Chapter 20

American Democracy,
Then and Now

1. Name three things that for many years kept

the agenda of the federal government short.
2. Name three things that have expanded the
agenda of the federal government.
3. Contrast three features of the Old System
versus the New System of American
government.
4. How has the challenge of political leadership
changed since the days of the Constitutional
Convention?

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Learning Objectives

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It

ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or
until liberty be lost in the pursuit.
Federalist No. 51

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Government employees protest

being furloughed, or placed on
unpaid leave, in response to the
sequesterautomatic budget
cuts that began when Congress
and the White House failed to
reach a long-term budget
agreement in early 2013.

 Old System Founders felt the federal

government should limit itself to war,
peace, interstate commerce,
establishing a national currency, and
delivering mail
New System Today, federal politics is
about practically everything

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

THEN: Restraints on the

Growth of Government

 Restraints:
Separation of powers
Federalism
Division of legislative authority between
House and Senate

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THEN: Restraints on the

Growth of Government

 Courts have altered interpretation of

Constitution
Public opinion changed
Political resources more widely
distributed

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NOW: Relaxing the Restraints

 Agenda was small

States rights dominant theme
Domestic affairs focus of policy debate
Crises gave government reason to
take bold action
Was it legitimate for the federal
government to take action?

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

The Old System

 Transition to New System

1930s (New Deal) and
Mid-1960s (Great Society; social change)

Large policy agenda

Diffusion and decentralization of power
Multiplication of interest groups
End of debate over legitimacy of
government action

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

The New System

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

2010 Census Data Released

Click picture to play video

Taking a closer look:

1. How will changing demographics affect
the U.S. political process?
2. What policy areas are most likely to
change? Least likely?
3. Will elite opinion or mass opinion exert
greater influence in the future? Why?

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

2010 Census Data Released

10

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

How American Politics Has

Changed

11

 New System = activist government

More time spent on managing
consequences of existing programs
Inconsistencies more apparent
Less susceptibility to control by electoral
activity
Rapid increase in number and variety of
interest groups
Greater risk of failure

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Consequences of
Government Growth

12

 New System entering a new era

Fueled by recent recession
Growing disenchantment about
government performance

Areas of expansion shaped by U.S.

constitutional structure and political
culture

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Consequences of
Government Growth

13

 Features of parliamentary regime:

Quicker adoption of majoritarian policies
More national planning, less local
autonomy
Fewer opportunities for citizens to
challenge or block government policies
Greater executive control of government
Similar foreign policy
Higher and more centralized taxation

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The Influence of Structure

14

 Political culture: commitment to rights

Which rights are most important?
Freedom of expression vs. property
freedom
Elite opinion versus mass opinion

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The Influence of Ideas

15

Americans are more attached to equality

than to freedomTocqueville

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The Influence of Ideas

16

 Idea-based political culture

Institutions fragmented
Individualized system (individual members
of Congress more important than leaders)
Less control by political parties
Media provides direct access to voters
Interest group influence
Easy to form issue-oriented interest groups

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The Influence of Ideas

17

 Change becoming very difficult

Expansion of scope of government
Thousands of competing special interests
and constituencies

The 2009 stimulus bill allowed

people to get money if they
traded in an old car that
burned a lot of gas.

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The Influence of Ideas

18

 Public acceptance of larger role for

government accompanied by decline
in public confidence in government
How can leaders serve the interests of
the people while restoring and
maintaining their confidence in the
legitimacy of government?

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

American Democracy
Then, Now, and Next

19

 THEN: Leaders could meet and debate

even controversial matters in private

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American Democracy
Then, Now, and Next

20

 NOW: All interests are listening and

watching the process
300+ million people
Media
States; local governments
Bureaucracy

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

American Democracy
Then, Now, and Next

21

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Deficit
Spending
in America
and
Europe

22

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Social Networking
Embarrassment for One
Congressman

23

Click picture to play video

Taking a closer look:

1. How has social media changed the
political process?
2. Is the medias role as news gatekeeper
obsolete?
3. Is Twitters immediacy an advantage or
disadvantage for politicians?

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Social Networking
Embarrassment for One
Congressman

24