Introduction to AP U.S. Government and Politics Mr. John Burkowski Jr. (JB) Academy for Advanced Academics South

Know and Understand the Basic Functional Concepts of American Politics The Electorate – The Voter Self-Interests Beliefs/Philosophies Interest Groups Issues Lobbying The Government Institutions Legislation Executive Bureaucratic Agencies Judicial The Linkage Institutions Political Parties Media Elections and Campaigns

Again, Think Politically “I know exactly how a bill becomes a law in the federal government.” OK, do you know why a legislator would delay or prevent a bill from becoming a law? Do you know how the legislator would do this? Do you know why and how a bill can become law faster than usual? It is more than knowing the rules, but how to play the game.

Current American Political Culture POLITICAL LEFT Democrat Media MSNBC Interest Groups Moveon.org NAACP Major Issues Health Care Immigration Pro-Choice Same-sex marriage POLITICAL RIGHT Republican Tea Party Christian Conservative Media Fox News Rush Limbaugh Interest Groups ALEC Americans for Tax Reform NRA Major Issues Gun Rights Border Security Pro-Life

Power and Types of Government Power is the ability to coerce someone to do what you want Autocracy Oligarchy Theocracy Totalitarianism Democracy

Autocracy Unlimited power is vested in one person Absolute Monarchy Hereditary position Ex. Louis XIV, Saudi Arabia Dictatorship Assume power through force or persuasion Ex. Kim Jong-il of North Korea

Oligarchy Power is vested in the hands of a few, usually elites In most cases, power passed down through heredity and/or elitist characteristic to preserve influence and power Plutocracy or Aristocracy is rule by the wealthy Examples: Sparta Apartheid South Africa

Theocracy Power is assumed by religious leaders who establish laws and limits based on religious decree Examples: Massachusetts Bay Colony Islamist Republic of Iran The Ayatollah Holy See/Vatican City The Pope

Totalitarianism Government assumes all power and controls all aspects of society The state may fall under the control of a single dictator, political party, or group of elites Examples: Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy

Democracy Rule by many, rule of the people Direct Democracy Citizens participate in the political process and determine public policy Direct Democracy All citizens determine public policy Representative Democracy Citizens elect representatives to determine public policy Republic People reserve the ultimate authority Government leaders answer to electorate Government limited by constitution and/or popular sovereignty

Type of Governments for U.S. Government Parliamentary System Legislative supremacy which delegates powers to executives Ex. United Kingdom Unitary government Power solely reserved in central government Central government delegates power Confederation Loose alliance of sovereign states States reserve sovereignty and work together for common causes toward foreign states Central government significantly limited and changes to government require unanimous consent Ex. U.S.A. under Articles of Confederation Federation/Federal Republic Strong central government manages national policies Division of powers between national and state/local governments Federal government holds supreme power Ex. U.S.A. under U.S. Constitution

Democratic Theories Participatory Democracy Pluralist Democracy Consent of the governed; Pluralist Democracy Interest groups Elite Democracy Upper class elected leaders acting as trustees Bureaucratic Democracy Bureaucrats/government officials Hyperpluralism Numerous interest groups