2. Introducing Government

3. Essential Questions: »What is a government? »What forms a government? »How does a government function? »What is the purpose of a government? »What is a government? »What forms a government? »How does a government function? »What is the purpose of a government?

4. Government  Definition:  Institutions (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make and implement policy.  A system that enforces power over an area of space.  Definition:  Institutions (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make and implement policy.  A system that enforces power over an area of space.

5. Politics Definition: The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues. The Game! Also consider Lasswell’s definition: Who gets what, when and how. Definition: The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues. The Game! Also consider Lasswell’s definition: Who gets what, when and how.

6. The Policymaking System  The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

7. People  Interests  Problems  Concerns  Interests  Problems  Concerns

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

9. Policy Agenda The issues that government is addressing at a point in time  Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.  It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on. The issues that government is addressing at a point in time  Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.  It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

10. Policymaking Institutions Legislature (Congress & States) Executive (President & Governors) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

11. Implementation Impacts of policies: –Effective or ineffective? –Are the resources available?

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

13. 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  Compromise prevents radicalism.  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  Compromise prevents radicalism.

14. 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  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

15. Theories of U.S. Democracy…  Hyperpluralism  A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.  Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism  Confusing / contradictory policies  Gridlock- inability to act at all  Hyperpluralism  A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.  Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism  Confusing / contradictory policies  Gridlock- inability to act at all

16. Challenges to Democracy  Increased Technical Expertise (complexity of government)  Limited Participation in Government  Escalating Campaign Costs  Diverse Political Interests

17. Questions About Democracy  Are the people knowledgeable about government?  Do elections facilitate high turnouts?  Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?  Are the people knowledgeable about government?  Do elections facilitate high turnouts?  Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?

18. Questions about the Scope of Government How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government? Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms? Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms? How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government? Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms? Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

19. Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… Does the media have sufficient freedom of press and speech to truly inform citizens of what is happening in government?

20. Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… Do presidents have too much power? Is Congress representative of American society? Do presidents have too much power? Is Congress representative of American society?

21. Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… FDo the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government? FAre the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve? FDo the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government? FAre the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?

22. What is this process of deciding about politics FAristotle FSince we see that every city-state is a sort of community and that every community is establish for the sake of some good (for everyone does everything for the sake of what they believe to be good, it is clear that every community aims at some good, and the community which ahs the most authority of all includes all the other aims highest, that is, at the good with the most authority. This is what is called the city-state or political community. [1.1.1252a1-7] F FAristotle FSince we see that every city-state is a sort of community and that every community is establish for the sake of some good (for everyone does everything for the sake of what they believe to be good, it is clear that every community aims at some good, and the community which ahs the most authority of all includes all the other aims highest, that is, at the good with the most authority. This is what is called the city-state or political community. [1.1.1252a1-7] F

23. FWhat is a just way to choose a leader? FWhat is the place of slavery in the world? FWhat is the most efficient and effective form of constitution? FWhat is the role of the citizen in a communal organization. FWhat is the ideal “political man” FWhat is the best incentives for a productive economy? FWhat is a just way to choose a leader? FWhat is the place of slavery in the world? FWhat is the most efficient and effective form of constitution? FWhat is the role of the citizen in a communal organization. FWhat is the ideal “political man” FWhat is the best incentives for a productive economy?