Chapter 1
America in the Twenty-first Century
In this manual, you’ll find learning objectives, a chapter overview, a chapter outline, Web links,
topics for class discussion, lecture launchers, in-class activities, and a list of key terms.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain what is meant by the terms politics and government.
Identify the various types of government systems.
Summarize some of the basic principles of American democracy and the basic
American political values.
Describe how the various topics discussed in this text relate to the “big picture” of
American politics and government.
OVERVIEW
Government is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal institutions. A number
of different systems of government exist in the world today. In the United States, we
have a democracy in which decisions about pressing issues ultimately are made by
the people’s representatives in government. It is not surprising that in any
democracy citizens are often at odds over many political and social issues. These
differences are resolved through the American political process and our government
institutions.
Politics can be defined as the process of resolving social conflict—disagreements
over how society should use its scarce resources, and who should receive various
benefits. Political scientist Harold Lasswell perhaps said it best when he defined
politics as the process of determining “who gets what, when, and how” in a society.
Government can be defined as the individuals and institutions that make society’s
rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules.
Government serves at least three essential purposes: (a) it resolves conflicts; (b) it
provides public services; and (c) it defends the nation and its culture against attacks
by other nations.
A government’s structure is influenced by a number of factors, such as history,
customs, values, geography, resources, and human experiences. One of the most
meaningful ways to classify systems of government is according to who governs. In
an autocracy, the power and authority of the government are in the hands of a single
person. Monarchies and dictatorships, including totalitarian dictatorships, are all
,forms of autocracy. In a constitutional monarchy, however, the monarch shares
governmental power with elected lawmakers.
Democracy is a system of government in which the people have ultimate political
authority. Government exists only by the consent of the people and reflects the will
of the majority. Direct democracy exists when the people participate directly in
government decision making. In a representative democracy, the will of the majority
is expressed through smaller groups of individuals elected by the people to act as
their representatives. A republic is essentially a representative democracy in which
there is no king or queen; the people are sovereign. Forms of representative
democracy include presidential democracy and parliamentary democracy.
An aristocracy is a government in which a small privileged class rules. Other forms
of government characterized by “rule by the few” include plutocracy (the wealthy
exercise ruling power) and meritocracy (rulers have earned the right to govern
because of their special skills or talents). Theocracy is a form of government in
which there is no separation of church and state; the government rules according to
religious precepts.
In writing the U.S. Constitution, the framers incorporated two basic principles of
government that had evolved in England: limited government and representative
government. Our democracy resulted from a type of social contract among early
Americans to create and abide by a set of governing rules. Social-contract theory
was developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by such philosophers as
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. According to this theory,
individuals voluntarily agree with one another, in a social contract, to give up some
of their freedoms to obtain the benefits of orderly government. Locke also argued
that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property. When the
American colonists rebelled against British rule, such concepts as “natural rights”
and a government based on a social contract became important theoretical tools in
justifying the rebellion. American democracy is based on five fundamental
principles: (a) equality in voting, (b) individual freedom, (c) equal protection of the
law, (d) majority rule and minority rights, and (e) voluntary consent to be governed.
From its beginnings as a nation, America has been defined less by the culture shared
by its diverse population than by a patterned set of ideas, values, and ways of
thinking about government and politics—its political culture. Fundamental values
shared by most Americans include the rights to liberty, equality, and property.
These values provide a basic framework for American political discourse and debate
because they are shared by most Americans, yet individual Americans often
interpret their meanings quite differently. Some Americans fear that rising numbers
of immigrants will threaten traditional American political values and culture.
Generally, assumptions as to what the government’s role should be in promoting
basic values, such as liberty and equality, are important determinants of political
ideology. When it comes to political ideology, Americans tend to fall into two broad
camps: liberals and conservatives. Liberals, or progressives, often identify with the
Democratic Party and conservatives tend to identify politically as Republicans.
People whose views fall in the middle of the traditional political spectrum are
generally called moderates. On both ends of the spectrum are those who espouse
, radical views. The radical left includes socialists and communists; the radical right
includes reactionaries and fascists.
Many Americans do not adhere firmly to a particular political ideology. They may
not be interested in political issues and may have a mixed set of opinions that do not
fit neatly under a liberal or conservative label. Many Americans, for example, are
conservative on economic issues and at the same time are liberal on social issues.
The ideology of libertarianism favors just this combination. Many other voters are
liberal on economic issues even as they favor conservative positions on social
matters.
Even the most divisive issues can be and are resolved through the political process.
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It sets forth basic governing
rules by which Americans agreed to abide. Some of the most significant political
controversies today have to do with how various provisions in this founding
document should be applied to modern-day events and issues. Generally, those who
acquire the power and authority to govern in our political system are the successful
candidates in elections. The electoral process is influenced by interest groups,
political parties, public opinion, voting behavior, campaign costs, and the media.
Those persons who have been selected for public office become part of one of the
institutions of government. They make laws and policies to decide “who gets what,
when, and how” in our society. Interest groups, public opinion, and the media not
only affect election outcomes but also influence the policymaking process.
