1. AP U. S. Government-Ms. Baeslack
Chapter 1

2. Definition:
Institutions that make policy and decide on the allocation of resources and resolves conflicts.
Government

3. Government- What type of government is depicted?

4. What was right with countries using this form of government?
What was wrong?
A Glimpse From History

5. Definition:
Who is selected to be government leaders and what policies these leaders pursue.
“Who gets what, when and how”- Laswell Model
A process to decide;
Who –gets ….
What-which policies become law
How- through political participation
When-Timeframe
Politics

6. Politics

7. What would your cartoon look like?
Politics

8. Policymaking-Who shapes it in a Democracy?

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

10. Policymaking Institutions
Political Parties
Elections
Media
Interest Groups (including single issue groups)
Policymaking Institutions

11. The Policy Making Process
Policy Making Involves:
a. Individuals or groups identify a problem
b. The problem becomes part of the policy agenda
c. Congress passes legislation
d. The bureaucracy implements it
e. Feedback leads to revisions
The Policy Making Process

12. Policy Agenda Definition:
The issues that government is addressing at a point in time
Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.
It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda and then several more years to enact policy.
Policy Agenda

13. What policies are being considered in August/September 2017
Research:
Policy Agenda

14. Policymaking, Case Study
Camden N. J. Case study- Read the summary- in your group develop an action plan of policies that will make the changes.
An action plan consists of a number of action steps or changes to be brought about in your community.
A. Make a Vision-Goal-what do you want to accomplish?
B. It describes the strategies that will be used to meet the goal
C. What actions or changes will occur?
1.Who will carry out these changes? People, offices, community leaders
2.By when they will take place, and for how long?
3.What resources (i.e., money, staff) are needed to carry out these changes?
4.Communication (who should know what?
D. List the steps
Policymaking, Case Study

15. What is your definition of Democracy
What is your definition of Democracy? What is included in the definition?
Democracy

16. Democracy Definition: Equality in voting Effective participation
A system with free and fair elections and civil rights and liberties.
Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda
Inclusion
Democracy

17. Democracy What is your opinion on the following issues:
Immigration Laws- Giving illegal immigrants driver license
Ferguson-like demonstrations
Mandatory Health Care
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Abortion Laws
Federal Budget
Government Assistance Housing
U.S. Troops sent to Middle East to fight ISIS
State Graduation Assessments/NCLB
Taxes placed on cyber-use
Cable/Internet Monopolies
Democracy

18. Theories of U.S. Democracy
Pluralist Theory
A theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
Groups will work together
Public interest will prevail
Theories of U.S. Democracy

19. Theories of U.S. Democracy
Elite and Class Theory
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule.
Policies benefit those with money / power
Theories of U.S. Democracy

20. A super PAC is a political-action committee that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals and associations.
Some nonprofit groups are allowed to contribute to super PACs without disclosing where their money came from.
Elite and Class Theory

21. Challenges to Democracy
Increased Technological Complexity
Limited Participation in Government
Escalating Campaign Costs
Diverse Political Interests
Challenges to Democracy

22. Questions About Democracy
Are the people knowledgeable enough about government?
Is low voter turnout a threat to democracy?
Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?
Questions About Democracy

23. Questions about the Scope of Government
How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?
Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?
Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?
Questions about the Scope of Government

24. Questions about the Scope of Government
How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?
Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?
Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?
Questions about the Scope of Government

25. Questions about the Scope of Government
Does the media adequately inform citizens of what is happening in government?
Do the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government?
Are the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?
Questions about the Scope of Government