An Introduction to American Governmet

1. An Introduction to American Governmet Mr. Lucas Plotnik Culver City High School

2. I. Political Participation • How has government and politics impacted your life?

3. B. Many people especially young people are apathetic about politics.Why? • People feel they can not make a difference • They believe the system is corrupt • They don’t care

4. 4. Because young people pay such little attention to politics they are less likely to be informed, leading the government to be less responsive to their needs.

5. C. Why is it important that people stay informed? • It fosters civic virtues such as tolerance • It helps citizens figure out which policies will benefit them. • Those who participate in the political process are more likely to benefit from government programs and policies.

6. Ted Talk Youth engagement in politics indifferent or just different? Jacob Helliwell TEDxYouth@Victoria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdDFLzyk94k

7. II. Government • A. The formal institutions that make policies or laws on behalf of the people.

8. C. All governments are suppose to do three things • Maintain national defense and maintain public order • Provide public goods • Collect Taxes D. Linkage Institutions refer to the means in which people interact with their government including expressing their concerns

9. III. Public Policy • Government actions that are meant to control the behavior of people. • All three branches of government, as well as bureaucracies, regulatory agencies and the President’s cabinet. Law and Policy are not the same thing! Example: The law sets the speed limit at 65, yet the policy of the police is not to pull you over unless you go over 70.

10. Trump, Obama and Bush: How Presidents Approached Immigration Policy. How were the policies of Trump, Obama and Bush different event though the law was the same? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LyXDOS4QHw

11. C. Politics A. Howard Laswell: Who gets what when and how

12. IV. Types of Democracy • Direct- People themselves have a direct say over their lives in terms of public policy. • Representative or Republic- People freely elect someone to speak on their behalf.

13. C. Criteria for Democracy • Effective Participation • Enlightened Understanding • Citizens control the political agenda • Inclusion • Majority Rule

14. V. Theories of Democracy • Pluralist: People naturally are social and form associations. Pluralist believe that politics is a struggle among groups to obtain hold political power, yet it is done in a democratic fashion. • Elitism or Class Theory: Believe that wealth is the basis of all power. • Hyper Pluralism : Interest Groups become too powerful and dominate the decision making process.

15. VI. Challenges to Democracy • The Law is becoming increasingly technical • Limited Participation • Escalating Campaign Costs • Diverse political Interest

16. Review Videos • Crash Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrk4oY7UxpQ High Hughes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbwh2Ei2dgc&index=6&list=PLD5CB52988D815420&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjGPfeG1HjU&list=PLD5CB52988D815420&index=6