Introduction to American Government and Politics

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Introduction to American Government and Politics

• 1. basic definitions
• Politics
• Power
• Government
• 2. the political system

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What is politics?

• Who gets what, when, and how
• A process of determining how power
• and resources are distributed in a
• society without recourse to violence.

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Power

• The ability to get other people to do what you
  want.

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Government the mechanism developed to address
and control problems that we cant address as
individuals.
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• Basic government roles
• maintain social order
• legal processes
• police powers
• provide national security
• diplomatic channels
• military powers
• provide collective goods
• benefits shared by all

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Political-Social Environment
1. Problem perception
2. Policy
conception 3.
Agenda setting

4. Decision-

making
5. Political

execution

6. Political

impact
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Problem perception phasePeople need to perceive
that a problem exists and that government has a
role in addressing that problem.
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Policy conception phaseProposing solutions to
identified problems.
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3. Agenda settingCommunicating the proposed
solution to decision-makers and gaining access
for influence.
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4. Decision-making phaseInstitutional
processes for making policy decisions.
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5. Political execution phaseThe
implementation of policies, or putting policy
decisions into effect.
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6. Political impact phaseAssessment of both
positive and negative impacts of a policy,
including feedback into problem perception.
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Problem
Policy Agenda Decision-
Political Political
perception conception
setting making
execution impact