 2008 National Election Study ◦ Over ½ of Americans ounder the age of 30 said they rarely followed politics National Election study shows that people over 65 were correct more than twice as often than younger voter in terms of estimates of political issues such things as unemployment, etc. In there was no contrast by age of estimates on political issues

 1. fosters civic virtues such as political tolerance  2. helps citizens to identify what policies would truly benefit them and then incorporate this information in their voting behavior  3. Promotes active participation in politics

National Government in most countries do the following: 1. Maintain a national defense 2. Provide public services 3. Preserve order 4. Socialize the young 5. Collect taxes

 A government protects its national sovereignty by maintaining armed forces  Protects its own

 Government in this country spends billions of dollars on schools, libraries, hospitals and other public institutions  By their very nature cannot be denied to anyone, therefore are available to everyone

 Every government has some means of maintaining order  For example to stop a protest in large numbers when it reverts to looting

 Instill in children knowledge of and pride in the nation and its political system and values  Most modern governments pay for education, and school curricula typically include a course on the theory and practice of country’s government  Most have rituals like a pledge

 Who- who we elect  What- the substance of politics… medical care, new taxes, new laws  How- the system in which we decide what and who

 Define one complete example of politics including what YOU want done…Who can get it done… and What needs to happen to get it done  i.e.  Dress code… you want spaghetti straps, The Board of Education… a thoughtful plea and argument needs to be brought fourth so the Board will discuss and approve it

 Many people judge the health of the government by how widespread political participation is  America is among the worst

 Equality in Voting- The principle of “one person one vote.. ◦ Voting need not be universal, but it must be representative Effective Participation- citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their preferences throughout the decision making process

 Enlightened understanding- A democratic society must be a marketplace of ideas. A free press and free speech are essential to civic understanding  Citizen control of the agenda- citizens should have the collective right to control the government’s policy agenda  Inclusion- The government must include and extend rights to all of the citizens in its laws

 In a true democracy… majority rules… that’s it!!!!  Representation- we have a representative democracy in which representatives fight for what the people want