Transcript Democracy in the United States

Democracy in the
United States
Government
• The institution in society that has a
“monopoly of the legitimate use of physical
force.”
Americans Have Grown Increasingly
Skeptical of the National Government
Polling Places
• Elections are so widespread and
continuous in the United States that
unusual locations are sometimes pressed
into service as polling places.
Types of Government
• Government by One Person
• Government by the Few
• Government by the Many
Permanent Campaign
• Condition that prevails when the next
election campaign begins as soon as the
last has ended and the line between
electioneering and governing has
disappeared.
The Number of Presidential
Primaries Has Increased Greatly in
the Past Three Decades
What Gets Covered?
• One of President Clinton’s most scrutinized
moments came while he was denying an illicit
affair in early 1997. The dramatic value of his
(false) denial led the mass media—particularly
the cable channels—to replay this moment
again and again, following the story for months.
• Should the media have covered this story as
much as it did? What was the news value of the
story to the public?
Poll Coverage Exploded Between
the Mid-1960s and Mid-1970s
Today’s Media Conduct
Their Own Polls
The Total Costs of American Elections Have
Increased Dramatically in the Last Five Decades
Turnout
• In 2000, despite massive get-out-the-vote
efforts, just over half the electorate
showed up at the polls. Political parties
are always trying to activate more of their
supporters to turn out and shift the
balance of power in the elections.
• Why don’t people vote?
Single-Issue Voter
• Voter who cares so deeply about some
particular issue that a candidate’s position
on this one issue determines his or her
vote.
Electoral Incentive
• Desire to obtain or retain elected office.