1. August 17, 2015 Do Now Find your assigned seat. Place answers to survey on the note card.

2. Agenda & Expectations for The Class 1.Opening Survey 2.Getting to Know You Activity… 3.Discussion of the Syllabus 4.Class Reminders via Remind 101 5.I HAVE TO vs. I GET TO…You can make your own choices, but you cannot choose the consequences. 6.Review Policies and Procedures 7.Thinking Quiz 8.Defining Government 9.Exit Slip

3. Class Messages via Remind 3

4. Unit 1: The Constitution Day 1 4

5. Focus Questions 5 Who Governs? How is political power actually distributed in America? What explains major political changes? To What Ends? What value or values matter most in American Democracy? Are trade-offs among political purposes inevitable?

6. Learning Objectives List the two basic question to be asked about government in the United States and who that they are distinct questions. Explain what is meant by power, and by political power in particular. Relate to authority, legitimacy, and democracy. Distinguish among the three concepts of democracy. Explain which of the three refers to the United States as democratic. Differentiate between majoritarian politics and elitist politics, explaining the four major theories on the later. Explain how political changes tends to make political scientists cautious in stating how politics works or what values dominate it. 6

7. What is Political Power? Power: The ability of of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions Authority: The right to use power. Legitimacy: Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution. BIG QUESTION: How do people acquire these things? 7

8. Democracy Democracy: The rule of many. Direct or Participatory Democracy: A government in which all or most citizens participate. Representative Democracy: A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote. 8

9. Is Representative Democracy Best? Aristotle defined democracy as rule ordinary people, most of whom would be poor John Locke argued against powerful kings and in favor of popular consent Thomas Hobbes argued that an absolute, supreme ruler was essential to prevent civil war

10. August 19, 2015-Do Now In reading “Democracy in America” by Alexis De Toqueville, discuss the following two questions: 1)What value or values matter most in American Democracy? 2)Are trade-offs among political purposes inevitable? 10

11. August 19, 2015-Do Now Aside from birthright citizenship (if you are born in the US, you are automatically a citizen), what makes an American who they are? 11

12. Who Governs? Marxist: Those who own the means of production, controlling the economic system, will control the government. Elitist: A few top leaders, drawn from major sectors of the country, will make all important decisions. Bureaucratic: Appoint servants control the government, without consulting the public. Pluralist: Competition among affected interests shapes public policy decision-making. 12 Who is Political Power Distributed?

13. The Cow Theory of Government Feudalism You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk. Fascism You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk. Pure Communism You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk. Applied Communism You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all of the milk. 13

14. The Cow Theory of Government Dictatorship You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you. Pure Democracy You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk. Representative Democracy You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk. 14

15. The Cow Theory of Government American Democracy The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair “Cowgate.” The cow sues you for breach of contract! 15

16. For Next Class… 1)We will be taking a baseline assessment (not for a grade, just to see what you know) 2)In reading “Democracy in America” by Alexis De Toqueville, answer the following two questions within one page minimum: What value or values matter most in American Democracy? Are trade-offs among political purposes inevitable? 16