Running Head: POWER RELATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES Political Theories in The United States Justine Aguilar 19 May 2016 Political Science 100: American Government Archie Delshad Justine Aguilar 19 May 2016 Political Science 100: American Government Archie Delshad Introduction In the United States there are many different power relations. Many people argue that one of these political theories are better than the other one. Their is a total of five power theories to explain the power structure in the United States (Rules). In politics political participation, political institutions and public policy is a big part in politics. The political theories that are presented are Pluralism, State Autonomy, Elite Theory, …show more content…
Marxism, and Class Domination. Pluralism Theory is a center of how power is distributed between many groups. In State Autonomy there are two clear opposition sides between the states and they act in their own interests. Elite Theory is the theory of the states who describe the power relationships in the economy. Marxism Theory is the transition from capitalist to socialism. Class Domination Theory has status power with little resistance in society (Rules). The power theory that is better than the other theories is Pluralism because it is mostly used in todays society. Political Participation Political Participation is actions of private citizens by which they seek to influence or to support government and politics (Chapter 3). Political Participation in the electoral college has much more than just voting in the United States. It comes from being able to speak out, assemble and associate,the ability to take action in public affairs, the opportunity to register as a candidate, to campaign, to be elected and to hold office at all levels of government. Being able to speak out is political participation because discussing key points in society can share ideas in the government. Assemble and associate will create a strong government in the United States. Having the ability to take part in the conduct of public affairs is a big part of public participation because it discusses the cons of government. In politics to be elected and to hold a office at all levels of government needs participation in campaigning. Political Participation takes place in so many parties in the government. Political Institution Political Institution is a system used in politics and government.
It is an organization that creates, enforce, and applies laws. In political institution there are three main categories that are fit into the three branches of government. The three main categories are: State, Rule of Law, and Accountability (Decay). Political institution in the United States have been decaying over the years. The government has been decaying in the quality of American Government. It goes directly with the liking of states having courts and parties in the United States. In American politics there are three key characteristics it has (Decay). The first key structure is that the judiciary and legislative branch play outsized roles. Having the judiciary and legislature act in different roles it is an expensive and non efficient way to handle administrative requirements. The second key structure is that the interest groups and the lobbyist has changed the ability of government to work correctly (Decay). The third key structure the United States has is that ideological polarization is a federal governance structure. The checks and balances in the government is designed to prevent a strong executive authority (Decay). Political Institution is designed to create, enforce and apply a law to the United …show more content…
States. Public Policy Public Policy is government maintaining orders or addresses the needs of citizens through actions defined by its constitution.
There are two public policies in the United States which is Domestic Policy and Foreign Policy (Public). Domestic Policy are problems defined in our country. This policy usually discusses the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens. Social Policy relates to the issues that affects the welfare of citizens.There are many programs related to Domestic Policy. The welfare programs included in the United States are the social insurance programs. Public Health Policy focuses on the populations health and promotes and protects the health populations. The education policy is based on the education of citizens. The education policy is traditionally the primary and secondary education. The environmental policy focuses on regulating the actions citizens interact in the environment. The criminal justice policy was focused on law and order. Economic Policy attempts to create and maintain a strong economy in the United States (Public). Foreign Policy is strategic plan of the government in dealing with other countries. Foreign policy is involved in several activities such as: diplomacy, defense policy, and intelligence. Diplomacy manages the relations between the foreign countries through negations, treaties and foreign aids. The defense policy provided the international security of the country through the military power. Having intelligence gathers information
