Introducing Government in America

Introducing Government in America 1

1 Learning Objectives Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter 1.1 Define politics in the context of democratic government 1.2

1 Learning Objectives Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people 1.3 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today 1.4

1 Learning Objectives Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government 1.5

1.1 Government • What is government? • Government is the institutions that make public policy decisions for a society. What are these institutions in the United States? • How should we govern? • What should government do? • Maintain a national defence • Provide public goods and services • Preserve order • Socialize the young • Collect taxes

1.1 Transfer of Power

1.1 Afghanistan The United States spends over $650 billion a year on national defense.

1.2 Politics • What is politics? • Politics determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue • Who gets what, when, and how • Political participation • More than just voting • How are people involved in politics ?

1.2 FIGURE 1.1: Political apathy among young and old Americans, 1972–2008

1.2 FIGURE 1.2: Age and political knowledge, 1972 and 2008

1.2 FIGURE 1.3: Election turnout rates of young and old Americans, 1972–2010

1.2 Politics • Single-issue groups • Single-issue groups consist of voters so concerned with one issue that members often cast their votes on the basis of that issue only, ignoring a politician’s stand on everything else. • e.g., abortion, immigration, same sex marriage

1.2 Abortion rally

1.3 Policymaking System • The policymaking system is in effect a cycle. • People Shape Policy • Politics Impact People

1.3 FIGURE 1.4: The policymaking system

Linkage institutions Policy agenda Political issue Policymaking institutions Congress Presidency Courts 1.3 People Shape Policy

Public policy-every decision the government makes Statute Presidential action Court decision Budgetary choice Regulation Policies should be effective Policies must have a goal 1.3 Politics Impact People

1.3 Table 1.1: Types of public policies

Focus Question • What is the difference between Government and Politics?

1.4 Democracy in America • Traditional Democratic Theory • • “one person, one vote,” • • equal opportunities to participate, • • freedom of speech and the press, • • citizen control of the policy agenda, and inclusion. • Challenges to Democracy • Limited participation, campaign cost, policy gridlock • American Political Culture and Democracy • Is American politics a Culture war?

Key principles of the democratic process: Equality in voting Effective participation Enlightened understanding Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion-access to citizenship Majority rule Basic rights and liberties protected for all Representation Elected officials that vote for us on issues 1.4 Traditional Democratic Theory

Pluralism Groups of minorities working together groups with shared interests influence public policy through organized efforts. No group can dominate Elitism Power is held by the wealthy, can shape public policy Not all groups are equal Hyperpluralism Too many groups try to control policy cripples government’s ability to make policy When politicians try to appease every group, the result is confusing, contradictory, and muddled policy. Which theory do you subscribe to? Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy 1.4

Increased complexity of issues Knowing how to deal with certain issues Limited participation in government Lack of interest, voting turnout Diverse political interests Policy Gridlock Escalating campaign costs Candidates must raise vast sums of money to run for office Are our candidates diversified? 1.4 Challenges to Democracy

Group Work • Do you think the term Democracy accurately describes our nation? • What factors contribute to American Exceptionalism? • What are the differences between politics, power, authority, and legitimacy in American democracy? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic system?

Focus Question • What are the three contemporary theories of American Democracy?

1.4 Super PAC contributions What effect do you think money has on fair elections?

Political culture based on American creed Liberty Liberty is the primary value of the American creed, far exceeding the others in its importance to Americans. Egalitarianism (equality) Egalitarianism in the United States involves equality of opportunity and absence of formal class distinction such as titles of nobility. Americans have never been equal in terms of condition. Individualism Laissez-faire Populism 1.4 American Political Culture and Democracy

1.4 New Hampshire license plate

Political culture based on American creed Liberty Egalitarianism Individualism Individualism is the belief that people should get ahead on their own, without assistance or interference from government. It stems from the fact that immigrants came to the New World to flee oppressive governments. Laissez-faire Free market economics Populism Populism can be defined as a political philosophy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites. 1.4 American Political Culture and Democracy

1.4 FIGURE 1.5: Pride in equal treatment of groups in the U.S. and other established democracies

Polarization of liberal and conservative political culture Is political divisions in twenty-first-century America a major problem, is this actually happening? Testing a crisis of values Loss of traditional values Less patriotism Irreconcilable differences 1.4 A Culture War?

1.5 Focus Question • How Active Is American Government?

1.5 The political debate over programs that help low-income individuals continues. Do such programs expand the scope of government too much? Or do they help people to get by during hard times?

Gross domestic product (GDP) total value of all goods and services produced annually by the United States Government spends 1/3 on public policies Government employs 24 million people Americans expect government to solve problems Unemployment, terrorism, illegal immigration, energy, education, lack of access to health care 1.5 How Active Is American Government?

Declaration of Independence • http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

1 Discussion Question What are the three theories of policymaking in the United States? Which theory seems most plausible to you? Why?

1 Further Review: On MyPoliSciLab • Listen to the Chapter • Study and Review the Flashcards • Study and Review the Practice Tests

Group Work • 1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of democracy in the contemporary era? What can we do about the American political system’s weaknesses that will not undermine our strengths? • 2. The provision of public goods—like national defense and the construction of roads—has long been the least controversial of the government’s basic functions. identify the roles of government and the concept of “public goods.” Are there other institutions, other than government, that might perform these roles and provide public goods? What are they? Is such a consideration realistic? Also, consider what other kinds of goods might be considered “public” goods, especially in an information/knowledge economy.

Voter turnout in the United States has long been critiqued as abysmal. • The United States should pass a constitutional amendment requiring all eligible citizens to vote. • Be sure the discussion considers both the advantages and disadvantages of such a proposal. • As of 2012, 23 countries had compulsory voting, though only 10 enforced the requirement. These ten are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Nauru, Peru, Singapore, and Uruguay.

Introducing Government in America