What is Government?

Max Weber definition:

Government is that institution which has a monopoly over the legitimate use of force.

2009, Pearson Education

What is Politics?
Harold Lasswell definition:
Politics is who gets what, when and how.

2009, Pearson Education

Why we need government

Governments are necessary because of people Madison: If men were angels, no government would be necessary. From Federalist #10 government necessary because often people do not agree and may not even get along Hobbes: A world without government would be nothing less than a war of all against all. So the next question might be: what kind of government?

Types of Government
Government by One Person (or entity) monarchs and dictators God in Heaven Government by the Few aristocracy: leaders chosen by birth oligarchy: leaders chosen by virtue of wealth, power or membership in political party
Lord Actons Dictim: Absolute Power tends to corrupt absolutely.

Types of Government: Democracy

Government by the Many Democracy: system in which governmental power is widely shared among the citizens, usually through free and open elections

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

Popular sovereignty: the people have the ultimate authority
Government reflects the will of the people Government leaders are elected Elections are free and fair People participate in the political process High quality information is available Majority rules

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

Political Equality: No individual or groups position weighs more than any other
One man, one vote Equal protection of the government

Is this really possible?

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

Political Liberty: citizens deserve basic freedoms; they need to form and express popular will and they need to translate that will into policy
Self-government Civil liberties Civil rights

Traditional Types of Democracy

Direct democracy: type of democracy in which ordinary people are the government and making all laws themselves Representative democracy: an indirect form of democracy in which the people choose representatives who determine what government does Delegate Style: type of representative democracy in which ordinary citizens participate actively and closely constrain the actions of public officials; prospective voting Trustee Style: citizens play more passive role; choose representatives, but do not tell them what to do; retrospective voting

Direct v. Representative Democracy

Representative Democracy: citizens vote for people and send them to a lawmaking body in order to make decisions on their behalf What are some problems with this type of government?

Examples of Direct and Indirect Democracy

Direct: School bond elections; voting to build sports arenas; in Texas voting on Constitutional Amendments; various referenda and initiatives. Indirect: voting for legislatures

2009, Pearson Education

Republic
A government rooted in the consent of the governed as expressed in a written or codified agreement. From the Pledge: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

What is a Capitalist System? private ownership of property free market economy (laissezfaire) vs. mercantile systems

Other Economic Systems

Socialism Communism Totalitarianism _________________________

Classical Liberalism
What is Classical Liberalism? Not Nancy Pelosi

2009, Pearson Education

Classical Liberalism shown in the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

2009, Pearson Education

The New American Democracy

The Permanent Campaign The new American democracy is marked by a permanent campaign. Campaign literally NEVER ENDS. Line between campaigning and governing has disappeared Governing becomes campaign strategy At its worst can be harmful: public officials sacrifice long-term good for short-term electoral advantage

2009, Pearson Education

The New American Democracy

Half a Million Elected Officials More elections than other countries 1 elected official for every 500 Americans National elections held every two years determine the winner of the presidential ticket, 100 senators, and 435 members of the House of Representatives State elections choose governor, state legislature, and most also elect lieutenant governor, treasurer, states attorney general, and many more Local elections 3,000 county sheriffs 90% of the nations 16,000 school boards Judicial elections Americans elect more than 1,000 state judges and about 15,000 county, municipal, and other local judges and officers of the court

The New American Democracy

Nominating Candidates and Deciding Issues Primary election preliminary election that narrows the number of candidates by determining who will be the nominees in the general election General election final election that selects the office holder Initiative proposed laws or state constitutional amendments placed on the ballot via citizen petition Referendum proposed laws or state constitutional amendment proposed by a legislature or city council that do not go into effect unless the required majority of voters approve it Proposition shorthand reference to an initiative or a referendum often enables citizens to bypass or overrule elected officials Are elections responsible for American exceptionalism?
2009, Pearson Education

Minorities and Elections

American democracy may have moved in a popular direction, but majorities do not get their way constantly. Example: Minimum Wage Factors that give minorities an advantage:
(advantaged who are advantaged)

unequal participation nominating process unequal campaign processes

single-issue voter: voter who cares deeply about some particular issue so that a candidates position on this one issue determines his/her vote (guns) role of campaign activists

Misinformed citizens (Bush tax cuts)

Majorities and Elections

Although single-issue voters and other special interests may wield disproportionate influence at times, they lose when there is a clear majority on a subject.
Abortion
moderate views in general Congress of 19901994 did not pass the Freedom of Choice Act supported by pro-choice forces nor did recent Republican Congress adopt a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion as prolife forces wanted

Income Inequality in the U.S.

2009, Pearson Education

Prison Population in the three largest States

Texas California New York 171,249 169,413 58,249

2009, Pearson Education

Reform?
Americans frustrated by nature of government, but should view proposals for radical reform cautiously. The Tea Party Movement Examples calls for more popular democracy more elections more opportunities to exert popular pressure or more power for elected officials -- Primary elections have polarized the parties Such reforms overlook the tremendous popular pressure from a diverse public that political leaders are already under. That may be part of the problem, not the solution.
2009, Pearson Education

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Population growth outpaced national average
22.8% for Texas in the 1990s; 13.2% nationally Grew by 4 million people over last 10 years Exceeding 24 million, 2nd only to California

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Sources of Population Growth:
High birth rates Migration from other states
From frost belt to sun belt Nearly 59% of growth from 70s-80s

Immigration
In 2007 16% foreign-born 75% from Latin America ~11% of Texas residents not U.S. citizens

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Increased Demands on Government
Urbanization
83% urban

Increased population density

Growing political influence of cities and suburbs

Aging Population
Demands for Medicaid, long-term care Shifts tax burden to younger populations

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Texas Growth and Changing Demographics

Texas Age 65 + Percentages

1990 Anglo Black Hispanic 12.7 7.8 5.3 2000 13.3 7.4 5.6 2030 23.7 13.6 10.4

Other

3.7

5.8

27.7

Texas Race & Ethnicity Percentages

1990
Anglo 60.7

2006
48.6

2030
36.4

Black Hispanic Other

11.7 25.5 2.1

11.4 37.0 3.1

9.5 46.2 7.9

The People of Texas

The People of Texas

Challenge Question:
After looking at the Figure which racial/ ethnic group do you see gaining in influence over the next century? How could this change Texass political culture?

The People of Texas

Answer:
The Hispanic population has been steadily growing in Population share since 1860. As Hispanics become more politically powerful emphasis will be put on the issues important to this group: education, family, immigration, language and culture and social services. Individualism will become less important.

The Economy of Texas

Historical foundation of Texas economy

Agriculture, oil, and natural gas Affected banking, agriculture, oil and gas

Economic downturn of the 1980s

Economy rebounded in the 1990s

Gross state product in 2008: $1.2 trillion Third largest economy in U.S.