PSCI 1050 CareyOutline of Last Lecture I. Introduction to PSCI 1050Outline of Current Lecture I. Purpose of GovernmentII. Forms of GovernmentIII. Direct vs. Representative DemocracyIV. Constitutional vs. Non-Constitutional DemocracyV. Presidential vs. Parliamentary DemocracyVI. Principles of American DemocracyCurrent LectureI. Purpose of GovernmentA. Government prevents chaos for citizens on federal, state, and local levels1. Legitimacy: acceptance of authorityB. Public goods: non-exclusive good usually provided by government 1. The private sector has no incentive to provide public goodsC. Government protects from foreign aggression, provides services, regulates the economy, protects from illegal activity1. Libertarianism: belief that government should have a more limited role, often coincides with belief in capitalism and free marketsII. Forms of GovernmentA. Monarchy: birthright gives power to a single rulerB. Autocracy: one ruler with power due to party, education, etc. not birthright1. Examples: dictatorship, authoritarian regimesC. Aristocracy: power to a few based on birthrightD. Oligarchy: power to a few due to education, etc. not birthright1. Example: power held by whites in South Africa during Apartheid E. Democracy: power shared amongst citizens through free/open elections1. US is a constitutional republic based on democratic valuesIII. Direct vs. Representative DemocracyA. Direct: citizens themselves vote on policies1. Pros: representative of public opinion, increases citizen awareness2. Cons: not everybody shows up, people don’t have time to constantly vote, impracticalto require citizen awareness of policiesB. Representative: citizens elect politicians to vote on policies1. Pros: practical2. Cons: potential for corruption, less representative of publicC. Larger scale favors representative democracy; smaller favors direct democracyIV. Constitutional vs. Non-Constitutional DemocracyA. Constitutional democracy: defines government with one formal documentB. Non-Constitutional democracy: does not define government with one formal document V. Presidential vs. Parliamentary DemocracyA. Presidential system: head of government elected on a fixed termB. Parliamentary system: head of government selected by majority party in legislaturePSCI 1050 Carey1. When a majority party lacks in parliament, different groups join to make a majorityVI. Principles of American DemocracyA. Political Equality: one person one voteB. Plurality rule: rule by largest group, not necessarily an overall majorityC. Minority Rights: minority not trampled by majorityD. Equality before the
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