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AP Chapter 1 Introducing Government in America

AP Chapter 1 Introducing Government in America. Introducing Government in America. Government Politics Policymaking System Democracy The Scope of Government in America. Questions to consider?. What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our system?

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AP Chapter 1 Introducing Government in America

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  1. AP Chapter 1 Introducing Government in America

  2. Introducing Government in America • Government • Politics • Policymaking System • Democracy • The Scope of Government in America

  3. Questions to consider? • What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our system? • Are Interest Groups good or bad for democracy? • Is our government too big?

  4. Four Challenges to Democracy • Increased Technical expertise • Limited participation in government • Escalating campaign costs • Diverse political interests

  5. Government • Defined: Consists of institutions that make authoritative public polices for society as a whole • Governments: • Provide Public Goods • Provide order through police forces • Socialize the young through political culture • Collect Taxes to pay for services they provide

  6. Politics • Defined: Is the process by which we select our government leaders • Harold Lasswell: “struggle over who gets what, when, and how” • Single issue groups: interests groups decide vote on one issue: pro-life, pro-choice

  7. Policy Making System • Four Linkage institutions: (link people to the government) • Political Parties • Elections • Mass Media • Interest groups • Policy Agenda: issues attract the serious attention of public officals • Four policy making institutions: • Legislative Branch • Executive Branch • Judicial Branch • Bureaucracy

  8. Democracy • Traditional Democratic Theory: • Democracy is a system in which policy represents and responds to the public preferences • Five Components of Traditional Democratic Theory: • Equality in voting • Effective participation • Enlightened Understanding • Citizen control of the agenda • Inclusion • Democratic Principle: Majority Rule; Minority Rights • Representation- relationship between one leader and many followers

  9. Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy • Pluralist Theory- politics is mainly a competition among groups each pressing for its own preferred policies. • Groups must bargain and compromise to get polices (which is a good one according to a pluralist • Elite and Class Theory- contents that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper class elite will rule. • Policies benefit those with money and power • Hyperpluralism- groups are so strong that government is weak • Confusing and contradicting policies result from politicans trying to please every group

  10. American Political Culture and Democracy • Political Culture- overall set of values widely shared within a society • Five elements of American Political Culture • Liberty • Egalitarianism • Individualism • Laissez-faire • Populism

  11. A Culture War? • James Q. Wilson argues that American society is more polarized than ever before

  12. How Active is American Government • GDP (Gross Domestic Product)- value of all goods and services produced annually • 29% is government • Spends 3.8 trillion yearly • Owns one third of land • 2.6 billion square feet of office • Employs 2.8 million civilians and 1.4 million in military

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