AP Government Chapter One Notes American Government Roots AP Government Chapter One Notes

Quick review Native Americans Demographic Collapse 90% wiped out* Disease

Why did colonists come here? Economic Opportunity Wealthy people + labor Social casts Religious Freedom Clashed with Church of England or Catholicism.

Government -- institution through which policies are made and state affairs are conducted.

Types of Government Totalitarianism / Dictatorships – the rulers hold absolute and unchallengeable power.

Types of Government Oligarchy Dictatorships tend to be based on: Dictatorship by a small group. Dictatorships tend to be based on: Families (monarchy) Social status (Aristocracy) Religion (Theocracy) Ideology (like Communism) Individual (Cult of Personality)

Types of Government Democracy -- Power is held by the people. -- Popular Consent Direct Democracy -- People vote on everything Republic, Representative Democracy, Indirect democracy -- We elect people to make decisions for us.

Functions of U.S. Government Establish Justice Create laws that people must follow based on common principles. Establish legal authorities to dispense justice. Examples: Don’t murder, do get educated, don’t dump trash in the water supply, etc.

Functions of U.S. Government Ensure Domestic Tranquility Preserve Order & Protect populace

Functions of U.S. Government 3. Provide for Common Defense

Functions of U.S. Government Promote the General Welfare a) In the Constitution b) Vague… Help the people ?

Functions of U.S. Government Securing the Blessings of Liberty Opportunity to prosper Civil liberties Today its basically universal, historically… not so much. (See Slavery, Women’s rights)

American Political Culture Political Culture – shared values and beliefs. Liberty and Equality Freedoms evolution – from government to freedom to (work/vote/marry/abuse substances)

American Political Culture Equality does NOT mean: we are all the same Versus (in a swimming contest)

American Political Culture What equality in the USA does mean: 1) We all have equal opportunity.

American Political Culture Equality also means: We are all equal before the law. 14th Amendment said we MUST be equal before the law (several years later) Ha,Ha! Oh, Snap 

American Political Culture Popular Consent Also called: Popular Sovereignty Power comes from the people.

American Political Culture Popular Consent, cont. Majority Rule, Minority Rights laws take place ONLY if 50% + 1 votes Majority rule logic = By making decisions that appease the Majority, the democratic process arrives at the most satisfactory solutions to problems. Not necessarily the best or the right answer.

American Political Culture, cont. A majority could destroy any democracy AND the minority, if left unchecked. So, The majority must allow the minority to become the majority. The majority must listen to the minority and consider their side.

American Political Culture, cont. Individualism Founders were people who wanted to make it on their own without government interference. The Western Frontier – You HAD to make it on your own.

American Political Culture, cont. Religious Freedom American diversity = freedom to practice your religion was necessary. Freedom to practice and free from gov interference. Doesn’t mean people have to be tolerant.

How America is Changing Racial Composition Waves of Immigration 1- Northwestern Europe 2 – Southern Europe 3 – Hispanics and Asians

How America is Changing b) U.S. ethnic makeup 2008 White 75% African American 12% Hispanic 15% Projected 2050 White 52% African American 15% Hispanic 24% Asian 8.2% (Fastest growing)

How America is Changing Aging Old people Living longer (life expectancy has gone from 35 to 78) Less children. Money Old versus Young Scholarships vs Medicine

How America is Changing Social Security Trust Fund Extra Money goes in and earns interest. Gov started taking out the money and leave an IOU Currently over $2.6 trillion in IOU’s.

How America is Changing Church of All Worlds How America is Changing Religious Beliefs Then: Settled exclusively by Christians Now: Many (every) religions have significant practitioners. Have different political demands which can create ‘issues’. Church of Euthanasia

How America is Changing Regional growth and expansion Americans moving West (& South) Americans moving to cities

How America is Changing Regional Growth and Expansion cont. Politically Republican: Rural, South, Midwest Democratic: Urban, West Coast, Northeast

How America is Changing Family Size 1790 – Children = labor + retirement plan 2012 – Children = expensive pets Industrialization + birth control Poll best number of children: 1949 – 49% said 4 or more 2011 – 58% said 0 to 2 Traditional to non-traditional Declining Marriage rate Higher divorce rate Single parent household = more likely to support government programs

Political Ideology We call ourselves: Liberal Conservative Moderate Favor a political philosophy of “progress” and reform Protection of civil liberties. Government should help those in need.

Political Ideology Conservative – favor tradition and opposed to rapid change. Government should act/spend as little as possible except for Military. Personal Responsibility. Moderates – Centrist view on most issues.

Political Ideology Problems with labels When asked to label themselves, most people say Conservative. When asked about single issues more people are Liberal. Left Right versus 4 point spectrum Marxist Liberal Moderate Conservative Anarcho Capitalist

Political Ideology

Political Socialization The process that leads to your own political beliefs. Religion Peers School Media Family

Politics Definition: Who gets what, when, and how. : The process by which policy decisions are made. As America changes, the what when and how change.

Changes What we expect from Federal Government Historically Defense, Print money Today Virtually everything Why? Great Depression

Trust in Government Pre 1960’s – Americans trust their government.

Trust Today people do not trust their government. Why?