Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

Introducing Government in America Chapter 1

Introduction Politics and government matter. Policy choices make a difference and shape the kind of country in which we live, taxes we pay, the wars we fight, the quality of our environment, and many other critical aspects of our lives

Politics and Government Matter! Despite it’s importance… Americans are apathetic about politics and government. American youth are not likely to be informed about government and politics and rarely participate in politics.

LO 1.1 To Learning Objectives

LO 1.1 To Learning Objectives

LO 1.1 To Learning Objectives

What do you know?!? What political party controls the House of Representatives? What political party controls the Senate? Who is the current Speaker of the House? Who is the current VP? Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? What is the economic system of the US? Who is one of your state senators? If both the Pres and VP can no longer serve, who becomes president? How many justices are on the SC?

Knowledge vs. Participation Should all citizens participate in government? OR Should only knowledgeable citizens be allowed to participate in government? What do you think? Why? Discuss with a neighbor

Introduction “there has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free” Thomas Jefferson

???? It means that if people are politically ignorant, they will soon fall under the tyranny of a dictator. America is in great danger at this time.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America Government Politics The Policymaking System Democracy The Scope of Government in America Summary

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives Government LO 1.1: Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. LO 1.1: Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Politics LO 1.2: Define the various aspects of politics. LO 1.2: Define the various aspects of politics.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives The Policymaking System LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Democracy LO 1.4: List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives The Scope of Government in America LO 1.5: Explain the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Government LO 1.1: Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Government - those institutions that make authoritative policies for society. Regardless how their leaders assume office, all governments have certain functions in common. Maintain a national defense (security). Provide public services (general welfare). Preserve order (keep societies ordered/domestic tranquility). Socialize the young( promotes standards of behavior). Make economic decisions (collect taxes). To Learning Objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Purposes of Government

Purposes of Government Governments typically : maintain a national defense provide services collect taxes socialize the young preserve order.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Two central questions: How should we govern? What should government do?

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Politics LO 1.2: Define the various aspects of politics. Politics is the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they pursue. Harold Lasswell defines politics as the struggle over who gets what, when, and how. To Learning Objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Why does politics matter? Who – individuals and groups – usually the focus of the media What - the substance of politics and government How – the type of engagement or participation used

LO 1.2 To Learning Objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Policymaking System LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. People Shape Policy Citizens have an impact on the polices that are pursued Policies Impact People Policies greatly affect the lives of the public To Learning Objectives

LO 1.3 To Learning Objectives

People Interests Problems Concerns

Linkage Institutions Definition: 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. Why? A government’s policy agenda changes regularly.

LO 1.3 To Learning Objectives

Policymaking Institutions Definition: Policymaking institutions are the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. Legislature (Congress) Executive (President) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

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

Policies Impact People Public Policy: a choice that government makes in response to a political issue

Let’s Look at a Recent Policy!!!! Policy- People – Linkage – Agenda- Institutions – Policy - Policy Impact ?-

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Democracy LO 1.4: List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today. Traditional Democratic Theory Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Challenges to Democracy American Political Culture and Democracy A Culture War? Preview Questions about Democracy To Learning Objectives

LO 1.4 To Learning Objectives

Democracy Definition: Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences (will of the people). Framers of the US were suspicious of democracy Abe Lincoln “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” Democracy is spreading around the world in areas that were formerly undemocratic

Criteria Equality in voting (1 man; 1 vote) Effective participation Enlightened understanding (knowledgeable citizenry) Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion (Majority Rule BUT with the protection of minority rights)

Theories of American Democracy Who has power and influence? Who really governs our nation?

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

Pluralist Theory

Groups will work together Public interest will prevail through bargaining and compromise

Pennsylvania Smoking Ban FAQs On June 13, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell signed the Clean Indoor Air Act. This Act prohibits smoking in most public areas and workplaces, protecting the majority of citizens in Pennsylvania from tobacco smoke. On September 10, 2008, the new law will take full effect everywhere in the state except for in the City of Philadelphia, which will be permitted to preserve its existing local smoking ban - the Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law.Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law No patron under 18 20% or less revenue from food sales

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 Big business at the center

Elite and Class Theory Problems Not all groups equal Policies benefit those with money and power

Theories of U.S. Democracy Hyperpluralism (pluralism gone sour) A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Groups control policy and prevent government from acting

Hyperpluralism Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group

National Health Care a variety of what used to be called "vested interests" come into play in health care. American health care serves many ends other than health: jobs, exports, stock market investments, well-paid careers, corporate and personal profit... the list is a long one. Every one of those interests would be affected by any major reform of the present system;

Challenges to Democracy Increased Technical Expertise Limited Participation in Government Escalating Campaign Costs Diverse Political Interests (policy gridlock)

American Political Culture and Democracy Political Culture: An overall set of values widely shared within a society. American culture is unified by ideology and political culture. “American Creed” Liberty Egalitarianism Individualism Laissez-faire Populism

Liberty

Egalitarianism

Individualism

Laissez faire

Populism

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Democracy A Culture War? James Q. Wilson believes that America is a more polarized nation today than at any time in living memory. Other scholars believe that there is relatively little evidence of a so-called culture war going on among ordinary American citizens. LO 1.4 To Learning Objectives

Polarized Nation? LiberalConservative

A Culture War? Is there a culture war going on in America? Cartoon on page 21 in text. Is This a realistic portrayal of America? Is This an exaggerated view of America?

Liberal vs. Conservative Let’s take a Liberal/Conservative self assessment!!!!

The Left Liberal - Democrats, Labor, Socialist, Communist - Progressive - Society - Multicultural – Evolving - Equality – level playing field

The Right Conservative Republican, Conservative, Nationalist Traditional Individual Patriotic Freedom - opportunity

The Scope of Government in America Is the scope of out government too broad, too narrow, or just about right? What or How much should government do? Do we want a big government or a smaller government.

Big vs Small Liberals Government intervention is the only way to achieve important goals!! Conservatives “As government expands, liberty contracts” Reagan

The Scope of Government in America How Active Is American Government? Spends $3.8 trillion yearly. Employs 2.8 million civilians and 1.4 million in the military. It owns one-third of the land in the United States. What ever the national problems – many people expect government to solve it. LO 1.5 To Learning Objectives

LO 1.5 To Learning Objectives

Summary Young people are apathetic about government and politics, even though they affect everyone. Democratic government, which is how the United States is governed, consists of those institutions that make policy for the benefit of the people. What government should do to benefit the people is a topic central to questions of American government.

Time for the Test!!!!!