Index Cards Name Where you are from favorite book or movie Something interesting about yourself First political memory

1. Who is this man

2. Who are these two men?

3. Who is this man?

4. Who is this man

5. Who is this man

6. Who is this man

7. Who is this woman?

8. Who is this man?

9. Who is this man and why is he the most powerful person in the entire world?

10. Who is this woman?

11. Who is this man

12. Who are they?

1. Who is this man

2. Who are these two men?

3. Who is this man?

4. Who is this man

5. Who is this man

6. Who is this man

7. Who is this woman?

8. Who is this man?

9. Who is this man and why is he the most powerful man in the world?

10. Who is this woman?

11. Who is this man

12. Who are they?

1. Who is this man

2. Who is this man?

3. Who is this man?

4. Who is this man

5. Who is this man

6. Who is this man

7. Who is this woman?

8. Who is this man?

9. Who is this man and why is he the most powerful person in the entire world?

10. Who is this woman?

11. Who is this man

12. Who are they?

Civic Disengagement of College Freshmen 28.1% "keeping up to date with political affairs" 17.6% “influencing political structure” 30.9% "becoming a community leader" was essential or very important 73.4% "being very well off financially" is essential or very important 27% "realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society."

Objectives of Class Institutional perspective Critically evaluate government To help make you better citizens Introduction to political science as a major

Format of Class Lecture outline on-line Not the University of Wisconsin The Socratic method, aka random terror Attendance Policy– 2 absences Colostomy Bag Award Last one in, first one asked I answer all cell phone calls

Readings Fiorina and Peterson (used copies ok) Miroff, Debating Democracy Handouts Subscribe to the MSNBC Hardball Briefing Complete Reading Before Class

Requirements Web assignments Two midterms Research paper Final exam I have High Standards

Nuts and Bolts I early and often Web page  syllabi, lecture notes, study questions, web assignments Don’t be a stranger

What is Government ?

Formal institutions (congress, presidency, courts) by which a land is ruled Only institution which has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force – Arlington Road 2 necessary elements of government – Means of coercion (army, police) – Means of collecting revenue

What Kind of Government do we have? Democracy  people rule Direct vs. Representative Democracy – differences Popular vs. Responsive Democracy

Popular Model of Democracy Direct democracy is ideal Election determine policies Citizens vote prospectively #1 Criteria for Democracy  civic education of citizens

Responsive Model of Democracy Representative democracy is ideal Elections determine leaders Citizens vote retrospectively #1 Criteria for Democracy  effective governance

Trend towards the popular model of democracy Rise of the permanent campaign Mass communication Proliferation of polling

Some Exceptions Who votes Primaries Campaign finance Campaign workers

Reforming the System John Dewey, “The cure for the ailments of democracy is more democracy.” More elections More open process

The Big Question Is there too much or too little democracy? Consider Baseball’s All Star Game – Cal Ripken

For Wednesday Who has read the Constitution? Web Assignment #1 – Go to web site – Print out 15 questions – Use Constitution in back of Fiorina and Peterson to answer