POLS 2311 1st Edition Lecture 2Outline of Last Lecture I. Learning to Think PoliticallyOutline of Current Lecture II. Politics and Power in AmericaCurrent LecturePolitics and Power in America- “Politics is the struggle that determines who gets what, when, and how.” – Harold Lasswell.- The French philosopher Michel Foucalt called politics “war by other means.”- Politics: the means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs.- Power: the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.- Authoritarian and totalitarian governments: nondemocratic, repressive regime types.A Democratic System- System in which the people govern, by direct or representative means.- In practice, majority rule through the free and open election of representatives.- Majoritarianism: the majority effectively determines what government does.- Elitism: a small number of influential groups/people control public policy.- Authority: the recognized right of officials to exercise power.A Constitutional System- Constitutionalism: the idea that there are lawful restrictions on government’s power.- Restraints on majority power.- The Constitution: elaborate checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights.- Judicial action: use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests.o Channel through which ordinary citizens can exercise power.A Free Market System- Operates mainly on private transactions.- Some government intervention through regulatory, taxing, and spending policies.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Tax rate much lower in U.S. than European countries.- Corporate power: influence firms have over policy makers.- Elitism: power exercised by the influential
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