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Chapter One: The Democratic Republic

Learning Objectives 2

 Understand why governments exist.  Be familiar with and use appropriately the

terms: politics, government, and institutions.  Understand the concepts of order (or security) and liberty.  Understand the concepts of authority and legitimacy.

Learning Objectives 3

 Briefly describe several forms of government

(totalitarianism, authoritarian regime, aristocracy, democracy).  Understand the difference between direct democracy on the one hand and a democratic republic (a representative democracy) on the other.  Explain why the United States is a democratic republic.

Learning Objectives 4

 Explain the key features of democracies

(universal suffrage, consent of the governed, majority rule, limited government).  Describe competing theories of how the U. S. democracy works (majoritarianism, elite theories, and pluralism).  Describe the trade-off between order and liberty, and between equality and liberty (in the form of property).

Learning Objectives 5

 Define the concept of ideology and explain the

dominant ideologies in the United States (liberalism and conservatism).  Distinguish between economic liberalism and conservatism and cultural liberalism and conservatism. Provide some distinguishing characteristics of selected totalitarian ideologies, specifically communism, fascism, and radical Islamism.

Learning Objectives 6

 Understand current demographic trends in the

United States and assess the possible impacts of these changes on the political system.  Identify and explain the significance of the cultural values and ideologies that support the American political system.  Evaluate the challenges to the U.S. system posed by globalization and environmental change.

Politics and Government 7

 What is Politics?  Process of resolving conflicts  Struggle over power or influence within an organization or informal groups

Politics and Government 8

 What Is Government?  Institution

that resolves conflicts

 Institution

that allocates benefits and privileges

Why Is Government Necessary? 9

 Security  Liberty  Authority  Legitimacy

Why Choose Democracy? 10

 Types of Regimes  Totalitarian  Authoritarian  Oligarchy  Democracy  Anarchy

Why Choose Democracy? 11

 Direct Democracy as a Model  Political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representatives.  Attained most easily in small political communities

Why Choose Democracy? 12

 Direct Democracy Today  Initiative  Referendum  Recall  Teledemocracy

Why Choose Democracy? 13

 Dangers of Direct Democracy 

Although the founders believed in government based on the consent of the people, they were concerned about mob rule.



Devised institutions to filter the popular will through elected elites.

Why Choose Democracy? 14

 Republic: sovereignty rests with the people.  Democratic republic: power rests with the

people, but policy decisions are made by elected officials.

Why Choose Democracy? 15

 Principles of Democratic Government 

Universal suffrage



Majority rule



Free and competitive elections



Limited government based on a constitution

Who Really Rules in America? 16

 Theories About “Who Really Rules in

America?” 

Majoritarian Theory: government ought to do what the majority wants.



Elite Theory: small cohesive group makes nearly all political decisions.



Pluralist Theory: various groups compete for power.

Fundamental Values 17

• What Is Political Culture? • Political culture is a set of ideas, values, and

ways of thinking about government and politics that are shared by all citizens.

Fundamental Values 18

 What Is Political Socialization?

Political socialization is the process by which beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and children.

Fundamental Values 19

 Fundamental Political Values

Individual freedom  Security  Equality  Order  Security  Property 

Fundamental Values 20

Political Ideologies 21

 What Is Political Ideology?

A political ideology is a set of beliefs about politics that provides a well-organized theory about the goals for a society.

Political Ideologies 22

Political Ideologies 23

Political Ideologies 24

 Liberalism: set of beliefs that maintains that

government should improve people’s lives, support civil rights, and tolerate social change.  Conservatism: set of beliefs that maintains that

government should have a limited role in helping people, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.

The Challenge of Change 25

Demographic Changes:  Aging population  Low birthrate  Ethnic changes: growth of Hispanic population

The Challenge of Change 26

The Challenge of Change 27

The Challenge of Change 28

Globalization:  Impacts employment  Impacts flow of goods and people  Diminishes power of government

The Challenge of Change 29

Environmental Changes:  Global warming  Pandemics  Pollution

Web Links 30

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

information about the rules and requirements for immigration and citizenship: www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm  U.S. Government

access to federal government offices and agencies: www.usa.gov

What If…Citizens Were Required to Vote? 31

 In the 2008 election, only 30% of the voting age

population elected Barack Obama.  Groups that are less likely to vote include

younger voters, less-educated citizens, and those who are economically disadvantaged.  Mandatory voting could lead to policies that

help all citizens.

What If…Citizens Were Required to Vote?? 32

Unintended consequences of mandatory voting:

 Increase in uninformed voters  Voting would not be considered voluntary