Course Political Science I. Unit I Political Theory

Course Political Science I Unit I Political Theory Essential Question What theories explain the role of politics in society, and how have they changed over time? TEKS 130.183(c) (1)(A) Prior Student Learning ne Estimated Time 7 to 10 Hours Introduction to Political Science Rationale This lesson introduces students to the foundations of the American political system through the study of classic and contemporary political theories. An awareness of these theories is important to anyone pursuing a career in the political field. Objectives The student will be able to: 1. Explore the concepts of classic political theory in American democracy and political culture. 2. Examine the three contemporary political theories of American democracy. 3. Understand the challenges that the political theories pose on a democratic society. 4. Explain the change in political theory in American democracy. 5. Explore the role that technology will play in evolving political theories in American society. Engage Do an Internet search for a video clip of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Speech. Have students watch the clip and then write an opinion article about his speech and whether or not it could apply in Washington today. After the students complete their opinion pieces, lead a discussion in which the students can share their thoughts and ideas of modern day Washington. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment. Key Points I. What are the major concepts of classical political theory in American democracy and political culture? A. Politics exist because people have differing opinions on two core issues: 1. Who should govern based on the effect they will have on the American public 2. How big of a role government should play in our society s everyday life B. Politics the process by which we select our government s leaders and what policies they pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues (Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry, 2011) C. The Framers of the Constitution devised a government system based on several underlying concepts and characteristics that sometimes conflict with one another 1. Liberty and Equality a) These characteristics are the most important characteristics of a democratic form of government 1

b) Personal liberty allows citizens to engage in a variety of practices without government interference or discrimination (1) These liberties are outlined in the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights c) Political debates occur regarding how much the government should do to guarantee these rights and liberties d) Personal equality is the principle that all citizens are the same in the eyes of the law. The concept of personal equality has changed over time: (1) 1800 s slavery (2) 1900 s separate but equal (3) 2000 s rights of same sex couples 2. Popular Consent a) The principle that government must draw its powers from the consent of the governed b) The central notion in the Declaration of Independence c) Works only if the citizens allow the government to function 3. Majority Rule a) A core political value which means officials are only elected and policies are made into law if a majority of citizens (50% of total votes cast plus 1) allow them b) Defined as the central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law c) Protects the rights of minorities so that the Bill of Rights is applicable to all citizens of the US 4. Popular Sovereignty a) The concept that claims the ultimate authority rests with society (i.e. society can create, abolish, or alter government) b) Exhibited in the U.S. through the act of voting 5. Natural Law a) The doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are a part of nature 6. Individualism a) A principle that was first highly valued by the Puritans who escaped religious persecution in England b) Emphasized in the US through the protection of the rights of individuals c) t emphasized in other democracies, such as Canada, which is a more group-focused society 7. Religious freedom 2

a) Originated from religious conflict in Europe that brought many settlers to the New World b) Is guaranteed by the Constitution c) Is different from religious tolerance which (1) Has not always been present in the US, such as in the relationships between (a) The Puritans and Catholics during the early settlement (b) Christianity and Islam recently (2) Often a controversial topic in U.S. society d) Something that most Americans need because most Americans profess to having strong religious beliefs (O Conner, Sabato, Yanus, 2011) D. Together these characteristics comprise American political culture 1. Political culture commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how a government should operate 2. Although these values are widely shared among Americans, there has been a sharp polarization of political culture in the US in recent years 3. Political scientists argue three ways in which Americans are losing their political culture: a) The loss over time of traditional values such as religion and family life b) An unfavorable comparison with citizens of other countries in terms of key values like patriotism c) The division of society into opposed groups with irreconcilable moral differences 4. However, political scientists have found that little evidence supports the fact that the overall American values are changing in society; society is just becoming more centrist (Edwards, Lineberry, Wattenberg, 2011) E. Traditional democratic theory relies on a number of key principles that specify how governmental decisions are made in a democracy 1. Equality in voting a) One person, one vote b) Voting must be representative 2. Effective participation a) Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their preferences in government 3. Enlightened understanding a) Citizens must be able to express their ideas b) Free speech and free press are essential to civic engagement c) If one group controls the information, citizens cannot truly understand the issues 4. Citizens control the agenda 3

