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POLITICAL SCIENCE 201-003:AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
FALL 2015MONDAY 6:30-9:15 PM,
OWENS 103
Dr. John HolderInstructor in Political Science
Bancroft 340 (Mailing address Bancroft 346)
(803) 323-4665 [email protected]
http://faculty.winthrop.edu/holderj/plsc201003.htm
Office Hours M 3:30-6:00, TR 2:00-3:15, or by appointment
TextbookSusan Welch, John Gruhl, Sue Thomas and Maryanne BorrelliUnderstanding American Government
Fourteenth Edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014.
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES FOR THE
TEXTBOOK
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-American-Government-CourseReader-0-30/dp/1133955746/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440068438&sr=8-2&keywords=Susan+Welch+Understanding+American+Government http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/US/storefront/US?cmd=CLHeaderSearch&fieldValue=978-1-133-95574
So…who are you?
Name What do you like to be called? Where are you from? Do you have any experience in politics or
government? Why are you taking this class?
(Constitution requirement, prospective political science major, general interest, etc.)
Social Science The use of scientific methods to study
some aspect of society (human beings and their interactions). Anthropology Economics History Political Science Psychology Sociology Etc.
Political Science
Study of power and the organization of power
Harold Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how.”
Power: Creation and enforcement of laws and rules deciding What you have the right to do (MAY) What you have the obligation to do (MUST) What you’re prohibited from doing (MAY NOT)
Political Science
Use of the scientific method to: Observe: “What’s happening?” Explain: “Why is it happening?
Why is it happening that way?” Predict: “What’s going to
happen?”
Complete Freedom
Do whatever you want No rules, no laws, no
restrictions Unlimited right to acquire
property What’s the problem?
Complete Freedom
No way to protect your own property or otherwise prevent your rights from being violated
What’s the answer?
Basis of Government Government in a free society exists
to make and enforce laws in a way that protects the rights of the people
Power to make rules and laws gives you a great deal of power over others’ livesImprisonmentTaxationEtc.
Who Gets to Govern? Divine Right
Monarch endowed by God with power Democracy
People govern directly Republic/Indirect Democracy
People choose leaders who make decisions
Dictatorship I make the rules because I have the
biggest gun.
Next Week:
http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016-presidential-quiz
Did your results surprise you?
Theories of power