LECTURE OUTLINE
I. What Are Politics and Government?
A. Government is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal institutions. No society
has existed without some form of government, and the need for authority and
organization will never disappear.
B. Most definitions of politics begin with the assumption that social conflict is
inevitable.
1. Resolving conflicts over how the society should use its scarce resources and who
should receive various benefits is the essence of politics.
2. Politics is the process of determining “who gets what, when, and how” in a
society. (Harold Lasswell)
A. Government can best be defined as the individuals and institutions that make
society’s rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules.
B. Generally in any country, government serves at least three essential purposes.
1. Resolving conflicts:
a. Governments have power—the ability to influence the behavior of others.
b. Governments typically also have authority, which they can exercise only if
their power is legitimate. Authority means power that is collectively
recognized and accepted by society as legally and morally correct.
, 2. Providing public services
a. Governments undertake projects that individuals usually would or could not
carry out on their own, such as building and maintaining roads and
providing law enforcement.
b. Some public services are provided equally to all citizens. Other services are
provided only to citizens who are in need at a particular time, even though
they are paid for by all citizens through taxes.
3. Defending the nation and its culture
a. Historically, matters of national security and defense have been given high
priority by governments.
b. In defending the nation against attacks by other nations, a government helps
to preserve a nation’s culture, as well as its integrity as an independent unit.
II. Different Systems of Government
A. Autocracy—the power and authority of government are in the hands of a single
person.
1. Monarchy—government by a king, queen, emperor; power is usually acquired
through inheritance.
a. Historically, many monarchies were absolute monarchies in which the ruler
held complete and unlimited power.
b. Until the eighteenth century, the theory of divine right, which held that God
gave those of royal birth the unlimited right to govern other men and
women, was widely accepted in Europe.
c. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies, in which the
monarch shares governmental power with elected lawmakers.
2. Dictatorship—a single leader rules, although not typically through inheritance.
a. Dictators often gain supreme authority by using force.
b. A dictatorship can be totalitarian—the leader seeks to control almost all
aspects of social and economic life.
B. Democracy—rule by the people. Government exists only by the consent of the
people and reflects the will of the majority.
1. Direct democracy—people participate directly in government decision making.
2. Representative democracy (a republic is a representative democracy with no
monarch)—the will of the majority is expressed through smaller groups of
individuals elected by the people to act as their representatives.
a. In a presidential democracy, lawmaking and law-enforcing branches of
government are separate but equal.
America in the Twenty-first Century
In this manual, you’ll find learning objectives, a chapter overview, a chapter outline, Web links,
topics for class discussion, lecture launchers, in-class activities, and a list of key terms.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain what is meant by the terms politics and government.
Identify the various types of government systems.
Summarize some of the basic principles of American democracy and the basic
American political values.
Describe how the various topics discussed in this text relate to the “big picture” of
American politics and government.
OVERVIEW
Government is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal institutions. A number
of different systems of government exist in the world today. In the United States, we
have a democracy in which decisions about pressing issues ultimately are made by
the people’s representatives in government. It is not surprising that in any
democracy citizens are often at odds over many political and social issues. These
differences are resolved through the American political process and our government
institutions.
Politics can be defined as the process of resolving social conflict—disagreements
over how society should use its scarce resources, and who should receive various
benefits. Political scientist Harold Lasswell perhaps said it best when he defined
politics as the process of determining “who gets what, when, and how” in a society.
Government can be defined as the individuals and institutions that make society’s
rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules.
Government serves at least three essential purposes: (a) it resolves conflicts; (b) it
provides public services; and (c) it defends the nation and its culture against attacks
by other nations.
A government’s structure is influenced by a number of factors, such as history,
customs, values, geography, resources, and human experiences. One of the most
meaningful ways to classify systems of government is according to who governs. In
an autocracy, the power and authority of the government are in the hands of a single
person. Monarchies and dictatorships, including totalitarian dictatorships, are all
,forms of autocracy. In a constitutional monarchy, however, the monarch shares
governmental power with elected lawmakers.
Democracy is a system of government in which the people have ultimate political
authority. Government exists only by the consent of the people and reflects the will
of the majority. Direct democracy exists when the people participate directly in
government decision making. In a representative democracy, the will of the majority
is expressed through smaller groups of individuals elected by the people to act as
their representatives. A republic is essentially a representative democracy in which
there is no king or queen; the people are sovereign. Forms of representative
democracy include presidential democracy and parliamentary democracy.
An aristocracy is a government in which a small privileged class rules. Other forms
of government characterized by “rule by the few” include plutocracy (the wealthy
exercise ruling power) and meritocracy (rulers have earned the right to govern
because of their special skills or talents). Theocracy is a form of government in
which there is no separation of church and state; the government rules according to
religious precepts.
