1. Introduction to AP U.S. Government and Politics
Mr. John Burkowski Jr. (JB)
Academy for Advanced Academics South

2. Know and Understand the Basic Functional Concepts of American Politics
The Electorate – The Voter
Self-Interests
Beliefs/Philosophies
Interest Groups
Issues
Lobbying
The Government Institutions
Legislation
Executive
Bureaucratic Agencies
Judicial
The Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Media
Elections and Campaigns

3. Again, Think Politically
“I know exactly how a bill becomes a law in the federal government.”
OK, do you know why a legislator would delay or prevent a bill from becoming a law? Do you know how the legislator would do this?
Do you know why and how a bill can become law faster than usual?
It is more than knowing the rules, but how to play the game.

4. Current American Political Culture
POLITICAL LEFT
Democrat
Media
MSNBC
Interest Groups
Moveon.org
NAACP
Major Issues
Health Care
Immigration
Pro-Choice
Same-sex marriage
POLITICAL RIGHT
Republican
Tea Party
Christian Conservative
Media
Fox News
Rush Limbaugh
Interest Groups
ALEC
Americans for Tax Reform
NRA
Major Issues
Gun Rights
Border Security
Pro-Life

5. Power and Types of Government
Power is the ability to coerce someone to do what you want
Autocracy
Oligarchy
Theocracy
Totalitarianism
Democracy

6. Autocracy Unlimited power is vested in one person Absolute Monarchy
Hereditary position
Ex. Louis XIV, Saudi Arabia
Dictatorship
Assume power through force or persuasion
Ex. Kim Jong-il of North Korea

7. Oligarchy Power is vested in the hands of a few, usually elites
In most cases, power passed down through heredity and/or elitist characteristic to preserve influence and power
Plutocracy or Aristocracy is rule by the wealthy
Examples:
Sparta
Apartheid South Africa

8. Theocracy
Power is assumed by religious leaders who establish laws and limits based on religious decree
Examples:
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Islamist Republic of Iran
The Ayatollah
Holy See/Vatican City
The Pope

9. Totalitarianism
Government assumes all power and controls all aspects of society
The state may fall under the control of a single dictator, political party, or group of elites
Examples:
Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy

10. Democracy Rule by many, rule of the people Direct Democracy
Citizens participate in the political process and determine public policy
Direct Democracy
All citizens determine public policy
Representative Democracy
Citizens elect representatives to determine public policy
Republic
People reserve the ultimate authority
Government leaders answer to electorate
Government limited by constitution and/or popular sovereignty

11. Type of Governments for U.S. Government
Parliamentary System
Legislative supremacy which delegates powers to executives
Ex. United Kingdom
Unitary government
Power solely reserved in central government
Central government delegates power
Confederation
Loose alliance of sovereign states
States reserve sovereignty and work together for common causes toward foreign states
Central government significantly limited and changes to government require unanimous consent
Ex. U.S.A. under Articles of Confederation
Federation/Federal Republic
Strong central government manages national policies
Division of powers between national and state/local governments
Federal government holds supreme power
Ex. U.S.A. under U.S. Constitution

14. Democratic Theories Participatory Democracy Pluralist Democracy
Consent of the governed;
Pluralist Democracy
Interest groups
Elite Democracy
Upper class elected leaders acting as trustees
Bureaucratic Democracy
Bureaucrats/government officials
Hyperpluralism
Numerous interest groups