U'S' Government 101

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U.S. Government 101

• Mark Stephan

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Hitting the Highlights

• Representative Democracy
• The Constitution
• The Three Branches
• Parties, Interest Groups
• Media, Public Opinion
• Political Participation
• Public Policy

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Representative Democracy

• Basic Definition
• In contrast to direct democracy
• Referendums, initiatives, community involvement
• Democracy around the world (monarchy,
  authoritarian regimes)

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The Constitution

• A Nation of Laws
• Specifying the structure of government
• Separation of Powers
• Federalism
• Bill of Rights Civil Liberties and Rights

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The Three Branches

• Legislative
• Congress -- bicameralism
• Executive
• The Presidency, Bureaucratic Agencies
• Judicial
• The Supreme Court
• The Bureaucracy multiple influences

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Parties and Interest Groups

• Two party system
• Minor Parties?
• Candidate-centered elections
• Interest Groups
• Electoral reforms of the 1970s

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Media . Public Opinion

• Roles of the Media
• Inform, Interpret, Advocate, Mislead?
• Public Opinion
• Influenced by the media
• Influenced by other sources
• Can influence our political leaders

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Political Participation

• Voting
• Other forms of participation
• Who participates, who doesnt

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Public Policy

• Policy process making policy, implementing,
  evaluating it
• Agenda setting critical place of power
• Politics and policy intertwined

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Borrowing books

• Worth reading or skimming
• Textbooks or primary readings
• Borrow for a few weeks
• Sign out from me