Introducing Government in America

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Introducing Government in America
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Introduction

• Politics and government matter.
• Americans are apathetic about politics and
  government.

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Introduction

• The American Youth
• Few keep up with politics.
• Less likely to be informed.

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Introduction
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Introduction

• Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age
  (Figure 1.3)

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Government

• Definition
• The institutions and processes through which
  public policies are made for society.
• This definition leads to two basic questions
• How should we govern?
• What should government do?

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Politics

• Definition
• How we elect our leaders and what our leaders do
  with government.
• In other words, politics is
• Who gets what, when and how.

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The Policymaking System

• The process by which policy comes into being and
  evolves over time.
• Policymaking begins and ends with the people!
• Figure 1.4

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People

• Interests
• Problems
• Concerns

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Linkage Institutions

• The institutions that LINK the American people
  it their government!
• Political Parties
• Elections
• News Entertainment Media
• Interest Groups

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Policy Agenda

• Political Issues
• These arise when people disagree about a problem
  and how to fix it.
• Some issues will be considered, and others will
  not.
• A governments policy agenda changes regularly.

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Policymaking Institutions

• Legislature
• Congress
• House of Representatives
• Senate
• Executive
• President
• Cabinet Executive Offices
• Courts
• Federal and State
• Bureaucracies
• Federal and State

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Policy Impacts People
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Policy Impacts People

• Impacts of Policies
• Does it solve the problem?
• Does it create more problems?

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Democracy

• Definition
• A system of voting in representatives to do the
  work of government for us.
• Key beliefs
• Equality in voting
• Effective participation
• Informed citizenry
• Citizen influence on politics
• Inclusion

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Theories of U.S. Democracy

• Pluralist Theory
• A theory of government and policies emphasizing
  that politics is mainly a competition among
  groups, each one pressing for its own preferred
  policies.
• Groups will work together
• Public interest will prevail

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Theories of U.S. Democracy

• 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.
• Not all groups are equal
• Policies benefit those with money / power

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Theories of U.S. Democracy

• Hyperpluralism
• A theory of government and politics contending
  that groups are so strong that government is
  weakened.
• There are too many ways for groups to control
  policy.
• Confusing / contradictory policies

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Questions About Democracy

• Are the people knowledgeable- and do they apply
  what they know?
• Do interest groups help the process, or do they
  get in the way?
• Do political parties offer clear consistent
  choices for voters?
• Does the President Congress work in the best
  interests of ALL the people?

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Questions about the Scope of Government

• How big a role does the Constitution say should
  be played by the federal government?
• Does a bigger, more involved (active) government
  limit the peoples freedoms?
• Do we need a bigger, more involved government to
  protect our freedoms?

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Questions about the Scope of Government, continued

• Do competing political parties make for better
  policies?
• Do more interest groups create a bigger
  government?
• Does the media help control the size and policies
  government?

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Questions about the Scope of Government, continued

• Can the president control the government, or has
  it gotten too big?
• Can Congress respond to the needs of the people,
  or just to the interest groups?
• Do members of Congress expand government by
  seeking to be re-elected?

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Questions about the Scope of Government, continued

• Do the federal courts overstep their bounds and
  intrude on the powers of other branches of
  government?
• Are the federal agencies too large and
  unresponsive to the public they are supposed to
  serve?