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Introducing Government in America

Introducing Government in America. Chapter 1. Government. Definition: The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society. This definition leads to two basic questions: How should we govern? What should government do?. Politics. Definition:

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Introducing Government in America

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  1. Introducing Government in America Chapter 1

  2. Government • Definition: • The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society. • This definition leads to two basic questions: • How should we govern? • What should government do?

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

  4. The Policymaking System • The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. Figure 1.3

  5. People • Interests • Problems • Concerns

  6. Linkage Institutions • Political Parties • Elections • News & Entertainment Media • Interest Groups

  7. Policy Agenda • Political Issues • These are the “whats” that the various people want taken care of. • 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.

  8. Policymaking Institutions • Legislature (Congress) • Executive (President) • Courts (Federal and State) • Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

  9. Policy • Expenditures of money • Raising or lowering taxes • New laws or regulations • Non-decisions (gridlock)

  10. People • Impacts of policies: • Does it solve the problem? • Does it create more problems?

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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Challenges to Democracy • Increased Technical Expertise • Limited Participation in Government • Escalating Campaign Costs • Diverse Political Interests

  16. Questions About Democracy • Are the people knowledgeable- and do they apply what they know? • Do interest groups help the process, or do they get in the way? • Do political parties offer clear consistent choices for voters? • Does the President & Congress work in the best interests of ALL the people?

  17. 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?

  18. Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… • Do competing political parties make for better policies? • Do more interest groups create a bigger government? • Does the media help control the size and policies government?

  19. Questions about the Scope of Government, continued… • Can the president control the government, or has it gotten too big? • Can Congress respond to the needs of the people, or just to the interest groups? • Do members of Congress expand government by seeking to be re-elected?

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

  21. Internet Resources • Policy issues • Federalist Papers • Democracy in America • Bowling Alone • Yahoo’s Government

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