concerning international threats to a foreign country (Public). There are many political theories in the United States Pluralism Pluralism is a power theory in society which is developed by theorists from the past three centuries. Pluralism is a type of theory that contains multiple theories according to liberalists. Pluralism is a polyarchy not a hiearchy (Rules). This theory is based off a free market economy. There is not a class that has predominate power in pluralism. State Autonomy There are many power theories used in this world. State Autonomy has two clear opposition sides between the states. The states act in their own interest (Rules). This theory is presented in the United States as the most important power theory. State Autonomy is a theory that stresses the government in an independent force. Its in control of the military. State autonomy is the most important theory in the United States because “the premise of private groups or social classes of civil society dominate the stated”( Rules). The theories presented in the United States have some that are more relevant than others. Elite Theory The Elite Theory is a theory in which the states look to describe and explain the power theory relationships in society. The elite theory is interdependance on elites and non elites (Rules). This sets limits to what one can do to the other. All modern societies in todays day are dominated by the leaders of large bureaucratic organizations. This theory is not that important because the corporate based owners and managers dominate other elites in the United States. Works Cited Chapter 3. (n.d.). Retrieved May 06, 2016, from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/ publication/Chapter3.htm 2. Fukuyama, F. (2013, December 08). The Decay of American Political Institutions. Retrieved May 08, 2016, from http://www.the-american-interest.com/2013/12/08/the-decay-of- american-political-institutions/ 3.Political Institution :: Government Structure Political Science. (n.d.). Retrieved May 06, 2016, from http://www.123helpme.com/political-institution-view.asp?id=157194 4. Types of Public Policy in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved May 08, 2016, from http://study. com/academy/lesson/types-of-public-policy-in-the-united-states.html. 5. “Who Rules America: Alternative Theories." Who Rules America: Alternative Theories. G William Domhoff, Apr. 2005. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
The Constitution of the United States set up an intricate government with a very brief document. The Constitution is actually shorter than this essay, but was still able to set up all of the procedures that make our government act so slowly today. One process that takes an especially long time is passing a bill to make a law. Every governmental action has to be put into writing and then passed by the Congress and the Supreme Court. Too many government agencies have to examine every bill. The United States government only starts at the national level with the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches. Everything breaks down into more areas such as the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Federal government's semi-equal is the state government. State government breaks down into several subsidiaries as well. The court system is an excellent example of how a government system breaks down from a national to a community level. For instance, the high court in America is the U.S. Supreme Court. The step down from ther...
When discussing the new science of politics laid out in the Federalist papers, it is imperative to understand that proponents of the Constitution had various reasons for writing these papers, not the least of which was convincing critics that a strong central government that would not oppress but actually protect individual freedoms as well as encouraging the state of New York to agree to ratify the Constitution.
The United States of America has engaged in the battle known as political polarization since before its foundation in 1776. From the uprising against the powerful British nation to the political issues of today, Americans continue to debate about proper ideology and attempt to choose a side that closely aligns with their personal beliefs. From decade to decade, Americans struggle to determine a proper course of action regarding the country as a whole and will often become divided on important issues. Conflicts between supporters of slavery and abolitionists, between agriculturalists and industrialists, and between industrial workers and capitalists have fueled the divide. At the Congressional level there tends to be a more prevalent display of polarization and is often the blame of Congress’ inefficiency. James Madison intentionally designed Congress to be inefficient by instating a bicameral legislation. Ambition would counter ambition and prevent majority tyranny. George Washington advised against political parties that would contribute to polarization and misrepresentation in his Farewell Address of 1796. Washington warns, “One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.” Today, the struggle to increase power between political parties results in techniques to gain even the smallest marginal gains. To truly understand political polarization, we must examine data collected through a variety of means, the effects of rapidly changing technology, and observe what techniques are used to create such a polarized political system.
The Role of Courts in American Politics The third branch of the federal government is the judicial branch. Before the existence of the Constitution, a system of state courts was in place. Through much controversy and compromise a decision was accomplished, which put in place the Supreme Court. In Article III, Section 1, "The judicial power of the United Statesshall be vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." The Supreme Court was initially set up as a part of the separation of powers in the American political system.