a) Citizens should have a collective right to control the government s policy agenda b) The agenda can often be distorted by groups with extreme wealth and power 5. Inclusion a) The government must include and extend rights to everyone subject to its laws b) Citizenship must be open to all with people within a democratic nation F. Only if a political system satisfies all of these criteria can it be considered a democratic political system II. What are the three contemporary political theories of American democracy? A. These three theories answer the essential question of who has the power and influence in American society B. The Pluralist Theory: Government by Groups 1. The policymaking process is open to the participation of all groups with shared interests a) Contemporary examples of such interest groups include: the National Rifle Association (NRA), National Organization for Women (NOW), and United Auto Workers (UAW) 2. single group dominates 3. Pluralists tend to believe that public interests will prevail 4. Interest groups provide structure for political parties and help ensure that individuals are following the rules when participating in society a) Use positive channels for government action rather than extreme tactics like assassination 5. Organized groups and public officials can compete with one another for control over policy a) Grassroots activism can offset other resources like money b) Examples: The American Petroleum Institute which contributes large amounts of money compared to Green Peace which has a large membership base 6. In recent years the number of interest groups has risen significantly, which is a positive occurrence according to pluralist theory C. The Elite Theory: Government by a Few 1. The upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization a) The upper-class consists of assets like property, stocks, and bonds b) Other powerful institutions control government power, 4

such as universities, the military, and media outlets 2. There are at least four ways of describing political elites: a) They reflect a dominant social class b) They are a group of business, military, labor union, and elected officials that control all decisions c) They are appointed bureaucrats that run everything d) They are representatives of large interest groups that are in charge 3. Elite theorists believe a) One percent of the American population controls most of the policy decisions because they can afford to finance election campaigns b) These elites do not just control policy; they are the policymakers c) Elite status can be obtained by anyone living in a democracy, unlike an Aristocracy (1) All societies in the world are divided into classes and unequal distribution in society is normal d) America is not governed by the majority 4. A prime example of the Elite Theory is the government bailout of 2008 when a few members in the Federal government decided to provided billions of dollars to corporate executives to save certain financial institutions D. The Bureaucratic Theory: Government by Administrators 1. Power resides in the hands of government bureaucrats 2. First argued by sociologist Max Weber a) He argued that all large organizations tend toward the bureaucratic form with all decision-making power devolving to career administrations whose experiences exceed that of elected officials 3. All institutions fall under the control of a large, growing bureaucracy which carries out policy using standardized procedures a) Bureaucratic agencies include (1) The Department of the Treasury (2) The Federal Reserve Board (3) The Department of Homeland Security (4) And many more b) These agencies can affect issues like interest rates, mortgage rates, and travel procedures 4. Bureaucrats a) Can become dominant because of their tenure in office and expertise in a field b) Largely permanent in their positions, unlike elected officials whose positions are determined by elections c) Like the elites, favor policies that support their own 5

agencies, as opposed to those that favor the majority 5. Bureaucratic Theory can be effective because for the most part bureaucrats are invisible to the American public III. What are the challenges that political theories face in a democracy? A. Increased complexity of issues in American society 1. Traditional democratic theory argues that ordinary citizens can reach political judgment on their own 2. However, in today s society, issues have become so complex that they exceed the general knowledge of the public a) Examples (1) Taxes (who should be taxed? why?) (2) Diplomatic relations with foreign countries (is there a war on terrorism, or a war against countries that harbor terrorists?) (3) The federal budget 3. Democratic societies do not demand that citizens know everything 4. For this reason, the founding fathers believed that the real power of the government should lie with the educated, male property owners, or representatives 5. Although people in society have greatly increased their knowledge of politics in American society, informed decisionmaking still lies with the representatives B. Limited Participation in Government 1. Americans do not take full advantage of the power that they can have over government 2. There is a trend of low voter turnout in several different demographic areas a) Young people (18 24) b) Hispanic community c) African American community (1) Although there was a significant increase in the African American voter turnout in 2008 (Harrison, Harris, 2011) 3. Since the 1960 s America has seen a decline of trust in the government 4. Many Americans believe that big government is not the solution to social problems because it is wasteful and impractical 5. Political cynicism dropped briefly following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and showed Americans that the nation will support the government in a time of crisis C. Diverse Political Interests 1. The diversity of the American public is reflected in the diverse 6

