Pearson Longman PoliticalScience Interactive Shea, Green, and Smith Living Democracy, Second Edition Chapter 1: American Government, Democracy in Action

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action It’s Your Government! Can average citizens play a meaningful role in American politics? Why is citizen participation so important in a democracy?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action It’s Your Government! Politics The activities and interactions in society that seek to affect the composition, power, and actions of government Public Policy The rules of society and the priorities for government resources and actions

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Our unique political system – unique conditions – democracy tends to create unique systems It’s Your Government!

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Citizen Participation in Democratic Government Voter turnout in other nations is higher than in the U.S. One-third or more of registered voters in the U.S. failed to vote. Why? Pathways of Action Diversity in American Society It’s Your Government!

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Pathways of Action Court Grassroots Mobilization Cultural Change LobbyingElections

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Elections Pathway A democracy depends on voters holding politicians accountable.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Lobbying Decision Makers Pathway The lobbying pathway involves attempting to influence the activities, actors, and institutions of government by supplying information, persuasion, or political pressure.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Lobbying Decision Makers Pathway Effective lobbying generally requires money, time, and resources. Research has shown, however, that letters and phone calls from ordinary citizens are also important sources of ideas for new laws and policies.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Court Pathway In the United States, we can use our rights to file lawsuits against the government. Organizations like the NAACP may also sue, such as in the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ‏.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Grassroots Mobilization P athway Sometimes individuals and groups feel that government is unresponsive to their concerns when they are presented through traditional channels like voting and lobbying. Grassroots mobilization is an alternative

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Cultural Change Pathway Through this approach, individuals and organized groups attempt to change the hearts and minds of their fellow citizens.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Pathways of Action: Power Shift ’07 National student conference on global warming Further protest taken to Capitol Hill

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Pathways of Change From Around the World: Student Protest in Venezuela President Hugo Chavez moves to close popular television station. Students turn out in vocal protest, in spite of the dangers of being blacklisted.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Pathways Profile: A. Philip Randolph (1889–1979) In 1925, he organized a labor union: the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Organized the 1963 March on Washington

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Citizen Participation and Pathways: the Example of Abortion Abortion and birth control became political issues at the end of the 19th century. –Linked with women’s rights movement Lobbying pathway used unsuccessfully until 1960s. Court-centered pathway, via Roe v. Wade (1973), finally changed laws.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Citizen Participation and Pathways: the Example of Abortion Abortion opponents used the lobbying, elections, and grassroots mobilization pathways to try and change laws.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Citizen Participation and Pathways: the Example of Abortion Both sides of the abortion debate have tried to use the cultural change pathway to bring about change.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Change and Stability in American Government Stability in any political system is the result of three elements Broadly accepted political/economic framework A stable, powerful political culture A variety of ways for citizens to seek and achieve policy changes

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Change and Stability in American Government Sources of Stability in the U.S. 1. Reverence for the Constitution and capitalism 2. The “American Creed” 3. Avenues of change

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democ racy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 1: American Government: Democracy in Action Student Profile: Nick Anderson and Ann Slavin Experience in Darfur led to activism Used MySpace and Facebook to stimulate student action Founded Dollars for Darfur National High School Challenge