones running the country (how undemocratic)

§  Most advisors are fairly wealthy and from notable places

§  Elitists often doubt the validity of surveys conducted, data collected, and conclusions announced because they feel that all this isn’t an adequate test

 

·         Elitist vs. Pluralist

o   Elitist: more about general good of $$ and business rather than ppl’s interests

o   Pluralist: run by many small interest groups for people and their needs and wants

o   Both can be viewed as not fair cuz not exactly looking out for EVERYONE’S points of view

 

·         Democracy and Globalization:

o   As the growth of globalization occurs, the debate of boundaries of democracies comes into play, as some countries see democracy as a threat to the way they rule things (cuz they are power hungry SOBs and don’t like to see change even if it’ll remotely help their ppl)

o   Not many countries are true democracies… some still have certain gray areas and whatnot; democratization (when a country goes from authoritarian to democratic) is occurring all over the world, significantly in some parts of Middle East and Africa

o   War on ppl opposing this (BIN LADEN J); goal is to have a well-working gov’t though it rarely is perfectly met by people because of blatant ignorance to what really is going in life around them… the fricking numbskulls J J J J J J J J J J