1010 Chapter 1 | Understanding American Politicsputs certain individuals into positions of power and makes the rules that structure
their choices. The media often cover political campaigns the way they would report
on a boxing match or the Super Bowl, focusing on the competition, rivalries, and
entertaining stories, which can lead people to overlook the institutions, rules, and
procedures that have a decisive influence on politics. Indeed, the political process is the
mechanism for resolving conflict. The most obvious example of the political process at
work is elections, which democracies use to resolve a fundamental conflict in society:
deciding who should lead the country.
Third, politics is everywhere. Decisions about what government should do or who
should be in charge are integral to society, and they influence the everyday lives
of all Americans. Politics helps determine what people can and cannot do, their
quality of life, and how they think about events, people, and situations. Moreover,
people’s political thought and behavior are driven by the same types of calculations
and decision-making rules that shape beliefs and actions in other parts of life. For
example, deciding which presidential candidate to vote for is similar to deciding
which college to attend. For candidates, you might consider issue positions, character,
and leadership ability, while for college you would weigh which school fits your
academic goals, how much tuition you can afford, and where different schools are
located. In both cases you are making a decision that will satisfy the criteria most
important to you.Politics Is Conflictual
Political scientists have long recognized the central role of conflict in politics. In fact,
one prominent theory in the mid-twentieth century saw conflict between interest
groups as explaining most outcomes in American politics. The political scientist E. E.
Schattschneider argued that the scope of political conflict—that is, how many people
are involved in the fight—determines who wins in politics.^8 Others have argued that
some conflict is helpful for group decision making: if nobody challenges a widely
shared but flawed view, people may convince themselves that the obvious flaws are notConflict is inherent in American politics.
Here, supporters and opponents of
same-sex marriage argue in front of the
Supreme Court building in Washington
on the day the Court heard arguments
in Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case
that legalized same-sex marriage
throughout the nation.Full_02_APT_64431_ch01_002-029.indd 10 16/11/18 1:34 PM