Elites and Power in American Government

There is a tension evident in the operations of Congress, the presidency, and the bureaucracy in the development of domestic policy and foreign policy between the desire to be seen as promoting representative democracy while at the same time meeting the real need to satisfy the requirements of factions in a pluralist democracy and the demands of powerful elites without appearing to do so to the exclusion of the rights of others. This is a difficult balancing act and prone to produce criticism, and the electoral system by which the President and congress are chosen in particular involves such a need for money that critics can charge that elites and powerful factions have more in-put than they should because they can provide more money. Interestingly, the bureaucracy is seen as unresponsive to most external blandishments and is instead perceived as a monolithic and ongoing institution, inefficient but largely non-partisan. The interplay of factions and elites on the electoral side and a stolid if inefficient bureaucracy on the other is what produces policy on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts, and in both cases--though for somewhat different reasons--interest groups and elites have more influence and so wield more power than the larger constituency represented by the President and members of Congress.

The American political system as embodied in the Constitution is supposed to be a democracy with a government that derives entirely from the will of the people.

Related Essays

Elites and the US .... the use of the military in protecting that oil for American and multinational corporations are examples of the power of the elites in creating .... (1766 7 )

The Original American Constitution & Elitism .... More women, blacks and other non-elites (from the Founders' perspective) vote, grow rich .... Power and Politics in California. .... Understanding American Government. .... (1637 7 )

Elites in American Society .... overriding national commitment of American society is .... that the group of power elites which exercises .... of (1) the federal government (specifically, elected .... (5065 20 )

he American System as an Elitist System .... in the belief system of the American people, who .... to the corridors of political power for redress .... As the system has developed, though, elites have commandeered .... (1487 6 )

Power in the Political Process .... who have access to the power of government. .... functioning as interest groups--American elites have consistently .... way of avoiding monopolies on governmental power. .... (2207 9 )

the imposition of foolish rules becomes ingrained as a definition for bureaucracy. This may be a matter of perception--some emphasize the value and accomplishments of the bureaucracy, while others emphasize its shortcomings and failures. The prevailing view derives from the latter position, holding that bureaucratic service to clients is terrible. Defenders of the bureaucracy see this view as based on faulty reasoning and offers evidence that it is not an accurate portrayal of the situation. There are also similar views of the failure of both the presidency and Congress to address issues, respond to constituents, and provide service, and disaffection with government in general has become a major force in American life. It is evident that members of the bureaucracy, members of Congress, and the President all want to appear to be promoting the ideal of a representative democracy. This is the ideal held out in the Constitution and celebrated in American political and social life. At the same time, though, the public perception is that politicians respond better to special interest groups and to powerful elites, and there are good reasons for thinking so. the influence of money on elections is one reason. The bureaucracy

Category: History - E