In writing the U.S. Constitution, the framers incorporated two basic principles of
government that had evolved in England: limited government and representative
government. Our democracy resulted from a type of social contract among early
Americans to create and abide by a set of governing rules. Social-contract theory
was developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by such philosophers as
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. According to this theory,
individuals voluntarily agree with one another, in a social contract, to give up some
of their freedoms to obtain the benefits of orderly government. Locke also argued
that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property. When the
American colonists rebelled against British rule, such concepts as “natural rights”
and a government based on a social contract became important theoretical tools in
justifying the rebellion. American democracy is based on five fundamental
principles: (a) equality in voting, (b) individual freedom, (c) equal protection of the
law, (d) majority rule and minority rights, and (e) voluntary consent to be governed.
From its beginnings as a nation, America has been defined less by the culture shared
by its diverse population than by a patterned set of ideas, values, and ways of
thinking about government and politics—its political culture. Fundamental values
shared by most Americans include the rights to liberty, equality, and property.
These values provide a basic framework for American political discourse and debate
because they are shared by most Americans, yet individual Americans often
interpret their meanings quite differently. Some Americans fear that rising numbers
of immigrants will threaten traditional American political values and culture.
Generally, assumptions as to what the government’s role should be in promoting
basic values, such as liberty and equality, are important determinants of political
ideology. When it comes to political ideology, Americans tend to fall into two broad
camps: liberals and conservatives. Liberals, or progressives, often identify with the
Democratic Party and conservatives tend to identify politically as Republicans.
People whose views fall in the middle of the traditional political spectrum are
generally called moderates. On both ends of the spectrum are those who espouse
, radical views. The radical left includes socialists and communists; the radical right
includes reactionaries and fascists.
Many Americans do not adhere firmly to a particular political ideology. They may
not be interested in political issues and may have a mixed set of opinions that do not
fit neatly under a liberal or conservative label. Many Americans, for example, are
conservative on economic issues and at the same time are liberal on social issues.
The ideology of libertarianism favors just this combination. Many other voters are
liberal on economic issues even as they favor conservative positions on social
matters.
Even the most divisive issues can be and are resolved through the political process.
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It sets forth basic governing
rules by which Americans agreed to abide. Some of the most significant political
controversies today have to do with how various provisions in this founding
document should be applied to modern-day events and issues. Generally, those who
acquire the power and authority to govern in our political system are the successful
candidates in elections. The electoral process is influenced by interest groups,
political parties, public opinion, voting behavior, campaign costs, and the media.
Those persons who have been selected for public office become part of one of the
institutions of government. They make laws and policies to decide “who gets what,
when, and how” in our society. Interest groups, public opinion, and the media not
only affect election outcomes but also influence the policymaking process.
LECTURE OUTLINE
I. What Are Politics and Government?
A. Government is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal institutions. No society
has existed without some form of government, and the need for authority and
organization will never disappear.
B. Most definitions of politics begin with the assumption that social conflict is
inevitable.
1. Resolving conflicts over how the society should use its scarce resources and who
should receive various benefits is the essence of politics.
2. Politics is the process of determining “who gets what, when, and how” in a
society. (Harold Lasswell)
A. Government can best be defined as the individuals and institutions that make
society’s rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules.
B. Generally in any country, government serves at least three essential purposes.
1. Resolving conflicts:
a. Governments have power—the ability to influence the behavior of others.
b. Governments typically also have authority, which they can exercise only if
their power is legitimate. Authority means power that is collectively
recognized and accepted by society as legally and morally correct.
, 2. Providing public services
a. Governments undertake projects that individuals usually would or could not
carry out on their own, such as building and maintaining roads and
providing law enforcement.
b. Some public services are provided equally to all citizens. Other services are
provided only to citizens who are in need at a particular time, even though
they are paid for by all citizens through taxes.
3. Defending the nation and its culture
a. Historically, matters of national security and defense have been given high
priority by governments.
b. In defending the nation against attacks by other nations, a government helps
to preserve a nation’s culture, as well as its integrity as an independent unit.
II. Different Systems of Government
A. Autocracy—the power and authority of government are in the hands of a single
person.
1. Monarchy—government by a king, queen, emperor; power is usually acquired
through inheritance.
a. Historically, many monarchies were absolute monarchies in which the ruler
held complete and unlimited power.
b. Until the eighteenth century, the theory of divine right, which held that God
gave those of royal birth the unlimited right to govern other men and
women, was widely accepted in Europe.
c. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies, in which the
monarch shares governmental power with elected lawmakers.
2. Dictatorship—a single leader rules, although not typically through inheritance.
a. Dictators often gain supreme authority by using force.
b. A dictatorship can be totalitarian—the leader seeks to control almost all
aspects of social and economic life.
B. Democracy—rule by the people. Government exists only by the consent of the
people and reflects the will of the majority.
1. Direct democracy—people participate directly in government decision making.
2. Representative democracy (a republic is a representative democracy with no
monarch)—the will of the majority is expressed through smaller groups of
individuals elected by the people to act as their representatives.
a. In a presidential democracy, lawmaking and law-enforcing branches of
government are separate but equal.
