Thursday, August 29, 2019

Models of Democracy: Participatory, Pluralist, & Elite Theory


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Wear your Navy and Gold (or other Eagle Spirit wear) tomorrow!

 Learning Objective:
LOR-1.B: Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S

 Essential Knowledge:
LOR-1.B.1: Representative democracies can take several forms along this scale:

  1. Participatory democracy, which emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society
  2. Pluralist democracy, which recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making
  3. Elite democracy, which emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society

LOR-1.B.3: The three models of representative democracy continue to be reflected in contemporary institutions and political behavior



Models of Democracy
Who governs? Who really makes the policy decisions? Whose views do they represent? There are three competing theories that try to answer the question of who governs.


 Who Governs?
1. How does pluralism answer the question who governs?
2. According to pluralists, why does participatory democracy not adequately answer the question of who governs?
3. According to pluralists, is power a fixed entity? What is power based upon?
4. Pluralists believe that the power of one group is counterbalanced by the power of another group. What are some real examples of this?
5a. How do democratic norms (freedom of association, regular elections, majority rule, freedom of speech, etc) contribute to pluralism?
5b. Explain how federalism and separation of powers help facilitate pluralist democracy.


6. How does elite theory answer the question who governs? Who makes up the power elite according to C. Wright Mills?
7. Is the power elite a secret society? How is membership obtained?
8.  “What’s good for GM (General Motors) is good for America.” Explain this statement and how it relates to elite theory.
9. How does post-WWII America contribute to the theory of the power elite, specifically the role of the military?
10. What are the roles/characteristics of the middle-level managers (most of Congress) and the public in elite theory?
11. What are “trunk decisions” and how does this support elite theory?

12. What is participatory democracy? How does it work?

13.  Which theory do you think best answers the question of who governs?

14. Find one recent policy decision that represents pluralism. What groups were involved in the debate?

15. Find one recent policy decision that represents elite theory. Explain how this is elite theory at work.



Is this characteristic/statement true of Participatory, Pluralism, or Elite Theory?

1. Requires specialized knowledge from groups of citizens

2. Derives power from the continuing success of America’s largest corporations

3. Based on rule of the majority
4. Citizens need some working knowledge of government

5. Favors a tax code with loopholes that favor the upper bracket

6. This allows minorities to control the government
7. Rotary Club, National Rifle Association, Chamber of Commerce
8. Has vast wealth and business connections
9. Prefers a decentralized government allowing easy access to government officials
10.  Elections are the main mechanism in making decisions

 Applying the Models of Democracy: make a copy of this document and as a group, work together to assess what model of democracy each political cartoon represents.

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