1. Today Agenda
Agenda:
Quiz
Policy making system
Classwork

2. Quiz
What is the basic argument about majority factions being more dangerous than minority factions?

3. Introducing Government in America
Chapter 1

4. The Nation of Wonderland
No Poverty
No Racism
Life is wonderful!!!!
Must sacrifice one baby a year to bring continual peace to wonderland

5. Millennial Pew Research Assignment
1)What year did the Millennial generation start to be born?
2) What does the data say about the Millennial generation’s
Priorities
Political Party Affiliation
3) What is the Demographics of the Millennials by percentage?
Discussion Questions/Group share out:
What surprised you about the data?

6. Introduction Politics and government matter.
Americans are apathetic about politics and government.
American youth are less likely to be informed about government and politics and participate less in politics.

7. Introduction
The Political Disengagement of College Students Today (Figure 1.1)

8. Introduction

9. Introduction
Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.3)

10. Government Definition: This definition leads to two basic questions:
The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society.
This definition leads to two basic questions:
How should we govern?
What should government do?

11. Politics
Definition:
The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.
“Battle of Ideas”

12. The Policymaking System
The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.
Figure 1.4
The six items are hyperlinked to their own slide. A return button is also on the slide.
Figure 1.3

13. People
Interests
Problems
Concerns

14. Linkage Institutions Political Parties Elections
News & Entertainment Media
Interest Groups

15. Policy Agenda Political Issues
These arise when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.
Some issues will be considered, and others will not.
A government’s policy agenda changes regularly.

16. Policymaking Institutions
Legislature (Congress)
Executive (President)
Courts (Federal and State)
Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

17. Policy Impacts People Impacts of Policies: Does it solve the problem?
Does it create more problems?

18. Democracy Definition: Equality in voting Effective participation
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.
Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda
Inclusion

19. 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.
Groups will work together
Public interest will prevail

20. 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, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.
Not all groups are equal
Policies benefit those with money / power

21. Theories of U.S. Democracy
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.
There are too many ways for groups to control policy.
Confusing / contradictory policies

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

23. American Individualism
Individualism is the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government.
Individualism is highly valued in the United States with a strong preference for free markets and limited government.