1st Edition

Popular Government in the United States Foundations and Principles

By Charles Hyneman Copyright 1968
    344 Pages
    by Routledge

    344 Pages
    by Routledge

    Political theory consists in clarification of language and concepts, in description and analysis of institutions and behavior, and in appraisal and evaluation of political events. Hyneman's theory is not one of the behavioral or functional varieties that rely on special language and concepts drawn from other disciplines than political science. It emphasizes a central concern of both conventional and behavioral theory: the distribution of "power," or what proportion of people have influence over what aspects of government. He is also interested in how power is shared, divided, checked, and balanced.

    The main task of political theory, Hyneman thinks, is clarification of the values served by and sustaining American democracy. This task gives meaning and direction to analysis of the elements of democracy and to empirical research on the processes of democracy. In this sense political science is not "value-free"; it is most useful in pursuit of the implications of basic beliefs and ideals. These beliefs and ideals can be found in historical statements as well as inferred from institutions and behavior.

    Hyneman's emphasis on popular control, electoral politics, and equality of influence tends to challenge both of the "pluralist" and "ruling elite" schools-though it should be clear that he is not engaged in a scholastic debate. The freedom of his analysis, ranging from specific reference to the professional controversies of his day is one of its strengths and a probable source of originality. He connects it explicitly to the literature of political science at critical points, as it existed when originally published in 1968.

    PREFACEINTRODUCTION by CHARLES E. GILBERTI. Democratic Ideals1. DEMOCRACY: GOALS AND METHODS2. THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETYII. Popular Government3. TWO SYSTEMS OF DEMAND AND RESPONSE4. THE CITIZEN'S ROLE5. THE RIGHT TO VOTE6. THE CITIZEN'SEDUCATION7. POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND ELECTORAL BEHAVIORIII. The Structure of Authority8. THE ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE9. THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE10. CONTROL OF ADMINISTRATIONIV. Limited Government11. GOVERNMENT BY LAW12. CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES13. FREE SPEECH AND SUBVERSION:AN HISTORICAL EPISODE14. FREE SPEECH AND SUBVERSION:A CONTEMPORARY SOLUTIONV. Democracy on Trial15. THE NEGROES' CHALLENGE16.ORGANIZED PROTEST AND RESISTANCE17. CONCLUSION: ON THE PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATIONSOTHER WRITINGS OF CHARLES S. HYNEMANFOR FURTHER READINGINDEX 317

    Biography

    Charles Hyneman