Introducing Government Chapter 1

Government  Definition:  Institutions (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make U.S. policy.  Definition:  Institutions (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make U.S. policy.

Politics Definition: The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues. The Game! Also consider Lasswell’s definition: Who gets what, when and how. Definition: The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues. The Game! Also consider Lasswell’s definition: Who gets what, when and how.

The Policymaking System  The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

People  Interests  Problems  Concerns  Interests  Problems  Concerns

Linkage Institutions  Political Parties  Elections  News & Entertainment Media  Interest Groups  Political Parties  Elections  News & Entertainment Media  Interest Groups

Policy Agenda The issues that government is addressing at a point in time  Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.  It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on. The issues that government is addressing at a point in time  Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.  It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

Policymaking Institutions Legislature (Congress & States) Executive (President & Governors) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

Implementation Impacts of policies: –Effective or ineffective? –Are the resources available?

Democracy h Definition: g A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences. h Equality in voting h Effective participation h Enlightened understanding h Citizen control of the agenda h Inclusion h Definition: g A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences. h Equality in voting h Effective participation h Enlightened understanding h Citizen control of the agenda h Inclusion

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  Public interest will prevail  Compromise prevents radicalism.  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  Public interest will prevail  Compromise prevents radicalism.

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 are equal  Policies benefit those with money / power  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 are equal  Policies benefit those with money / power

Theories of U.S. Democracy…  Hyperpluralism  A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.  Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism  Confusing / contradictory policies  Gridlock- inability to act at all  Hyperpluralism  A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.  Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism  Confusing / contradictory policies  Gridlock- inability to act at all

Challenges to Democracy  Increased Technical Expertise (complexity of government)  Limited Participation in Government  Escalating Campaign Costs  Diverse Political Interests

Questions About Democracy  Are the people knowledgeable about government?  Do elections facilitate high turnouts?  Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?  Are the people knowledgeable about government?  Do elections facilitate high turnouts?  Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?

Questions about the Scope of Government How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government? Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms? Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms? How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government? Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms? Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… Does the media have sufficient freedom of press and speech to truly inform citizens of what is happening in government?

Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… Do presidents have too much power? Is Congress representative of American society? Do presidents have too much power? Is Congress representative of American society?

Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… FDo the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government? FAre the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve? FDo the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government? FAre the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?