political interests in America a) American society is often referred to as a melting pot society 2. When persons and/or groups interests conflict with one another, it is often hard to establish policy 3. Policy gridlock is often the result of conflicting opinions a) Policy gridlock a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy; nothing gets accomplished 4. A major challenge to democracy in America is to overcome the stalemate created by diverse interests and deliver policies that are responsive to all citizens needs IV. How has political theory changed in American society? A. The role of economic interests, powerful elites, bureaucrats, interest groups and individuals roles in shaping of government and policy 1. The true changes in government and policy have come from a) The increased size of the federal government b) The increased scope of the government s involvement in the lives of Americans c) Continual creation of government institutions (1) The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration were both created within the past 10 years d) The direction of policies is reflected in the complex changes in society and the role that government plays in society B. The role of government in citizens lives has changed dramatically since its creation in the late 1700 s 1. Until the 1920 s the government played a small role in the lives of the American citizens 2. The role of government began to change in the 1930 s when the federal government created several programs to help citizens during the Great Depression a) The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed millions of people during the Great Depression b) Citizens were hired to carry out public works projects, which included building roads and public buildings 3. Until the late 1970 s the federal government felt that it was responsible for solving any economic or social problem that existed in the United States 4. In the 1980 s the federal government had the reverse assumption under President Ronald Reagan. The Reagan administration a) Cut taxes that were levied by the federal government b) Cut the federal budget 7

c) Cut the number of regulations that were imposed on businesses 5. There is no simple theory of politics, the theory of big government in the 1930 s and the theory of smaller government in the 1980 s both pulled America out of economic hardships C. The role of foreign affairs 1. America has taken an interest in foreign affairs during certain periods in American history 2. The U.S. first had an interest in foreign affairs when it sought to expand the nation into lands that were already claimed by Canada and Mexico a) The Republic of Texas (1) Had land that extended from Texas all the way into modern day Colorado (2) Joined the nation in 1836 after the defeat of Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto b) Louisiana Purchase the US acquired more land c) Manifest Destiny the theory of land expansion and promoting democracy 3. In the late 1890 s America began to expand its territory into the Caribbean and the Pacific in order to rival the power of the British Empire 4. Since the end of World War II in the 1940 s, the US has assumed the role of world police a) Some political theorists believe that playing this role leaves the U.S. vulnerable to attacks and that more focus should be spent on domestic issues b) Others believe that it is the duty of the American government to protect our nation and its allies 5. Foreign affairs have changed dramatically over time; what began as fears of foreign expansion, turned into fears of communism and most recently threats of nuclear terrorist attacks D. The nature of politics 1. The way in which the federal government handles issues like social welfare differs from other democratic nations around the world 2. Americans must remember our federal government has not always operated in the way that it does today; changes can and will occur in the political process 3. Political change is not always explained by new laws and policies; it is often determined by who is governing V. How has technology affected political theories in American society? A. Technology has revolutionized the political process 8

1. The Internet allows citizens to get their information through web-based news sites a) Most Internet news sources, however, report biased information which can often mislead voters (i.e. blogs) 2. Social networking sites have also revolutionized the way that voters can connect with their representatives and organizers a) Some candidates have used them as tools for grassroots organizations b) Some are favorable during campaigns because they are inexpensive and most of the time free c) Video sharing websites are often used by politicians to broadcast speeches, press conferences, and political advertisements 3. Over the past 10 years the term e-campaigning was established to identify the mobilization of voters using the Internet 4. The Internet had an effect on politics similar to the effect that the radio had when President FDR began his series of Fireside Chats 5. Since the creation of the Internet in the early 2000 s, youth involvement in the political process has increased dramatically B. The negative political impact of the Internet 1. The explosion of the Internet in politics has also created a problem for the political process, misinformation a) Unlike newspapers, magazines, and television networks, the Internet is not responsible for accuracy and factchecking 2. The Internet is almost entirely unmonitored 3. Bloggers and message boards seek to destroy the reputation of opposing candidates a) This kind of information can be devastating to a politician s campaign b) Lies and slanderous accusations can often come with no consequences on the Internet 4. Although computers have revolutionized the political process, computers are still subject to hackers a) Computerized elections leave voters susceptible to the theft of personal information b) Hackers could potentially falsify election results Activities 1. Who Represents Me? Have students research whom their representatives are on the local, state, and national levels. After they identify who represents them, have the students write a small biography about each candidate including their party affiliation, the numbers of terms held in that position and their major platforms. Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment. 9

