Copyright 2009 Prentice Hall

Remy – Chapter 1

Features of a Gov’t 1.Population 2.Territory 3.Sovereignty 4.Government

Theories of the Origin of the State Evolution Force Divine Right Social Contract

The Purpose of Gov’t Protect Provide

Government Systems Unitary Federal Confederate

Major Types of Government Autocracy Totalitarism Dictatorship Monarchy Oligarchy Aristocracy Democracy Republic

Constitutions... Organizes a government Limits the Government –List rights of citizens Sets goals Supreme law for that country

Characteristics of Democracy Majority rule Respecting the rights of minorities Equal opportunity Full participation (politics) Free elections With multiple political parties “Loyal opposition” Question / Challenge / Mock

Preamble to the U.S. Constitution We the People of the United States, 1.in Order to form a more perfect Union, 2. establish Justice, 3.insure domestic Tranquility, 4.provide for the common defence, 5.promote the general Welfare, 6.and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves 7.and our Posterity,

Economic Systems are... How goods and services will be produced & distributed

Different Kinds of Economic Systems  Traditional  Capitalism  Socialism  Mixed Economy  Communism

Introducing Government in America Chapter 1 Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Fourteenth Edition

Introduction Politics and government matter. Americans are apathetic about politics and government. American youth are not likely to be informed about government and politics and rarely participate in politics.

Introduction

Definition: Government is the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society.

Government This definition leads to two basic questions: –How should we govern? –What should government do? Governments typically maintain a national defense, provide services, collect taxes, and preserve order.

Politics Definition: –Politics is the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they produce

Politics Also consider Lasswell’s definition: –Who gets what, when and how. Another thought on politics “Politics is ‘the art’ of getting things done” (compromise)

“Linkage Institutions” Definition: Linkage institutions are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.

Linkage Institutions –Political Parties –Elections – Media –Interest Groups

Policy Agenda Definition: The policy agenda are issues that attract the serious attention of public officials. Political issues arise when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.

Policymaking (Government) Institutions Legislature (Congress) Executive (President) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

Policies Impact People Public Policy: a choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

Democracy Components of Traditional Democratic Theory: –Equality in voting –Effective participation –Enlightened understanding –Citizen control of the agenda –Inclusion

Theories of U.S. Democracy Pluralist Theory Competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies Groups will work together Public interest will prevail through bargaining and compromise

Theories of U.S. Democracy Elite and Class Theory Societies are divided along class lines Not all groups equal Policies benefit those with money and power

Theories of U.S. Democracy Hyperpluralism Gov’t is weak. Groups are strong. Groups control policy Groups can prevent government from acting Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group

Challenges to Democracy Increased Technical Expertise Limited Participation in Government Escalating Campaign Costs Diverse Political Interests –(policy gridlock)

Culture and Democracy Political Culture: An overall set of values widely shared within a society.

American Political Culture –Liberty –Egalitarianism –Individualism –Laissez-faire –Populism

Summary Young people are apathetic about government and politics, even though they affect everyone. Democratic government, which is how the United States is governed, consists of those institutions that make policy for the benefit of the people. What government should do to benefit the people is a topic central to questions of American government.

Questions About Democracy People 1.Are people knowledgeable about policy? 2.Do they apply what the know when they vote? 3.Do elections facilitate political participation? Institutions 1.Is Congress a representative institution? 2.Does the president look after the general welfare?

Questions About Democracy Linkage Institutions –Do interest groups help the process, or do they get in the way? –Do political parties offer clear consistent choices for voters or do they intentionally obscure their positions? –Do media help citizens understand choices?

How Active is American Government? It spends about $3.1 trillion annually It employs over 2.2 million people It owns one-third of the land It occupies 2.6 billion square feet of office space It owns and operates 400,000 nonmilitary vehicles

Questions about the Scope of Government Constitution and Federalism –What role does the Constitution’s authors foresee for the federal government? –Does the Constitution favor government with a broad scope? –Why did functions of federal government increase? –Has a more active government constrained or protected civil rights and liberties?

Questions about the Scope of Government Public and Linkage Institutions –Does the public favor a large, active government? –Do competing political parties force government to provide more public services? –Do elections control the scope of government? –Does pressure from interest groups create a bigger government? –Has the media helped control the size of government and its policies?

Questions about the Scope of Government Elected Institutions –Has the president been a driving force behind increasing the scope and power of government? –Can the president control a large government? –Is Congress predisposed to support big government? –Is Congress too responsive to the public and interest groups?

Questions about the Scope of Government Nonelected Institutions –Are the federal courts too active in policy making, intruding on the authority of other branches of government? –Is the bureaucracy constantly try to expand its budget or is it simply reflecting the desires of elected officials? –Is the federal bureaucracy too large and thus wasteful and inefficient in the implementation of policy?

AP CHAPTER 1 - QUESTION 1. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS LESS INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS THAN ARE VOTERS IN EUROPEAN NATIONS. ONLY 59% OF AMERICANS ON AVERAGE VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. PARTICIPATION IS FAR HIGHER IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: HOLLAND (95%), GERMANY (87%), NORWAY (81%), FRANCE (79%), & BRITAIN (77%). THE TEXT CONCLUDES THAT REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY REQUIRES COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS. IS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT THEN SOMEHOW LESS LEGITIMATE?

2. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS POOR KNOWLEDGE OF ITS GOVERNMENT. FOR EXAMPLE 81% CANNOT INDICATE HOW THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS VOTED ON ANY BILL IN THE LAST 2 YEARS; 46% CANNOT NAME THEIR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HOUSE. 21% CANNOT EVEN NAME THE VICE PRESIDENT CORRECTLY. DOES THIS LEVEL OF IGNORANCE SUGGEST THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES OR THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S “AUTHORITY” IS MEANINGLESS? AP CHAPTER 1 - QUESTIONS

3-SHOULD DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING BE EXTENDED TO ALL SPHERES OF LIFE? (eg: THE WORKPLACE, SCHOOLS, TEAMS, STORES) AP CHAPTER 1 - QUESTIONS

AP CHAPTER 1 – QUESTION 4 4-HOW SHOULD MINORITY RIGHTS BE PROTECTED AGAINST MAJORITY RULE?