Introducing Government in America Chapter 1 Introducing Government in America

Learning Objectives Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Define politics in the context of democratic government. Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

Government & Politics Impact You! Public schools prohibit discrimination. State governments decide the age you drive. Federal government issues social security cards which allow you to work. Federal government provides student loans. Federal, State and Local governments create standards and tests in order for you to obtain a high school diploma. (CMT’s and CAPT)

Introduction Politics and government matter. Americans are apathetic about politics and government. American youth are not likely to be informed about government and politics and rarely participate in politics.

Amendment 26 Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. July 7, 1971

Introduction The Political Disengagement of College Students Today (Figure 1.1)

Introduction

Introduction Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.3)

Political Knowledge Importance Fosters civic virtues. (Ex: Political Tolerance) Helps citizens identify policies they believe would benefit them and then incorporate this information into their voting behavior. Promotes active participation in politics.

PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT BENEFITS YOU!

Government Definition: Government is the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society. Determines governmental leaders. Determines policies they pursue.

Government This definition leads to two basic questions: How should we govern? What should government do? Governments typically maintain …

National Defense Preserve Order Collect Taxes Provide Services

Politics Definition: Politics is the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they produce—politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

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

Political Participation How people are involved in politics = political participation. United States has poor voting turnout which is judged by some to mean an unhealthy gov’t. Participation is much more than voting…includes knowledge, working on campaigns etc… Single issue groups usually develop membership from people new to politics. Many times these are young people. These issues would be narrow and would not like compromise.

What is the “Single Issue”?

The Policymaking System The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time Figure 1.4 The six items are hyperlinked to their own slide. A return button is also on the slide.

People Policy making system begins with people. All people have interests, problems & concerns that touch public policy. All these three basic items vary. Ex: view on gun control, taxes, social security, healthcare.

Linkage Institutions How do people express their their interests, problems and concerns? Linkage institutions are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Political Parties Elections News & Entertainment Media Interest Groups

Policy Agenda Definition: The policy agenda are issues that attract the serious attention of public officials. Political issues arise when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it. Some issues will be considered, and others will not. A government’s policy agenda changes regularly. Issues today would be items such as: Economy Iraq / Afghanistan Environment

Policymaking Institutions Definition: Policymaking institutions are the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. The U.S. Constitution established three of the four policymaking institutions.

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Bureaucracy Judicial Branch

Bureaucracy Made Simple

Public Policies Public Policy is every decision government makes, every law it passes, budget is establishes and ruling handed down. Inaction or doing nothing different also causes public policy. President Reagan’s policy on AIDS.

Policies Impact People Public Policy: a choice that government makes in response to a political issue If government does not respond that is a response also.

Policies Impact People Impacts of Policies: Does it solve the problem? Does it create more problems? Does the policy have a GOAL? Depending on the answer, policy impacts carry the political system back to its point of origin: the concerns of people.

Democracy Definition: Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences. Components of Traditional Democratic Theory: Equality in voting - “one person = one vote” Effective participation – Express preferences through decision making process. Enlightened understanding – Free Press & Free Speech Citizen control of the agenda – One group should not control agenda / policy. Inclusion – Every person must be involved in order to be democratic.

Is This 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 together Example – NRA, UAW, WPTSO, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Not majority rule but small groups of minorities working together. Public interest will prevail through bargaining and compromise

Pluralist Theory

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 equal – Pluralists believe everyone can get a piece of the pie. Not true says elite and class theory. Upper class pulls the strings of government. Wealth is the basis of power. Over 1/3 of nations wealth is held by 1% of population. Public Policies benefit those with money and power. They become the policymakers. Reagan’s Administration signifies this type of policy by many scholars.

Elite and Class Theory

Theories of U.S. Democracy Hyperpluralism A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Groups control policy and prevent government from acting. Too many ways for groups to control policy. Ex: Environmental groups delay construction by filing court actions. Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation ( need cooperation from local, state and federal officials) If any one does not do their job then the policy is not implemented. Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group.

Challenges to Democracy Increased Technical Expertise More issues that are more difficult to understand and the American Public does not have the time or ability to make informed decisions. Limited Participation in Government Challenges the basic concept of democratic values. Escalating Campaign Costs Winning elections = money. Dependent on PAC’s due to high campaign costs. Diverse Political Interests (policy gridlock) – When no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. Nothing is achieved. Ex: President of one party and interests. Main party of Congress is the other and have other interests. Little is accomplished.

Policy Gridlock

American Political Culture and Democracy What holds American’s together is our shared set of wide values. Equality Justice Freedom In order to understand the USA, you must first understand our history.

American Political Culture and Democracy Political Culture: An overall set of values widely shared within a society. American culture is diverse and comprised of: Liberty “Concept of Freedom” Egalitarianism “Everyone has the chance to be …” Possible social equality. Individualism “Working on own to improve oneself” Laissez-faire “Free Markets and Limited Government” Americans pay very little compared to other nations. Populism “Valued to be ordinary person vrs. elite” People come first.

How Active is American Government? It spends about $2.8 trillion annually It employs nearly 2 million people It owns one-third of the land It occupies 2.6 billion square feet of office space It owns and operates 400,000 nonmilitary vehicles

Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Governments shape the way we live by performing the following functions: Maintaining a national defense. Providing public services. Preserving order Socializing the young Collecting taxes

Define politics in the context of democratic government. Politics determines what leaders we select and what policies they pursue. The who of politics is the voter, candidates, parties, and groups. The what of government is the benefits (enacted policies) and burdens (taxes). The how is the various ways in which people participate in politics.

Policy making system is a cycle. Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Policy making system is a cycle. Citizens interests and concerns are transmitted through linkage institutions. These concerns shape the government’s policy agenda by those in the policymaking institutions. Policies are then made to influence people’s lives.

Identify the key principles if democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces. The ideal democracy is characterized by “one person, one vote.” Equal opportunity to participate: 1st amendment freedoms, citizens control policy agenda. Pluralist theory states that competition among many organized groups means that the public interest becomes the public policy. Elite theory states that the powerful few dominate. Hyperpluralist theory states that many competing groups lead to muddled policy or inaction. Democracy complex issues include: citizens’ limited participation, escalating campaign costs and policy gridlock.

Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Debate over the proper scope of government in USA. Are the goals that are agreed upon best achieved through government action or by means other than government?