2. Start a Petition. Do an Internet search for move on democracy in action. Find a website that allows viewers to start a free petition. Divide the students into groups. Have each group create a petition for school or community improvement. After creating the petition, have the students use outlets (learned about in this lesson) to spread the word about their petition s needing signatures. Use the Individual Work Rubric and the Group Evaluation Rubric for assessment. 3. Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! Have students create a collage using images that depict the value of liberty in the U.S. Have students prepare and provide an explanation of why the pictures represent liberty. Use newspapers and/or magazines as resources for images. te: you may also want to use a free Internet site to create virtual boards online. Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment. Assessments Introduction to Political Science Quiz and Key Discussion Rubric Individual Work Rubric Group Evaluation Rubric Research Rubric Materials Introduction to Political Science computer-based presentation Introduction to Political Science Key Terms Computers with Internet access Newspapers and/or magazines Resources Bose, Meena, John Dilulio, and James Wilson. American Government: Institutions and Policies. 13th. Boston: Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2013. Ch. 4. Print. Edwards, George, Robert Lineberry, and Martin Wattenberg. Government in American: People, Politics and Policy. 15th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 11. Print. Harrison, Brigid, and Jean Harris. American Democracy w. 2nd. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 9. Print. O'Conner, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra Yanus. American Government: Roots and Reform. 11th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2011. Ch. 1. Print. Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9th. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2009. Ch 1. Print. Accommodations for Learning Differences For reinforcement, students will create a chart titled Classic American 10

Theories. In one column, the students will provide a definition of each theory and in the other they will provide a real life example of that theory being applied in a citizen s life. These theories include Liberty Equality Popular Consent Majority Rule Popular Sovereignty Natural Law Individualism Religious Freedoms Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment. For enrichment, students will write a 3 5 page research paper on an emerging theory known as the Hyper-Pluralist Theory in contemporary politics. The paper should include key points of the Hyper-Pluralist Theory and provide examples of the groups who would dominate in a Hyper- Pluralist type of society. Students should also provide a comparison of the Hyper-Pluralist Theory to both the Pluralist and Elite Theories. Use the Research Rubric for assessment. State Education Standards Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education 130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits). (1) The student analyzes classic and contemporary political theories. The student is expected to: (A) discuss why theories are important to the study of political science; College and Career Readiness Standards Social Studies Standards I. Interrelated Disciplines and Skills C. Change and continuity of political ideologies, constitutions, and political behavior 1. Evaluate different governmental systems and functions. 2. Evaluate changes in the functions and structures of government across time. 3. Explain and analyze the importance of civic engagement. 11

Introduction to Political Science Key Terms Politics the process by which we select our government leaders and what policies they pursue (Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry, 2011) Popular Consent the principle that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed Majority Rule the central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law Individualism the idea that people should take the initiative, be self-sufficient, and accumulate the material advantages necessary for their own well-being Political Culture the people s collective beliefs and attitudes about governments and the political process The Pluralist Theory a theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups, each pressing for its preferred polices, compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace The Elite Theory a theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class elite will hold most of the power and in effect run the government The Bureaucratic Theory a theory of government and politics in which large-scale organizations develop into the bureaucratic form, with the effect that administrators make key policy decisions Policy Gridlock a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to for a majority to establish policy, so nothing gets accomplished E-Campaigning the practice of mobilizing voters using the Internet 12

Name Date Introduction to Political Science Quiz 1. The idea that a group of wealthy, educated individuals wields most of the political power is called which of the following? A. Pluralist Theory B. Elite Theory C. Rational Choice Theory D. Democratic Theory 2. Which of the following statements is the best indication of pluralism in American politics? A. The American Association of Retired Persons has the largest membership of any interest groups B. Third parties often endorse candidates for office, but rarely win elections C. Citizens are able to vote in local, state and national elections D. Numerous interest groups lobby congress each year 3. According to traditional democratic theory all of the following are characteristics of an ideal democracy except A. Freedom of speech B. The Bill of Rights C. Equality of voting D. Consent of the governed 4. Which of the following concepts is fundamental to democracies? A. Economic equality B. Tyranny of the majority C. Majority rule with minority rights D. Seniority 5. According to the pluralists, a wealthy interest group would do which of the following? A. Have more access to policymakers B. Compete with other interest groups for an equal share C. Manipulate public opinion to support legislation D. Have no influence on policy agenda 13

