What Is Politics?
Politics is the way that people make planned decisions so they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, or countries. Political decisions involve deciding who will run the group, what laws to make and enforce, how to provide services like health care and education, and how to manage the environment, resources, and the economy. Political decisions are usually made by elected officials, who are called politicians. Universities often offer degrees in political science, public affairs, government, or political studies.
Political scientists study how governments work, including the way they make policies, set priorities, allocate resources, and ensure that people can get access to services. They also examine the ways that individuals and groups influence or are influenced by politics. They use a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews, and experiments to understand the causes of political behavior.
Some scholars define politics as the struggle to achieve fair distribution of resources and power. They believe that when all stakeholders share power and benefits, they can make good decisions. In contrast, other scholars argue that politics is the process of gaining and exercising control over others in order to advance one’s own interests. They believe that people with a lot of political skill can manipulate other people to obtain benefits for themselves, but that most people don’t have this ability.
While politics is generally associated with the government, it can also be found in other groups such as businesses and communities. In fact, some people who don’t work in the government might consider themselves political because of their involvement in these groups. For example, some employees might spend time trying to gain advantages for their employer by getting on the good side of management, or they might participate in community initiatives such as helping the homeless.
In the United States, people who are interested in politics typically study the workings of the government at all levels – local, state, and national. They also look at the broader issues that might be considered political, such as how religion and faith are part of everyday life in America, or the importance of race and gender in determining who gets what opportunities at school or at work.
People who want to take part in politics usually join a political party. They agree to the party’s principles and are willing to support its candidates in elections. They may be formally chosen by the party in a primary or convention, or they may seek to become a candidate on their own, without being nominated by a political party. In general, a person who is running for office must win the support of a significant percentage of voters in their district to be elected. Some voters choose not to vote, and others don’t have the right to vote at all because of criminal records or other factors. The system can be messy, and many Americans complain about the level of partisanship and bickering among politicians and their constituents.
Politics is the way that people make planned decisions so they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, or countries. Political decisions involve deciding who will run the group, what laws to make and enforce, how to provide services like health care and education, and how to manage the environment, resources, and the economy. Political decisions are usually made by elected officials, who are called politicians. Universities often offer degrees in political science, public affairs, government, or political studies. Political scientists study how governments work, including the way they make policies, set priorities, allocate resources, and ensure that people can get access to services. They also examine the ways that individuals and groups influence or are influenced by politics. They use a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews, and experiments to understand the causes of political behavior. Some scholars define politics as the struggle to achieve fair distribution of resources and power. They believe that when all stakeholders share power and benefits, they can make good decisions. In contrast, other scholars argue that politics is the process of gaining and exercising control over others in order to advance one’s own interests. They believe that people with a lot of political skill can manipulate other people to obtain benefits for themselves, but that most people don’t have this ability. While politics is generally associated with the government, it can also be found in other groups such as businesses and communities. In fact, some people who don’t work in the government might consider themselves political because of their involvement in these groups. For example, some employees might spend time trying to gain advantages for their employer by getting on the good side of management, or they might participate in community initiatives such as helping the homeless. In the United States, people who are interested in politics typically study the workings of the government at all levels – local, state, and national. They also look at the broader issues that might be considered political, such as how religion and faith are part of everyday life in America, or the importance of race and gender in determining who gets what opportunities at school or at work. People who want to take part in politics usually join a political party. They agree to the party’s principles and are willing to support its candidates in elections. They may be formally chosen by the party in a primary or convention, or they may seek to become a candidate on their own, without being nominated by a political party. In general, a person who is running for office must win the support of a significant percentage of voters in their district to be elected. Some voters choose not to vote, and others don’t have the right to vote at all because of criminal records or other factors. The system can be messy, and many Americans complain about the level of partisanship and bickering among politicians and their constituents.