Pump Primer:

Explain whether or not a bigger, more involved government would protect our freedoms?

Learning Objectives:

1.1 Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter

1.2 Define the various aspects of politics

1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people

1.4 List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today

1.5 Explain the debate in America over the proper scope of government

Biblical Integration:

The structure of civil authority within society are essential and God-ordained. (Rom 13:1-7; Mk. 12:17; 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Introduction:

Government and politics matter. Government affects every aspect of your daily life. As Barack Obama said when he first ran for public office in 1993, “Politics does matter. It can make the difference in terms of a benefits check. It can make the difference in terms of school funding. Citizens can’t just remove themselves from that process. They actually have to engage themselves and not just leave it to the professionals.”

Young people participate in politics at lower rates than older generations, for a variety of reasons. After completing this course, you should be convinced of participating in politics and your ability to make a difference.

(LO 1.1) Government In America

Video: The Big Picture

President Obama has stated why politics should matter to you. Now let’s hear from author Martin P. Wattenberg, who explains why having an interest in the political system can help you decide which issues you care about the most, and then evaluate the way that the government is handling and prioritizing those issues.

Video: The Basics

Before we begin, let’s watch this video to learn what function government serves. In this video, you’ll analyze this question and explore the core values that shape our political system and how the growing diversity of our population is changing – and reaffirming -- the definition of what it means to be American.

Government

What is government?

  • ______ is the institutions that make public policy decisions for a society.
  • This chapter raises two fundamental questions about governing that will serve as themes for the text.
  • ______should we govern?
  • ______should government do?
  • What should government do?
  • Maintain a national ______
  • Provide public goods and services
  • Preserve ______
  • Socialize the ______
  • Collect ______

Transfer of Power Photo

Democrat Nancy Pelosi handed the gavel over to the new Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner.

(LO 1.1) Review Question

  • Which of the following is not a duty of government?

a.Collecting taxes

b.Proving for national defense

c.Promoting religion

d.Preserving order

(LO 1.2)Politics

What is politics?

•According to Harold Laswell, it is the struggle over:

•Who gets ______, ______, and ______

Political ______

•More than just voting

Figure 1.1 Political Apathy Among Young and Old Americans, 1972-2008

  • In every presidential election from 1972 to 2008, the American National Election Studies has asked a cross-section of the public the following question: “Would you say you follow what’s going on in government and public affairs most of the time, some of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all?”
  • The graph shows the percentage who said they only followed politics “only now and then” or “hardly at all.” Lack of political interest among young people hit a record high during the 2000 campaign between Bush and Gore, when over two-thirds said they rarely followed public affairs. Compared to senior citizens, young people are twice as likely to report low political interest.
  • Why is there such a gap between the young (18-29) and the older (65+) when it comes to political awareness?
  • You will have to analysis the data of charts and graphs on the AP exam.

Figure 1.2 Age and Political Knowledge, 1972 and 2008

  • List several concepts you can depict from the graph.

______

Figure 1.3 Presidential Election Turnout Rates of Young and Old Americans, 1972-2008

  • List at least one conclusion you can conclude from this data.

______

______-______ groups

Consist of voters so concerned with one issue that members often cast their votes on the basis of that issue only, ignoring a politician’s stand on everything else.

  • Abortion
  • MADD
  • NRA

Image: Abortion Rally

  • ______and______ groups are single-minded and usually uncompromising. Few issues stir up as much passion as whether abortion should be permitted and, if so, under what conditions.

(LOL 1.2) Review Question

  • Which is true of single-issue groups?
  • They increase voter participation.
  • They negatively affect voter turnout.
  • They vote just for politicians who support their issue.
  • They force politicians to consider compromises.

(LO 1.3) Policymaking System

People Shape Policy

______

•Political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media

______

•Congress, the presidency, and the courts choose the issues on the agenda

Figure 1.4 The Policymaking System

  • The policymaking system is in effect a cycle.
  • Policymaking begins with people. We all have problems, interests, and concerns that we expect the government to act on. How are these transmitted to government policymakers? Usually by parties, elections, interest groups, and the media, so-called linkage institutions.
  • These institutions help to shape the government’s policy agenda, which comprises the issues that public officials address.

People Shape Policy

Political issue

•The policies that are made, such as laws, executive orders, regulations, and court judgments, then influence people’s lives.

Policymaking institutions

•______

•______

•______

Politics Impact People

______

•Forms:

•Statute

•Presidential action

•Court decision

•Budgetary choice

•Regulation

Policies should be______

•Should address whatever problem they were designed to solve

Policies must have a______

Types of Public Policies

(LOL 1.3) Review Question

  • Which of the following is an example of public policy?
  • Personal conviction
  • Parental rule
  • Congressional statute
  • Religious edict

(LO 1.4) Democracy in America

Traditional Democratic Theory

Key principles of the democratic process (according to Dahl):

•Equality in ______

•Effective ______

•Enlightened understanding

•______ control of the agenda

•Inclusion: citizenship must be open to all within a nation.

