Ch. 15- Politics

1. Ch. 15- Politics • Power relations wherever they exist • Power- the ability to get your way even over the resistance of others • Authority- legitimate power • Coercion- illegitimate power • The gov’t holds a monopoly on legitimate force or violence

2. Revolution- armed resistance w/ the intent to overthrow a gov’t • Traditional authority • Rational-legal authority • Charismatic authority • Authority types can overlap

3. Transfer of authority • Traditional- know who is next in line • Rational-legal- people know how next will be selected • Charismatic- no rules of succession • Routinization of charisma- transition of authority from a charismatic leader to either a traditional of rational-legal authority

4. Types of government • Monarchies • Small societies in beginning… grew larger, cities evolved • City-states- independent city whose power radiates outward, bringing the adjacent area under its rule

5. Democracies • Each U.S. colony was small and independent • Colonies united • Democracy= power to the people • Representative democracy • Citizenship was a new idea

6. Dictatorships and oligarchies • Dictatorship- power is seized by an individual and he dictates his will onto the people • Oligarchy- power is held by a small group of individuals • Totalitarianism- almost total control of a people by the gov’t

7. U.S. political system • Political parties and elections • Democrats- assoc. w/ working class • Republicans- assoc. w/ wealthier class • Those elected may cross party lines when voting for legislation • Both support fundamentals of U.S. political philosophy

8. Democratic systems in Europe • U.S. elections= majority wins • Europe= proportional representation (seats in legislature divided according to the proportion of votes each political party receives) • Encourages minority parties • Noncentrist parties- represent marginal ideas • Coalition gov’t must form

9. Voting patterns • Voting increases w/ age • Non Hispanic whites most likely vote • Voting increases w/ educ. and income • The more people feel they have a stake in the political system, the more likely they are to vote • Voter apathy- indifference

10. Special interest groups- people who think alike on an issue and can be mobilized for political action • Lobbyists- paid to influence legislation on behalf of their clients • Political action committees (PACs)- solicit and spend funds for the purpose of influencing legislation • Money buys votes

11. Functionalist perspective • When functioning well the state is a balanced system that protects its citizens from one another and from the gov’t • Pluralism- diffusion of power among many interest groups • Checks and balances- separation of powers among 3 branches

12. Conflict perspective • Decisions made by power elite, ruling class • What matters is problems of businesses and wealthy business owners

13. War • Armed conflict between nations or politically distinct groups • War is not universal • War is common • Why war? Social causes? • War is expensive • U.S. top seller of weapons • Dehumanization and war= people as objects