1. gateways to American Democracy
Chapter 1

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Need to Know
Identify the successes have we achieved and the obstacles we face in establishing a “more perfect union.”
Analyze how the constitutional system balances liberty and order.
Describe the political values and ideologies Americans share.
Evaluate American democracy in terms of responsiveness and equality.
List the responsibilities of individuals in a democracy. 2
public policy
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3. Gateways: Evaluating the American Political System
Successes
Failures
Stability
Peaceful transitions through crisis
Dissent is protected
High standard of living
Civic duty
Tolerance
Commitment to civil rights
Inequality
Racial animus
Poverty rates increase
Distrust in government
Low voter turnout
Cultural/religious animus
Political polarization
Growing national debt
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4. Evaluating the American Political System
Social scientists have been measuring the gap between the rich and the poor since the 1930s, and that gap has grown in the past few decades. Reports in 2013 indicated that the incomes of the top 1 percent rose 20 percent, while the remaining 99 percent’s income rose only 1 percent.
Source: David Grossman/Alamy
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5. Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. . .”
Thomas Jefferson, attributed to Thomas Sully, U.S. Senate Collection
Jefferson understood the connection between the people and their government as a social contract; if a government did not serve the people, the people should end it.
Thomas Jefferson
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6. Democracy and the American Constitutional System
Liberty and Order
Democracy
Early opposition
The Constitution as Gatekeeper
Allow but limit government’s access to power
Separation of powers
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7. Minimum Wage (MW) by State
Table 1.1 Source:
*scheduled to rise to $9.50 by 2016
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8. The Three Branches of Government
Figure 1.1
Within the federal government, power is divided into three separate branches.
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9. American Political Culture
Political Parties
Politics
Difference between parties and ideology
Unidimensional Ideology
Two dimensional Ideology
The process by which competing interests determine who gets what, when and how is what we call politics.
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10. American Political Ideology
Figure 1.2
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11. Responsiveness and Equality: Does American Democracy Work?
Alternative Models
Monarchy, autocracy, oligarchy
Public and Private Goods
Political Equality
Equality of opportunity
Equality of outcome
In a monarchy, an autocracy, and an oligarchy, a single person or a small elite rules society.
public goods: Goods from which everyone benefits
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12. The Demands of Democratic Government
Self-Interest and Civic Interest
Politics and the Public Sphere
Educational Opportunity
Economic Opportunity
Participation Opportunity
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13. The Demands of Democratic Government
EMMANUEL DUNAND/Getty Images
Citizens gathering to hear presidential candidate Rick Santorum in a classic town hall format. The candidate and these citizens get a chance to express their opinions.
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College Costs, 1980–2014
Source: College Board compilation of average tution and fee charges -prices-national
Figure 1.3 College Costs, 1980–2014
(Source: College Board compilation of average tuition and fee charges
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15. How Student Debt Impacts Borrowers
Source: Pew Research Center, “Is College Worth It?” May 16, 2011, p. 26, Copyright © 2011 by PEW Research Center. Reproduced by permission
Figure 1.4 How Student Debt Impacts Borrowers
Source: Pew Research Center, “Is College Worth It?” May 16, 2011, p. 26,
/2011/05/15/is-college-worth-it/. Copyright © 2011 by PEW Research Center. Reproduced by permission.
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16. Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Pew Research Center, p. 6.
Figure 1.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Pew Research Center, p. 6.
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17. Obama Fights To Care For Unaccompanied Minors
Click picture to view video
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18. Video Discussion Questions
In a nation of immigrants, why is this such a contentious issue?
Are these children entitled to equality of opportunity? Why or why not?
What is the most important American political value? Is this what the children (or their parents) are seeking?
What criteria should shape U.S. immigration policy?
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