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AP Government Chapter One

AP Government Chapter One. Introducing Government in America. Thomas Jefferson once said that there has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free . Government: Institutions that make Authoritative decisions for any given society

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AP Government Chapter One

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  1. AP Government Chapter One Introducing Government in America

  2. Thomas Jefferson once said that there has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free. Government: Institutions that make Authoritative decisions for any given society 1. Maintain national defense 2. Provide public services 3. Preserve order 4. Socialize the young 5. Collect taxes

  3. Key Terms • Politics: “Who gets what, when, and how”—Harold D. Lasswell • Linkage Institutions: Policymaking systems that transmit the preferences of Americans to the policymakers in government (i.e.. Parties, interest groups, media, elections)

  4. Has our nation become more or less democratic over the past 200 years?Discuss with your neighbor.

  5. Writers of the Constitution had no fondness for democracy as many of them doubted the ability of ordinary Americans to make informed judgments about what government should do--Lineberry

  6. Our Views have Changed…or have they? • Roger Sherman, delegate to Constitutional Convention, said the people “Should have as little to do as may be with the government” • Much later, Americans came to cherish democracy and believe that all citizens should actively participate in choosing leaders

  7. Abraham Lincoln stated in the famous Gettysburg Address, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”… • Moving us closer to our democratic, all inclusive society today

  8. Traditional Democratic Theory According to Robert Dahl, democracy, ideally, should satisfy 5 criteria: • Equality in voting = “One person, one vote” • Effective Participation • Enlightened Understanding • Citizen Control of the Agenda • Inclusion = Must include and extend rights to all subject to laws

  9. Majority Rule: in choosing among alternatives, will of over half the voters should be followed Minority Rights: Basic principles such as freedom of speech and assembly are inviolable minority rights, which the majority cannot infringe upon Democratic Terms

  10. Theories of American Democracy Theories about who has power and influence in a society Who really governs in our nation? Three Theories 1. Pluralist Theory 2. Elite and Class Theory 3. Hyperpluralism

  11. Pluralism

  12. Pluralist Theory • Groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing concerns through organized efforts • NRA, NOW, UAW are examples of organized groups that compete with one another for control over policy and yet no one group or set of groups dominates the political arena • Generally optimistic that public interest will eventually prevail in making public policy through a complex process of bargaining and compromise • Groups of “minorities” working together

  13. Thoughts on Pluralism… • Robert Dahl “All active and legitimate groups in population can make themselves heard at some crucial stage in the process” • Alexis de Tocqueville (1830s’) “nation of joiners” which he attributes high levels of associational activities as a crucial reason for success of American democracy • Robert Putnam argues that many of the problems of American democracy stems from a declines in group-based participation because technology (TV, Internet) has served to increasingly isolate Americans

  14. PTA, Elks, Shriners, League of Women Voters all have been declining for decades • Believes that Americans’ activities are becoming less tied to institutions and more self-defined • “Bowling Alone” explains that membership in bowling has dropped sharply while at the same time, more people are bowling

  15. Elite and Class Theory

  16. Elite & Class Theory • Contends that our society is divided along class lines and that upper class elite pulls the strings of government • Wealth (property, stocks, bonds) is the basis of this power • 1/3 of nation’s wealth held by 1% of population • Wealthy 1% control most policy decisions because they can afford to finance election campaigns and control key institutions, such as large corporations • Don’t merely influence policymakers but are policymakers=power

  17. Hyperpluralism

  18. Hyperpluralism • Pluralism gone sour; Groups are so strong that government is weakened • Many groups are so strong that the government is unable to act • Too many ways for groups to control policy (any policy requiring the cooperation of national, state, and local levels of government can be hampered by reluctance of any one of them

  19. Groups have become sovereign and government is merely their servant • These powerful groups divide the government and its authority • Government gives in to every conceivable interest and single issue group • When this happens, policies are confusing; contradicting and muddled…if policy can be created at all

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