1. Chapter One The Study of American Government

2. Two Key Questions HOW should we govern? What should government DO?
Who are the decision makers? What is our system that we use for decision making?
What should government DO?
What should be the role of government in our lives?
What is the purpose of government?

3. What is Politics? The way of reconciling competing interests
The making of Public Policy
The process of policy making:
Df. Government laws or regulations which solve a perceived problem
Should be a process of “give and take”— compromise

4. What is Political Power?
Control over others—can be extreme—ex. China
Political elite: a person that has a disproportionate amount of political power Ex
Elites: can have power even if they are not elected
Authority: the right to use power
Competitive elections gives the President and members of Congress authority.
Legitimacy: what gives one the right to use power.
The Constitution grants legitimacy to the government
All government authority must be traceable back to the Constitution

5. What Kind of Elite?

6. Types of Democracy - not in your textbook
Direct democracy:
Rule by the people
citizens participate by direct vote on all important decisions.
Ex. referendum
Representative democracy: elected leaders make decisions.
Representative democracy is called republican government

7. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2013 SCORING GUIDELINES
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
2013 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 1
Points 1. There are several different approaches to representation within a democratic political system.
(a) Define direct democracy.
(b) Define republican form of government.
(c) Describe one reason the framers of the United States Constitution chose a republican form of government over a direct democracy.
Part (a): 1 point (SCORING ON THIS ANSWER!)
One point is earned for a correct definition of direct democracy:
Individual participation on legislation or
policy •
Rule by the people + OR
Making decisions without delegating authority to elected
representatives

8. Making Decisions in a Representative Democracy
Majoritarian Politics
When leaders get a clear message from the public as to what a public policy should be—and they act on it.
This rarely happens:
Public opinion is often split or fragmented
Public opinion is often ill-informed and changeable
Ex. National Health Care; taxes; reproductive rights; war

9. The Framers’ View
Government should mediate what the people say they want—not reflect it
A rejection of straight majority rule
Framers’ goal: minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by officeholders

10. 1. Elitist: A few top leaders will make all important decisions
Theories of Government - starts on pg. 14
1. Elitist: A few top leaders will make all important decisions
The Power Elite by C.W. Mills a small powerful group of elites: the President, Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Military, Corporate Leaders, Key members of Congress.
Ex. The military-industrial complex

11. 2. Bureaucratic: (not in the text book)
Appointed civil servants control the government
Max Weber-- a German sociologist
His thesis:
The more technical a society becomes, the more power “experts” have.
The “technocrats” have knowledge—knowledge is power
Ex. Economists

12. During the Obama administration policy of NSA surveillance of U. S
During the Obama administration policy of NSA surveillance of U.S. citizens without a warrant (which is required by the Constitution), the controversy surrounding this policy deals with: a. what constitutes legitimate government authority b. what constitutes power c. who gets what and why d. should the majority always rule e. there is no right to privacy

13. During the 2014, 2015, & 2016 events in which police officers have killed civilians,
there have been several contentions about what public policy should be.
Which of the following best relates to the concepts of Fundamental Democracy?
Police need to protect themselves, and should be treated differently than those without authority.
The legitimacy of the police as authorities, who might beat, choke, or shoot civilians, is a concern for us and our lawmakers. Review of legitimate authority fits into our concept of democracy.
Civilians who are harmed by police, intentional or not, have no ability to use Grand Juries for prosecuting the police officers who use deadly force.
Police powers are given to our states, but state governments only respond to political pressure. Mass protests are the number one tool of pressure that citizens have used in the past 40 years to change this.

14. 3. Pluralist: Competition among interests shapes public policy decision-making
There are numerous organized interests
Ex. Healthcare policy: doctor groups, hospitals, insurance companies, citizen groups, interest groups like AARP
Coalitions of interests form around a specific policy
A coalition is a “group of groups”
NOTE: The various groups ARE NOT equal in resources or power

15. The pluralist model seems to best describe how policy is generally made in the United States.
Examples of interest groups in society today:

16. 4. Hyper-pluralism
There are so many interests competing that no coherent public policy is possible
Ex. Tobacco Policies
Government subsides for tobacco farmers
Government policies to stop tobacco use

17. Important Terms not in the book:
Civil society all institutions that comprise a society with a functioning democratic political system. They include:
A free press
Open and fair elections
Independent organizations such as
churches,
labor unions and interest groups (see next photos)
the media,
political parties

18. Walter Ruether, President of the UAW,
The next 3 photos:
Walter Ruether, President of the UAW,
Flanking Martin Luther King, Jr.
during protests and marches in 1960’s.

21. What happened in Iraq after the invasion in 2003?
Lawlessness/looting
Violent armed factions formed
A civil way broke out
Why?
No viable civil society existed to manage political conflict

22. Linking institutions –
Institutions that connect the people and government. Examples are:
Political parties
The media
Interest groups
[ & Elections ]
The People
The Government

23. Aspects of direct democracy – not in the text book
Recall—a special election to remove an office holder before his term is up
Initiative—a process which allows voter to put an issue (legislative matter) to a direct vote of the people (Proposals )
Referendum—a voting process where the people can repeal or reject a law passed by the state legislature

26. Voters in Troy RECALL Janice Daniels, Nov. 2012
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Recall Election 2012
WALKER WINS, KEEPS JOB as GOVERNOR

27. Answer the following: (a)Explain what is meant by power.
(b)How does power relate to each of the following: authority, legitimacy, and democracy.
(a)Distinguish between the two concepts of democracy mentioned in the chapter and discussed in class.
(b) In what sense is the United States a democratic nation? Support your answer?