Introduction to Government 1/29

Introduction to Government 1/29 Brainstorm 6 major issues facing your generation with your group Individually, rank those issues from most important (1) to least important (6) Write a paragraph explaining the reasoning behind your first choice As a group, select one issue to answer the questions in the middle of the graph about.

What do you already know about government?

Understanding Government Government: a permanent structure (institution) through which society makes and enforces its public policies. Institution: a long standing structure or association that performs certain functions for society. Politics: the struggle or process engaged in by human beings to decide which members of society receive the benefits or privileges and which members are excluded from certain benefits or privileges.

Types of Government • Every state has a government • To classify a government we must answer three questions: • Who can participate? • What is the geographic distribution of power? • What is the relationship between legislative and executive branches?

Who can Participate • Dictatorship • One person or a small group control the government • Democracy • The people hold the power, government is conducted only by and with the consent of the people • Direct Democracy—people vote directly on public policy • Indirect Democracy—people vote for a small group of people to act as their representatives to govern

What is the geographic distribution of power • Unitary Government • All government power belong to a single, central agency • Can create local units of government but all power is given and taken by the one central government • Ex: Britain • Federal Government • Powers of gov’t are divided between a central gov’t and several local governments (constitution distributes power, not central gov’t) • Ex: America • Confederate Government • An alliance of independent states that only handles things the member states assign to it • Ex: European Union

What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches? • Presidential Government • The executive and legislative branches are separate, independent and equal • Ex: America • Parliamentary Government • The executive and legislative branches are connected and the executive branch is controlled by the legislative branch • Ex: Britain

DO NOW 1/30 Why do you follow school rules? Why do you follow rules outside of school? Why is it important to participate in our government?

Classify 3 State’s Gov’t • Read the description of each government and classify them according to the three questions. • Compare your classification with your partner’s classification, discuss your reasons • Share with the class.

Why Do We Obey Laws? • Authority: government has the authority to make such laws along with the ultimate right to enforce compliance with their decisions. • Legitimacy: people obey because laws possess legitimacy as a result of having been made according to an accepted political process by representatives of the people • Power: government has the power to enforce laws meaning that government has the ability to cause others to modify their behavior and conform.

3 kinds of power • Legislative Power—the power to make laws and frame public policies • Executive Power—the power to enforce and administer law • Judicial Power—the power to interpret laws and determine their meaning and settle disputes within society

Political Culture vs. Political Socialization • Political Culture: a collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation; affects political behavior • Significance: political culture allows society to agree upon the fundamental principles of the nation, to have a common perception of the rights and obligations of citizens, and to have a set of rules for participating in the political process. • Political Socialization: the process by which such beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and to our children

Why is there Conflict in Politics? • People have different beliefs about • what is right and wrong • religion • the role of government • what society’s goals should be • Because there is competition for scarce resources (ex. Benefits and privileges)

Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” • Purpose of Declaration: to establish the basic beliefs/values of America • There are universal truths that can be known and acted upon. • There is equality before the law. • There is a belief in a higher power that transcends human law. • There are rights that are entitled at birth. • There is liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Core Values • Brainstorm with you partner what the core values of our government mean (I am giving you the names on the handout) • Using pages 14-16 in your textbooks check your understanding of the core values

Rate the Core Values • What do you think is the most important core value. • Write a paragraph on the back to explain why you think it’s the most important core value

Core Values • Individual Liberty-all persons have personal freedom but there are limits on those freedoms; we give up some of our freedom for the good of government and society. • Political Equality-all persons are born with equal standing before the government and have equal rights; this leads to popular sovereignty • Majority Rule-this assumes the right to rule belongs to the people and that the people are equal. Decisions should be made by the greater number of people • Minority Rights-the majority is not “the people” therefore the rights of the minority must be protected or everyone’s rights will diminish • Economic Rights-includes the right to own property, is essential to individual liberty and the “pursuit of happiness” but economic equality is not guaranteed.

