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Topical Outline | |
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The following outline identifies the topics to be covered during of the course. During this first section of the course, we
explore the three basic theoretical
approaches to the study of government: elitism, democracy, and pluralism.
We then utilize these three critical approaches to explore the
philosophical, economic, historical, and cultural roots of American
politics and the impact which these factors have upon the development of
the constitutional structure of American government and the development of
the contemporary American political culture.
There are three basic approaches to the
study of society that can be utilized to critique the American political
system: elite, democratic, and plural theory. During this section of Part
I, we explore these three basic approaches and discuss the differences
between normative and empirical theory.
The basic structure of relationships
between levels of government (federalism) and between institutions of
government at the national level (separation of
powers, checks and balances) are set forth in the Constitution. In this section we explore
the sections of the Constitution which shape contemporary political
interactions and the dynamics of the document's writing. In exploring the
history of the Constitution (both its writing and ratification), we apply
the lenses of elite, democratic, and plural theory to see whether the
Constitution creates a structure and helps to create a political culture
sympathetic to elite, democratic, or plural rule.
Dye and Zeigler obviously believe that
America is run by the elite. Elite theory posits that elites are different
from the masses in the values that they share. How did elite values
develop? In this section of the course we explore the development of the
elite and elite values.
D. Mass Attitudes and
Elite/Mass Conflict
In this section of the course we examine
mass attitudes and values. Do the masses have a different set of values
than the elite? If so, are these values more or less democratic than the
elites? Dye and Zeigler argue that the masses are less democratic than the
elite and are prone to follow anti-democratic leaders and display
anti-democratic behaviors.
One of the primary activities in many
political systems is making demands or articulating interests. People and
groups are constantly making demands upon the political system. Does the
system listen to the demands of individuals? groups? Are there extra-governmental
entities which aggregate and articulate demands? Are these processes and
entities elitist, democratic, or pluralist by nature?
From political socialization to political
advertising, the media have come to play an important role in shaping our
beliefs, attitudes, values, and opinions. Increasingly the media also play
a role in "deciding what is to be decided" (ie., shaping the
public agenda). How pervasive is the mass media in the United States? Does
it expand democracy or plural or elite control?
Many Americans tend to assume that
democracy and elections are synonymous. In the United States, millions of
dollars are spent on elections. During this segment of the course we
explore the nature of elections and the political party system and whether
the American electoral and party systems are most compatible with elite,
democratic, or pluralist notions of society.
In this section we explore the nature and
operation of interest groups in American society. Are interest groups
compatible with or an anathema to democracy? Do interest groups represent
some types of interests better than others? Do interest groups impede or
assist the policymaking process?
Finally, we examine the institutions,
processes and policies of the American political system. We explore how
the institutions of the political system work together (and separately) to
create public policies. While the constitutional structure of government
may seem to grant certain areas of jurisdiction to each institution of
American government, even the most casual observer of American government
recognizes that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government all have their "fingerprints" on the public policies
which emerge from the policymaking process. While exploring each
institution separately, we will concentrate on the interaction among these
institutions which characterizes the policymaking process in the United
States.
The executive branch of government consists
of the President and the bureaucracy. While most of the media and public
attention focuses upon the President, an enormous amount of policymaking
activity actually takes place at the bureaucratic level. We explore the
nature of the power which the president hopes to bring to bear to shape
public policy along with the role which the bureaucracy plays in
furthering or hindering a president's policy agenda.
All types of legislative assemblies perform
two functions: representation and lawmaking. They often sacrifice doing
one well for the sake of the other. The U.S. Congress is no exception to
this rule. In this section of the course we explore the nature of the
representative and legislative functions in general through the lens or
filters of the three broad theories of government. Of particular concern
are: 1) the roles of political parties and interest groups; 2) the nature
of an individual congressperson's behavior and its effect upon the overall
operation of Congress; and 3) the interaction between the Congress and the
executive branch of government.
Dye and Zeigler argue that the Supreme
Court is the ultimate elite bastion of government--people appointed for
life, with little accountability, who can overturn any act of Congress or
the executive branch, and who have generally operated within the framework
of elite interests. During this section of the course we will explore the
nature of "the law", the structure of the American judicial
system, the processes through which judges make decisions, and the
rationales for those decisions.
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