1. Introducing Government in America
AP Government
Mr. Munoz
Introducing Government in America

2. Politics and Government Matter
This is the single most important message of this course.
Why? What things has the government created that effect you directly?
Why are so many young Americans apathetic towards the Political Process?
Why do the elderly have consistently higher voter turn out compared to the year old bracket?

3. Government
The institutions that make decisions for a society are collectively known as Government
In the US, these institutions are Congress, the president, the courts, and Federal agencies.
There are two major themes involved in government:
How should we govern?
What should government do?

4. Government
National government throughout the world perform the following functions:
Maintain a National Defense
Provide Public Services and Public Goods
Preserve order
Socialize the young
Collect taxes
(in your notes define what each of these means)

5. Politics
Politics determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue.
Politicians decide, “Who gets what, when, and how.
Media usually focuses on the “who” of politics
Voters, candidates, groups, and parties
“what” refers to the substance of politics (medicare, taxes, etc.)
“how” refers to the ways in which people participate in government (voting, lobbying, compromising, etc.)

6. Politics
Political participation is the way people get involved in politics.
This can be used as to measure the health of a government
Single-issue groups contain the most active members in politics. Why?

7. The Policymaking System
The Policymaking system reveals the way our government responds to the priorities of its people.
(project image on page 11 of Edwards book)
Policymaking begins with people. Why?

8. The Policymaking System
What do people do to express their opinions in democracy?
How to they strengthen their voice?
Linkage institutions – parties, elections, interest groups, and the media – transmit Americans’ preferences to the policymakers in government.
All of these institutions help shape the government’s policy agenda. How?

9. The Policymaking System
If candidates want to get elected, what do they need to do?
Political issues are the results of people disagreeing about problem or public policy.
There is never a shortage of political issues.
It is the responsibility of the policymakers to address political issues within the three policymaking institutions as established by the US Constitution – Congress, the Presidency, and the Courts.

10. The Policymaking System
Policies Impact People
Every decision the government makes is public policy.
Policies can be established through inaction as well as action. How?
Now, once Policy is made, such as the removal of DOMA, they affect people.
Policy Impacts are the effects that a policy has on people and on society’s problems.

11. Democracy
Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy reflects citizens’ preferences.
Is Democracy the best form of government?
What has democracy come to mean today in the world?

12. Democracy
Traditional Democratic Theory (ideally should satisfy the following five criteria)
Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda
Inclusion (what does this mean?)

13. Democracy
What is the golden expression in US government? (answer on next slide)

14. Democracy “Majority rule with Minority rights.”
What is the significance of this statement?

15. Democracy What is our form of government called?
Why do we have representation?

16. Democracy There are three contemporary Theories of American Democracy
Pluralism
Elitism
Hyperpluralism

17. Democracy
Pluralism – A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result public interest generally prevails.
Is this true?
Counter example – Bowling league memberships decline while bowling increases

18. Democracy
Elitism – A theory of American Democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization.
How is this a valid theory?
Note: 1% of the population holds over 1/3 of the nation’s wealth.

19. Democracy
Hyperpluralism – A theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives in to the many groups, is thereby weakened.
What is the basis of this theory?
What can this cause in our government?

20. Democracy Challenges to Democracy Define each of the above challenges
Increased complexity of issues
Limited participation in government
Escalating campaign costs
Diverse political interests
Define each of the above challenges
If these challenges are not overcome it can lead to policy gridlock.

21. American Political Culture and Democracy
Political Culture – and overall set of values widely shared within a society
What is the political culture in the Delta?
San Francisco?
Birmingham, Alabama?

22. American Political Culture and Democracy
Liberty
“give me liberty or give me death” – Patrick Henry
What is liberty?
Can liberty only exist in a democracy?

23. American Political Culture and Democracy
Egalitarianism - a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affair.
Does everyone feel this way?
Republicans vs Democrats
Rich vs Poor?
Munoz vs Walker? 

24. American Political Culture and Democracy
Individualism
What is the “American Dream?”
Is it still achievable today?
How strong is the individual in our government?

25. American Political Culture and Democracy
Laissez-faire – free market economy and limited government
What does free market mean?
What is limited government?
According to Adam Smith (author of A Wealth of Nations) what is the driving force of every economic system?

26. American Political Culture and Democracy
Populism – a political philosophy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites.

27. American Political Culture and Democracy
Are all of these different beliefs on subjects creating a culture war?
(show cartoon on page 21 in Edwards)

28. Finally…
We measure how well our economy is doing based off of our GDP (gross domestic product) – the sum total of the value of all goods and services produced in a year in a nation.
The decisions our government makes has a huge impact on our GDP.