TOPIC SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

WHAT IS POLITICS?
 In its broadest sense, is the
activity through which people make,
preserve and amend the general rules
under which they live. Although politics is
also an academic subject.
 Politics is defined in such
different ways: as the exercise of power,
the science of government, the making of
collective decisions, the allocation of
scarce resources, the practice of deception
and manipulation, and so on.
DESCRIBING INFLUENCE? SEVEN FORMS OF INFLUENCE; (Dahl’s Modern Political Analysis: Politics, Influence, Power and Polyarchy)
 Is the form of political power 1. POWER - Political power is acquired and exercised in order to significantly affect the government's authoritative decisions and
exercised by those who do not possess the actions on public policy--either decision-making and action on public policy in general or decision-making and action in a particular
formal-legal authority to make and area of public policy (let's say, public education, national health insurance, immigration, drug enforcement, civil rights, affirmative
enforce particular governmental decisions action, taxation, energy policy, environmental protection, gun control, or regulation of abortion).
on public policy, but have and utilize the 2. AUTHORITY - Political authority, in short, is the legal right - the legally established power - to govern society; The political authority
ability to condition, modify, and control exercised by a government may be legitimate or illegitimate.
the official decision-making behavior of 3. COERCION -
those in government office who do
possess the authority to make and
implement the decisions.
 Is the ability of private
individuals and groups to impact on the
government's making and implementation
of official policy decisions.