6. Political culture refers to which of the following? A. The ideological breakdown of a population on the political spectrum B. Commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate C. The set of assumptions about how the world works and the individual s underlying human nature D. The set of policies that an individual supports that are rooted in the person s underlying belief about human nature and how the world works 7. Proponents of the pluralist theory argue that power is nearly evenly distributed among interest groups because A. The public participates equally in different types of interest groups B. All interest groups receive the same amount of federal funds C. Competition prevents any one group from becoming more influential D. Interest groups get the same attention from politicians 8. Which political theory believes that all of the power is held by a small group of wealthy individuals? A. The Elite Theory B. The Pluralist Theory C. The Bureaucratic Theory D. The Hyper-pluralist Theory 9. A condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy is condition is known as which of the following? A. Policy Diversity B. Policy Gridlock C. Policy Shaping D. Policy Setting 10. Politics can be best described as A. The most important characteristics of a democratic form of government B. The commonly shared set of beliefs and values about how government should operate C. A theory that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are apart of nature D. The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies they pursue 11. Which of the following is not a part of traditional democratic theory? A. Citizens control of the media B. Equality in voting C. Effective participation D. Enlightened understanding 14

12. Bureaucratic Theory was first argued by which of the following? A. Karl Marx B. Thomas Jefferson C. Max Weber D. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 13. Low political participation in society is often due to all of the following factors except which? A. Increased complexity of issues in American politics B. Limited access to politicians C. Mistrust in government D. Diverse political interests 14. E-Campaigning has revolutionized the political process through which of the following? A. Mobilizing voters using the Internet B. Spreading biased information about political opponents C. Broadcasting speeches and press conferences of political candidates D. Providing a way for voters to read news information 15. The theory of expanding territory and promoting democracy is referred to as which of the following? A. Elite Theory B. Manifest Destiny C. Melting Pot Theory D. Bush Doctrine 16. Under President Ronald Reagan the federal government assumed the theory of smaller federal government by doing which of the following? A. Cutting the number of immigrants that were to be granted citizenship B. Cutting taxes that were levied by the federal government C. Cutting the federal budget D. Cutting the number of regulations that were imposed on businesses 17. The personal liberties of American citizens are outlined in which of the following documents? A. The Declaration of Independence B. The United States Constitution C. The Bill of Rights D. The Federalist Papers 15

18. Political change can often be explained by all of the following factors except which of the following? A. New laws B. New policies C. Who is governing D. Attention in the media 19. How has the role of the federal government changed dramatically since the 1700 s? A. The role of the federal government has changed very little since the 1700 s B. The role of the federal government began to change in the 1930 s when the government created several social welfare programs for citizens during the Great Depression C. In the 1980 s President Reagan felt that the role of the federal government should be that the government is responsible for solving economic and social problems in the United States D. The role of the federal government was reduced significantly following the Civil War, and more responsibility was given to the state s governments 20. Because the Constitution prohibits an official religion, the U.S. has seen more A. Religious diversity B. Decline in membership in religious institutions C. Increase in contentious religious differences D. Decrease in the power of culture to shape the individual 16

Introduction to Political Science Quiz Key 1. B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. A 6. B 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. D 11. A 12. C 13. B 14. A 15. B 16. A 17. C 18. D 19. B 20. C 17

Name Date Group 1 Group Evaluation Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score Group 2 Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score 18

Group 3 Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score Group 4 Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score 19

Group 5 Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score Group 6 Did the group take the assignment seriously? Could you tell what the group was trying to portray? Was the group portrayal creative? Did the group include the correct elements? Would you like to see this group demonstrate their talent for you in the future? Total Score 20

Name Date Objectives 4 pts. Excellent Discussion Rubric 3 pts. 2 pts. Needs Some Good Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Participates in group discussion Encourages others to join the conversation Keeps the discussion progressing to achieve goals Shares thoughts actively while offering helpful recommendations to others Gives credit to others for their ideas Respects the opinions of others Involves others by asking questions or requesting input Expresses thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively Total Points (32 pts.) Comments: 21

Name Date Objectives Follows directions Student completed the work as directed, following the directions given, in order and to the level of quality indicated Individual Work Rubric 4 pts. Excellent 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Time management Student used time wisely and remained on task 100% of the time Organization Student kept notes and materials in a neat, legible, and organized manner. Information was readily retrieved Evidence of learning Student documented information in his or her own words and can accurately answer questions related to the information retrieved *Research/Gathering information (if relevant) Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information Total Points (20 pts.) Comments: 22

Name Date Objectives Question/goal Student identified and communicated a question or goal of the research 4 pts. Excellent Research Rubric 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Research/Gathering information (if relevant) Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information Conclusion/Summary Student drew insightful conclusions and observations from the information gathered. Information is organized in a logical manner Communication Student communicated the information gathered and summary or conclusions persuasively. Student demonstrated skill in the use of media used to communicate the results of research Reflection Student reflected on the importance of the research and its potential application Total Points (20 pts.) Comments: 23