Majority rule and minority rights

Representation

Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy

Pluralism

•Groups of ______ working together

•Claims that no group can dominate because all have equal access to institutions of decision making

•Depends upon ______ group participation

______

•Contends that not all groups have equal access

•Power is held by the wealthy

______

•Pluralism gone sour

•Too many groups try to control policy - cripples government’s ability to make policy

Challenges to Democracy

Increased complexity of ______

•Require intensive technical knowledge to make well-informed decisions

Limited ______ in government

•Low voter turnout and low levels of political activity by ______ people are an ongoing challenge.

Diverse political______

•Leads to each interest using its influence to thwart others, resulting in policy gridlock

Escalating campaign ______

•Candidates must raise vast sums to run for office, and spend most of their time in office fundraising rather than governing.

Video: Colbert - I Am a Super PAC

Video: Obama's Super PAC Flip-Flop

Thoughts: ______

______

American Political Culture and Democracy

Five elements of political culture shape American democracy

•______ - one of Jefferson’s inalienable rights and a cornerstone of the Bill of Rights.

•______ - equality of opportunity, especially social equality

•Individualism - developed in part from the western frontier and the immigrants’ flight from government oppression.

•______-______ – government should not meddle in the economy

•______ - the common, ordinary citizens are idealized in American politics, and both liberals and conservatives claim to be their protectors

New Hampshire license plate

Liberty is so important that New Hampshire has even gone so far to place a slogan to this effect on all the automobile license plates in the state.

FIGURE 1.5: Pride in equal treatment

of groups in the U.S. and other established democracies

Americans rank very high in terms of being proud of their country’s fair and equal treatment of all groups. This figure shows the percentages who said “very proud” or “somewhat proud” in response to the question,

  • “How proud are you of [country] in . . . its fair and equal treatment of all groups—very proud, somewhat proud, not very proud, not proud at all?”

A Culture War?

Division of ______and ______ political culture

•Scholars debate whether there is a “cultural war” afoot in America.

•Is it happening?

Testing a crisis of ______

•Loss of traditional values?

•importance of religion and family life

•Less patriotism?

•Is our society is now divided into opposed groups with irreconcilable moral differences?

•Irreconcilable differences

Video: In Content

  • In this video, University of Oklahoma political scientist Allyson Shortle examines the core values that make up American political culture. She also discusses how these values gave rise to the American Dream.

Review Question

  • Which of the following illustrates hyperpluralism?
  1. Use of the court system to try to set policy
  2. Decrease in patriotism
  3. Reliance on Congress to limit special interests
  4. Diversity in political interests

Simulation: You Are a Candidate for Congress

What fundamental values and beliefs shape our political processes? In this simulation, you will learn about shared expectations as you play the role of a candidate running for Congress. You’ll discover that American political values are grounded in the principles of the framers, and live on through our political processes.

Explore American Government: Can You Get Ahead in America?

The American Dream is at the core of Americans’ identity. Let’s explore whether the dream is still attainable.

(LO 1.5)The Scope of Government

How Active Is American Government?

•There is a ______among Americans regarding how powerful government should be.

•Some want an______, responsible government that solves problems.

•Others believe government intervention is more likely to ______ than good.

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

Before we continue, let’s watch this video to find out how and why research on American politics has shifted.

  • Boston University political scientist Neta C. Crawford discusses how scholars who once focused on voters and institutions are now looking at deliberation as the primary indicator of the health of a democratic system.

Image: Low-Income

The political debate over programs that help low-income individuals continues.

  • Do such programs expand the scope of government too much?
  • Or, do they help people to get by during hard times?

Gross domestic product (______)

•The total value of all goods and services produced annually by the United States.

•Government spends ______

•Government employs ______ million people

Americans expect government to ______ problems

•Unemployment, terrorism, illegal immigration, energy, education, lack of access to health care

Video: In the Real World

As we’ve just learned, Americans demand a lot from government. What is the government’s function in everyday life? Real people share their opinions on how involved the federal government should be in education by evaluating the effectiveness of the No Child Left Behind Act, which encourages standardized testing.

(LOL 1.5) Review Question

About one-third of the GDP is spent by

  1. The federal government
  2. State governments
  3. Local governments
  4. All three governments combined

Slide 55:What are the three theories of policymaking in the United States?

Which theory seems most plausible to you? Why?

Questions to Consider:

  • What role did the Constitution’s authors foresee for the federal government?
  • Does the Constitution favor a government with a broad scope, or is it neutral on this issue?
  • Why did the functions of government increase, and why did they increase most at the national rather than the state level?
  • Has bigger, more active government constrained freedom, or does the increased scope of government serve to protect civil liberties and civil rights?
  • Does the public favor a large, active government?
  • Do competing political parties predispose the government to provide more public services?
  • Do elections help control the scope of government, or do they legitimize an increasing role for the public sector?
  • Are pressures from interest groups necessarily translated into more governmental regulations, bigger budgets, and the like?
  • Has media coverage of government enhanced government’s responsibilities and scope, or have the media been an instrument for controlling government?
  • Has the presidency been a driving force behind increasing the scope and power of government?
  • Can the president control a government with so many programs and responsibilities?
  • Is Congress, because it is subject to constant elections, predisposed toward big government?
  • Is Congress too responsive to the demands of the public and organized interests?

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