AP U.S. Government & Politics “There has never been, nor will be, a people who are politically ignorant & free.“ Thomas Jefferson What does Jefferson mean? Do you agree?

Political Apathy

Describe what you see in the graph. What does the graph explain about voting in the U.S.? Is this dangerous? Why or why not? What is political apathy? Disengagement from the political process

Why is it important to be politically engaged? Political Knowledge 1. fosters civic virtues, such as political tolerance. 2. helps citizens identify what policies would truly benefit them and influence their voting decisions 3. promotes active participation in politics Can you think of any examples in politics today that would help you make a decision about voting for a candidate?

Government What is a government? The institutions that make decisions for a society. What is our government? Congress, the president, the courts and federal administrative agencies (bureacracy). Also, state and local govt. How should we govern? What should government do?

What should govt. do? Government should: Maintain a national defense Provide public services – or public goods - Examples? Public goods – must be shared by all- access to highways, defense, clean air, water Preserve order Socialize the young Collect taxes