This document contains lecture notes for a POL 205 political science course. It introduces several key concepts related to politics and government, including definitions of politics, characteristics of politics, the nature of power, different forms of government and economic systems, the difference between citizens in a democracy versus subjects in an authoritarian system, and a brief historical overview of the development of democratic values. The document is intended to provide students with foundational knowledge on these important topics in political science.

1. POL 205
Fall 2017

4. INSTRUCTIONS:
On a separate sheet of paper,
write down your answers to the following questions:
What do you LIKE about our government?
What do you DISLIKE about our government?
What would you CHANGE about our government?

7. What words, concepts, ideas, etc. come to mind
when you see the following words?
“politics”
“politicians”
“power”

9. Why is politics an important topic to study?

10. Why is the national government
an important topic to study?

11.  Many definitions of politics:
 Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how”
 “The resolution of conflict”
 “The competition among individuals, groups, or states
pursuing their interests”
 Characteristics of Politics:
 Struggle for power
 Emphasis on decision-making
 Political scientists study power as it relates to the
political community
 Political party, legislature, city, region, country

15.  Power:
 Ability to influence others or impose will on them
 HowTo Know ifYou Have Power?
 Get someone to do something they would not do
 Prevent someone from doing something they would do
 Influence how people think

20. POLITICS
 Process or activity through
which power and resources
are gained and lost
GOVERNMENT
 System or organization
for exercising authority
over a body of people

22.  How we get the things we want in politics
 Peaceful elections or violent revolutions
 Who decides on the rules is important.
 Rule by elite (Aristocracy)
 Rule by wealthy (Plutocracy)
 Rule by royalty (Monarchy)
 Rule by people (Democracy)

23.  Organizations where governmental power
is exercised
 Constitution defines institutions of govt.
 Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branches
 Different arrangements in other countries
 Parliament, Ruler, or Council
 Goal: Prosperous political environment

25. POLITICS
 Concerned with
distribution of power
and resources in society
ECONOMICS
 Concerned with production
and distribution of goods

27.  Means of production (land, labor, etc.)
are privately owned
 Decisions are left to individuals
▪ Supply and Demand
 Government interference is small

28. LAISSEZ-FAIRE
 “Let people do as they wish”
 Government has no
economic role
REGULATED
 Government can step in
and regulate economy to
safeguard rights

29. SOCIALISM
 Economic decisions made by
politicians using judgment.
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY
 Middle ground between
capitalism and socialism
 Equality through gradual
democratization rather than
revolutionNorth Korea and Cuba can be considered
modern examples of Socialist governments.

32.  State has ultimate power
 Various Forms:
 Monarchy—Rule by Individual
 Theocracy—Rule by Religion
 Fascist—Rule by State
 Totalitarian System
▪ Authoritarian Govt. and Socialist Economy

33.  Anarchy
 Democracy
 Elite Democracy
▪ Government run by elites in various fields
 Pluralist Democracy
▪ Emphasis on group membership
 Participatory Democracy
▪ Individuals have right to participate in government

36. PEOPLE AS SUBJECTS
 Authoritarian Systems
 Definition of “Subjects”
 No Rights or Freedoms
 Obligations to State
PEOPLE AS CITIZENS
 Democratic Systems
 Definition of “Citizens”
 Characteristics:
 Power from people
 People are sovereign
 People consent to governed
 Government responds to
citizens’ will

39. Democracy
began in
Athens,
Greece.
The “Divine Right of
Kings” during the
Middle Ages
The Enlightenment
centered on all the
above values.
Luther was
influential
during the
Reformation