Introducing Government in Introducing Government in AmericaAmerica

Chapter 1

IntroductionIntroduction

Politics and government matter.Americans are apathetic about politics and

government.American youth are less likely to be

informed about government and politics and participate less in politics.

IntroductionIntroduction The Political Disengagement of College Students

Today (Figure 1.1)

IntroductionIntroduction

IntroductionIntroduction Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.2)

GovernmentGovernment

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?

PoliticsPolitics

Definition:– The process by which we select our

governmental leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

Also consider Lasswell’s definition:– Who gets what, when and how.

Figure 1.3

The Policymaking SystemThe Policymaking System

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

PeoplePeople

InterestsProblemsConcerns

Linkage InstitutionsLinkage Institutions

Political PartiesElectionsNews & Entertainment MediaInterest Groups

Policy AgendaPolicy Agenda

Political Issues– These arise when people disagree about a

problem and how to fix it.Items at the top of the policy agenda are

taken care of first.It may take years to get an item on the

policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

Policymaking InstitutionsPolicymaking Institutions

Legislature (Congress)Executive (President)Courts (Federal and State)Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

Policy Impacts PeoplePolicy Impacts People

Policy Impacts PeoplePolicy Impacts People

Impacts of policies:Does it solve the problem?Does it create more problems?

DemocracyDemocracy

Definition:– A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing

government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.

Equality in voting Effective participation Enlightened understanding Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion

Theories of U.S. Democracy…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 togetherPublic interest will prevail

Theories of U.S. Democracy…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 equalPolicies benefit those with money / power

Theories of U.S. Democracy…Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Hyperpluralism– A theory of government and politics contending

that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralismConfusing / contradictory policiesGridlock- inability to act at all

Challenges to DemocracyChallenges to Democracy

Increased Technical ExpertiseLimited Participation in GovernmentEscalating Campaign CostsDiverse Political Interests

Questions About DemocracyQuestions 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?

American IndividualismAmerican Individualism

Individualism is the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government.

Individualism is highly valued in the United States with a strong preference for free markets and limited government.

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of GovernmentGovernment

How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?

Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?

Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of Government, continued…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?

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of Government, continued…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?

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of Government, continued…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?