Chapter 1

1. Introducing Government In America Chapter 1

2. Vocabulary Government Policy Agenda Representation Public Goods Political Issue Pluralist Theory Politics Policymaking Institutions Elite and Class Theory Political Participation Public Policy Hyperpluralism Single-Issue Groups Democracy Policy Gridlock Policy Making System Majority Rules Gross Domestic Product Linkage Institution Minority Rights Individualism

3. Essential Questions • What is government? • Why is government needed? • What type of government is “best?” • What can/should you do if you disagree with your government? • How did we get the government we have? • How does our government function? • Who/how is our government run today?

4. Invisible Citizens: Youth Politics after September 11 “Young people are some of the most active members of their communities and are devoting increasing amounts of their time to direct service work and volunteerism.” Previn Warren • Why is it that young people seem indifferent about getting involved in politics? • Young citizens are some of the most caring, compassionate members of our society • They want the world/country to be “fair” • A HUGE gap between the young (18-25) and old (65+) in political involvement • Young people are less likely to be informed about politics and government • Young people are less likely to vote

5. Government in AmericaWhy should you care? • Schools • US – ban discrimination, no religion in schools, school lunch requirements • State/Local – graduation requirements, teacher certification • Jobs • US – employment standards (minimum wage, no discrimination), SS# • State/Local – minimum wage, hours worked as student, licensing requirements • Other • US – taxes, sign up for draft, ??drinking age,?? speed limits, no discrimination, student aide for college • State/Local – same, READ: p. 3-10

6. Government • How should we govern • Who holds the power and who influences the policies? • What should government do? maintain a national defense provide public services preserve order socialize the young collect taxes

7. Politics • Who we select as our leaders and what policies they enact • “Who gets what, when and how” • WHO: voters, candidates, groups and parties • WHAT: substance of politics and government • HOW: participation of the people (voting, supporting, compromising, lobbying, etc) • Political Participation (getting involved) • Voting • Running/Holding office • Single Issue Groups • Involvement in party politics (campaigns)

8. The Policy Making System (p. 13-14) • People expect their government to do something about their problems • Voters will penalize them at the polls if they do not • Public Policy tries to translate people’s desires into effect action • The system used to enact policy shows the government responding to people’s concerns and evolving as they go

10. The Policymaking System • LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS: organizations that enable voters to directly or indirectly influence public policy • POLICY AGENDA: Issues presented for public policy. Usually the majority party sets the direction for POLICY AGENDAS • POLITICAL ISSUE: When people disagree or something needs to be fixed, it becomes a political issue that needs to be discussed, debated and compromised. Government rarely acts until a POLITICAL ISSUE is high on the POLICY AGENDA • POLICY MAKING INSTITUTIONS: Established by the US Constitution, these institutions have the power to enact public policy. Congress, the Presidency, the Supreme Court. Very few policies are made by a single policy making institution

11. Public Policy • Every decision that government makes is a PUBLIC POLICY • Every law, every budget passed, every court ruling, every presidential action • Action vs. Inaction

12. Public Policy • Inaction: • Segregation after the Civil War • Fight against HIV/AIDS • Federal Funding of Abortion • Policies affect people’s lives • Policies have specific goals • Cut poverty • Reduce crime • Clean environment • Get economy back on track

13. Democracy • Different parts of the world define democracy differently • Democracy is a means of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy reflects citizens’ preferences • Today we equate democracy with equality, freedom, justice and peace • Writers of our Constitution were not fond of the idea of “democracy” because they doubted the ability of ordinary Americans to make informed choices on what the government should do • America views democracy as a government “By the People” but what we really have is a REPUBLIC which is a government FOR THE PEOPLE

14. Traditional Democracy Theory • Equality in Voting - “One Person One Vote” • Need not be universal, but needs to be representative • Effective Participation - Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their opinions • Enlightened Understanding - A marketplace of ideas • Free Press, Free Speech • No one group can monopolize or distort information • Citizen Control of the Agenda - Collectively control agenda • Wealthy or powerful cannot control the agenda • Inclusion - Government must include and extend rights to all subjected to its laws • Majority Rules/Minority Rights

15. Theories of American Democracy • Pluralist Theory – groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts. (NRA, NOW, UAW, Tea Party) • Elite and Class Theory – our society is divided along class lines and that the upper class controls the government. Wealth is the basis of power. Who is elected isn’t really all that important. • Hyperpluralist Theory – Interest groups get so strong that government is threatened. Often to the point of inability to pass policy (gridlock). If the government tries to placate all groups, nothing will be accomplished

16. Challenges to Democracy • Increased Technical Expertise – as human knowledge expands, it becomes difficult for ordinary citizens to make informed choices • Limited Participation in Government – without adequate participation, democracy is threatened. It becomes the voice of the few, ruling over the many • Escalating Campaign Costs – Candidates either spend a huge amount of time raising money for campaigning or must rely on PAC’s (political action committees). PAC’s expect something in return for their investments. • Diverse Political Interests – Many not have enough strength to make policy, but do have enough power to block others from making policy (gridlock). This problem is real and is magnified when the voters pick a president of one party and one or both houses of Congress from the other party

17. Scope of Government in America • How Active is American Government? • $2.4 trillion / year spent • Employs 2 million • Owns 1/3 land of US • Owns and operates over 400,000 vehicles (nonmilitary) • Compare US Government to other governments • Size (330 million people in US – 1.34 Billion in China – 34 million in Canada) • Size of economy (Us largest GDP) • Services provided (national healthcare, housing) • International commitments (military overseas) • “American Individualism” • People can and should be able to get ahead if THEY try, without interference from government • “Frontier Mentality” • Strong preference for “Free Market” Economy & Limited Government