American politics is often defined by a continuing power conflict between the executive and the legislative branches of the government. This struggle for political power between the two stronger branches of the three is inherent in the Constitution, itself. The concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances ensure that the branches of government will remain in conflict and provide a balance that keeps the entire government under control. As it was first established, the executive branch was much smaller and weaker than as we know it today. Consequently, the legislative branch was unquestionably dominant. Over the course of history, the executive branch grew in both size and power to the point where it occasionally overtook the legislative and today rivals the legislative in a much closer political battle. Today both branches have major factors that contribute to their power, but on the whole the legislative remains the lastingly dominant branch.
According to Daniel Elazer, there are three separate manifestations of the American political culture. Daniel states that there wasn’t just one political culture that there was three, these being moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic. Daniel states that each individual state has a culture type of the three that were named above. He shows that the southern states are more of the traditionalistic type. Elazer goes on to explain that migration in the 19th century gave pattern to the dominant cultures, and that migration was happening from east to west. As these people migrated throughout the United States not only did they move to get a new life or so to say a fresh start, these people also took their values with them. Dominant culture
Many Americans hold different opinions or theories on how our government works. Some even take to writing what they believe in the hopes of finding someone with a similar view. There are three well-known theories of American Democracy, the elite theory, the pluralist theory, and the hyperpluralist theory. Each of these approaches all hold the relatively same belief, that Americans need someone powerful to govern and take control. Of the three theories, the elite theory best explains the American political process.
The legislative, executive, and judicial branches represent the constitutional infrastructure foreseen by the Founding Fathers for our nation 's governing body. Together, they work to maintain a system of lawmaking and administration based on checks and balances, and separation of powers intended to make certain that no individual or embodiment of government ever becomes too controlling. America is governed by a democratic government or a democracy which is a government by the people, in which the power is established in the people themselves. The people then elect representatives who carry out their power in a free electoral system. The United States government’s basic claim is to serve the people and only through a combined effort can we
From even before the arrival of some of the first pilgrims to the eastern coast of the Americas, to the effects of Chief Justice Marshall’s court decisions, and FDR’s new deal. The American political system has been actively changing since over a century before the United States was founded and will more than likely continue to evolve in our present day and future. The changes of our political system can be due to multiple reasons including fear of establishing a tyrant state, such as Great Britain in the 17th and 18th century, the failure of the Articles of Confederation, the economic state of the Nation and several key historical persona with great ideologies that have molded not only politics but our Nation as a whole.
In theory, the United States became a democracy when we signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This theory is not true. The textbook defines a democracy as a system of government in which ultimate political authority is vested in the people, of course you know that this is just not so. Our system of representation, often times, fails us. Quite often, the people who represent us in our state, local, and federal governments make decisions without much regard for the desires of the American citizenry.
The idea of political culture is found within the state’s history. The history of the state is impacted by the people settled in the region, religious backgrounds, and geography. The history of the state influences the attitudes and beliefs that people hold regarding their political system. Daniel Elazar theorized a connection between the states’ history and attitude towards government by explaining differences in government between states. Every state is different with some common ground. Elazar’s theory divides states into three types: moralistic, traditionalistic and individualistic. The state’s constitution defines the powers of government with political culture bias. Because of the state constitution, the political culture influences the power and limitations of governors, legislative, and judiciaries.
What is Foreign Policy? Foreign Policy is a nations’ attitude, actions (ie economic sanctions, peacekeeping, military activity) as well as our dealings with other countries (ie trade, immigration, aid, defence) and anything that is directed towards preserving and furthering certain national interests. Foreign Policy seeks to maintain national security, promote economic and trade interests, expand regional and global links, and promote the nation as a good global citizen.
Foreign policy is the United States’ method of working with other foreign nations. It is mainly designed to help further certain goals of the U.S. Some goals of foreign policy are to assure America’s security and defense, and to assure the power to protect and project America’s national interests around the world. National interest is what shapes foreign policy and covers a wide range of political, economic, military, ideological, and humanitarian concerns in the U.S. (Costly). There are many pros and cons regarding foreign policy.
domestic affairs in countries which the US considers to be important. The US foreign policy
The American Political System The American political system is a federal system, which consists of