1. The Study of American Government
US Government & Politics

2. Purposes of Government
To maintain order
To protect property
To provide public goods

3. Politics Greek politikos “of or relating to citizens”
Struggles over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

4. Forms of Government Autocracy Oligarchy or Aristocracy Monarchy
Democracy
Republic
Constitutional

5. Dark green = most free; Dark red/black = least free

6. Is Representative Democracy Best?
Favored by Framers; highly influenced by John Locke (English Enlightenment thinker)
Government would mediate, nor mirror, popular views.
Framers viewed people as lacking knowledge and susceptible to manipulation.
Framers’ goal: To minimize the abuse of power by a tyrannical majority or by officeholders

7. Conditions needed for Democracy to be successful…
1. An educated electorate
2. Economic stability (market economy)
3. Social capital
4. Ideological conditions (democratic consensus)
5. Universal suffrage
6. Political equality (all votes counted equally)
7. Govt that responds to public opinion
8. Majority rule

8. Two kinds of Constitutional Democracy Today
Parliamentary
Presidential

10. Blue: Presidential republics with a full presidential system
Blue: Presidential republics with a full presidential system. Yellow: Countries with a semi-presidential system. Green: Parliamentary republics with an executive presidency chosen by the parliament
Orange: Parliamentary republic with a ceremonial president, where the prime minister is the executive. Red: Constitutional monarchies where executive power is vested in a prime minister Pink: Constitutional monarchies which have a separate head of government, but where royalty hold political power Purple: Absolute monarchies Brown: Single-party state

11. Freedom in the World
world/freedom-world-2018