1. Chapter 1 Review

2. Government
The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society.
Functions of government:
Maintain a national defense
Provide public services, public goods
Preserve order
Socialize the young
Collect taxes

3. Politics
The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they produce
Who gets what, when and how
Political participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or policies they pursue

4. The Policymaking System
Linkage Institutions
Transmit Americans’ preferences to the policymakers in government
Policy agenda
The issues that attract serious attention
Policymaking institutions
the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues
Public Policy
A choice that government makes in response to a political issue.
Policy Impacts: effects of the policy
The six items are hyperlinked to their own slide. A return button is also on the slide.

5. Democracy
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.
Components of Traditional Democratic Theory:
Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizens control of the agenda
Inclusion
Majority rule v minority rights
Representation

6. Theories of U.S. Democracy
Pluralist Theory
A theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups.
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, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

7. Challenges to Democracy
Limited Participation in Government
Escalating Campaign Costs
Diverse Political Interests (policy gridlock)

8. American Political Culture and Democracy
Political Culture: An overall set of values widely shared within a society.
American culture is diverse and comprised of:
Liberty
Egalitarianism
Individualism
Laissez-faire
Populism

9. The United States is not a direct democracy because
The population has increased too rapidly in the last 100 years
The authors of the Constitution did not trust the public to make informed decisions
The Constitution prohibits direct representation
The separation of powers would not work in a direct democracy
A direct democracy would not fairly represent all Americans

10. Which of the following concepts best demonstrates the theory of democracy?
The rights of the accused
Separation of powers
Majority rule
Bicameralism
Big business

11. A citizen who disapproves of proposed legislation can do all of the following EXCEPT
Call or write a letter to his or her senator
Vote for a different candidate in the next election
Join a political interest group
Vote against the legislation
Participate in a protest

12. Which of the following is the best indication of pluralism in American politics?
The AARP has the largest membership of any interest group
Third parties often endorse candidates for office, but rarely do they win elections
The federal bureaucracy is expanding as more and more citizens are hired for federal jobs
More than 20,000 interest groups lobby Congress each year
Citizens are able to vote in local, state, and national elections

13. Hyperpluralists differ from pluralists in their belief that
The representation of too many interests is detrimental to policymakers
Only the wealthiest lobbyists are heard in Congress
Power should be centralized in one branch of government
Competition among groups leads to compromise and, hence, stronger policy
Political groups get their funds exclusively from big business

14. All of the following are characteristics of a traditional democracy EXCEPT
An informed electorate
A national defense
Public participation
Equal access to government institutions
National elections