HOMEWORK • Read American Democracy In Practice p. 16-19 • Create a definition of Classical Democracy, Pluralism, Elitism, and Hyperpluralism

Do Now 1/31 Write the letter of your answer choice and your reason for choosing it! 1. All of the following are characteristics of politics EXCEPT • individuals with similar ideas banding together to form political parties • the means through which individuals and groups get involved • who gets what, when, how and why • the passing of laws that serve to further minority rights • the interrelationship of individuals and groups 2. All of the following are basic principles of our democracy today EXCEPT a belief in A. the worth and dignity of the individual B. the need for political equality C. universal healthcare D. the guarantee of individual freedoms E. the need for a balance between freedom and order

Theories of Democracy • Classical Democracy Theory • Pluralism • Elitism • Hyperpluralism

Classical Democracy • Citizens are committed to learning about and participating in government. They are well informed, discuss public affairs, tell public officials what they think, and vote. • US no longer thought of as a Classical Democracy because a classical democracy predicts that the majority of the citizens will participate in government and the US does not meet those standards. • Poor voter turnout, many people do not discuss politics,

2 Kinds of Democracy • Direct Democracy—citizens vote on issues directly. • Indirect Democracy (Republic)—citizens vote for representatives to vote on issues for them. • They are elected by the people they serve and should represent the opinion of the majority of the people they serve. • Held accountable at election time.

Answer the following questions: What are the event(s) or issue(s) that inspired the cartoon? What is the cartoonist's opinion about the topic portrayed in the cartoon? Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist's opinion? Why?

Advantages/Disadvantages • Discuss with your partner • What are the advantages and disadvantages to a classical democracy

Puralism • Enough people belong to interest groups in America to make sure that government hears everyone. People who share an opinion on an issue join groups whose leaders and staff carry the membership’s views to the representatives. People are encouraged to continue participating and accept compromise because they might win the next argument. • There are lots of interest groups in Washington DC that employ experts to represent them and they are successful at influencing decision making.

Answer the following questions: • What are the event(s) or issue(s) that inspired the cartoon? • What is the cartoonist's opinion about the topic portrayed in the cartoon? • Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist's opinion? Why?

Elitism • Effective power in government gravitates to a few—an oligarchy of an elite. • Relatively few people have the most powerful jobs and make the most important economic and political decisions. They make decisions that will favor their interests and help them stay in power. • Some argue that there have been elites who have worked to promote the general welfare rather than their own interests

Answer the following questions: 1. What are the event(s) or issue(s) that inspired the cartoon? What is the cartoonist's opinion about the topic portrayed in the cartoon? Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist's opinion? Why?

DO NOW 2/1 • Which of the following principles is most fundamental to classical democratic theory? • Free elections and universal suffrage • Minority rule • Universal public education • Political parties • A written constitution • Which of the following groups believes that bargaining and compromise are essential to a democracy? • Elitists • Pluralists • Independents • Democrats • Republicans • Which of the following theories contends that our society is divided along class lines and that a narrow upper-class strata rules regardless of the formal organization of government? • Elite • Pluralist • Communist • Socialist • Egalitarian

ANSWERS • A • B • A

Hyperpluralism • A pluralist system run wild. • Interest groups are able to stop policy ideas they dislike because of their close ties to congressional committees.

Answer the following questions: What are the event(s) or issue(s) that inspired the cartoon? Are there any real people in the cartoon? Who are these people? 3. Are there symbols in the cartoon? What are they and what do they represent? What is the cartoonist's opinion about the topic portrayed in the cartoon? Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist's opinion? Why?

Constitution--The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government.

Social Contract Theory • The state came out of a voluntary act of free people. The state exists to serve the will of the people, the people are the source of political power, and the people can give or withhold that power. • John Locke came up with Social Contract Theory • Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by this theory

Purpose of American Government “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” --Preamble of the Constitution • What is the purpose of our government?

HOMEWORK • Study for test on Monday 2/4! • Format: • Definitions, multiple choice, short answer

Why did people come to America? • To escape religious persecution • To get rich • To make money for family/employers in the Old World • To be free (by choice) • To establish their own religious community • To avoid debtor’s prison • To flee the closed society of the Old World • To serve as indentured servants and slaves.

Introduction to Government 1/29