Introducing Government in America

1
1
Introducing Government in America
2
1
Video The Big Picture
http//media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDI
A_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch01_Introducing_Go
vernment_in_America_Seg1_v2.html
3
1
Learning Objectives
Identify the key functions of government and
explain why they matter

1.1
Define politics in the context of democratic
government
1.2
4
1
Learning Objectives
Assess how citizens can have an impact on public
policy and how policies can impact people
1.3
Identify the key principles of democracy and
outline theories regarding how it works in
practice and the challenges democracy faces today
1.4
5
1
Learning Objectives
Outline the central arguments of the debate in
America over the proper scope of government
1.5
6
1
Video The Basics
http//media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDI
A_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_IntroAmrGov_v2.html
7
1.1
Government

• What is government?
• How should we govern?
• What are the options?
• Discuss
• What should government do?
• Maintain a national defence
• Provide public goods and services
• Preserve order
• Socialize the young
• Collect taxes

8
1.1
Transfer of Power
9
1.1
Ferguson
10
1.1
1.1 Which of the following is not a duty of
government?

• Collecting taxes
• Proving for national defence
• Promoting religion
• Preserving order

11
1.2
Politics

• What is politics?
• Who gets what, when, and how
• Political participation
• More than just voting

12
1.2
FIGURE 1.1 Political apathy among young and old
Americans, 19722008
13
1.2
FIGURE 1.2 Age and political knowledge, 1972 and
2008
14
1.2
FIGURE 1.3 Election turnout rates of young and
old Americans, 19722010
15
1.2
Politics

• Single-issue groups
• e.g., abortion

16
1.2
Abortion rally
17
1.2
1.2 Which is true of single-issue groups?

• They increase voter participation.
• They negatively affect voter turnout.
• They vote just for politicians who support their
  issue.
• They force politicians to consider compromises.
• Answer

18
1.3
Policymaking System

• People Shape Policy
• Politics Impact People

19
1.3
FIGURE 1.4 The policymaking system
20
1.3
People Shape Policy

• Linkage institutions
• Policy agenda
• Political issue
• Policymaking institutions
• Congress
• Presidency
• Courts

21
1.3
Politics Impact People

• Public policy
• Statute
• Presidential action
• Court decision
• Budgetary choice
• Regulation
• Policies should be effective
• Policies must have a goal

22
1.3
Table 1.1 Types of public policies
23
1.3
1.3 Which of the following is an example of
public policy?

• Personal conviction
• Parental rule
• Congressional statute
• Religious edict
• Answer

24
1.4
Democracy in America

• Traditional Democratic Theory
• Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy
• Challenges to Democracy
• American Political Culture and Democracy
• A Culture War

25
1.4
Traditional Democratic Theory

• Key principles of the democratic process
  (according to Dahl)
• Equality in voting
• Effective participation
• Enlightened understanding
• Citizen control of the agenda
• Inclusion
• Majority rule and minority rights
• Representation

26
1.4
Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy

• Pluralism
• Groups of minorities working together
• Elitism
• Power is held by the wealthy
• Hyperpluralism
• Too many groups try to control policy

27
1.4
Challenges to Democracy

• Increased complexity of issues
• Limited participation in government
• Diverse political interests
• Policy gridlock
• Escalating campaign costs

28
1.4
Super PAC contributions
29
1.4
American Political Culture and Democracy

• Political culture based on American creed
• Liberty
• Egalitarianism
• Individualism
• Laissez-faire
• Populism

30
1.4
New Hampshire license plate
31
1.4
American Political Culture and Democracy

• Political culture based on American creed
• Liberty
• Egalitarianism
• Individualism
• Laissez-faire
• Populism

32
1.4
FIGURE 1.5 Pride in equal treatment of groups in
the U.S. and other established democracies
33
1.4
American Political Culture and Democracy

• Political culture based on American creed
• Liberty
• Egalitarianism
• Individualism
• Laissez-faire
• Populism
• Can you explain why we find such discrepancies in
  an area where we also find complete public
  support for the basic principles?
• How might we reconcile such competing
  perspectives?

34
1.4
A Culture War?

• Polarization of liberal and conservative
  political culture
• Is it happening?
• Testing a crisis of values
• Loss of traditional values
• Less patriotism
• Irreconcilable differences

35
1
Video In Context
http//media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDI
A_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_PoliticalCulture_v2.ht
ml
36
1.4
1.4 Which of the following illustrates
hyperpluralism?

• Use of the court system to try to set policy
• Decrease in patriotism
• Reliance on Congress to limit special interests
• Diversity in political interests
• Answer

37
1.5
Scope of Government in America

• How Active Is American Government?
• The political debate over programs that help
  low-income individuals continues.
• Do such programs expand the scope of government
  too much?
• Or do they help people to get by during hard
  times?

38
1.5
How Active Is American Government?

• Gross domestic product (GDP)
• Government spends 1/3
• Government employs 24 million people
• Americans expect government to solve problems
• Unemployment, terrorism, illegal immigration,
  energy, education, lack of access to health care

39
1.5
1.5 About one-third of the GDP is spent by

• The federal government
• State governments
• Local governments
• All three governments combined
• Answer