Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

Transcription

1

2

3 Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America Government Politics The Policymaking System Democracy The Scope of Government in America Summary

4 Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives Government LO 1.1: Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Politics LO 1.2: Define the various aspects of politics.

5 Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives The Policymaking System LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Democracy LO 1.4: List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today.

6 Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives The Scope of Government in America LO 1.5: Explain the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

7 Government LO 1.1: Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Government makes public policies made for society. Governments must perform five basic functions. Maintain a national defense. Provide public services. Preserve order. Socialize the young. Collect taxes.

8 LO 1.1

9 LO 1.1

10 LO 1.1

11 LO 1.1

12 Politics LO 1.2: Define the various aspects of politics. Politics is the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they pursue. Harold Lasswell defines politics as the struggle over who gets what, when, and how.

13 LO 1.2

14 The Policymaking System LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. People Shape Policy Policies Impact People

15 LO 1.3

16 The Policymaking System LO 1.3 People Shape Policy People have interests, problems, and concerns. The four linkage institutions are political parties, elections, mass media, and interest groups.

17 The Policymaking System LO 1.3 People Shape Policy (cont.) Policy agenda is the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials. The four policymaking institutions are the legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, and the bureaucracy.

18 The Policymaking System LO 1.3 Policies Impact People Public policy is a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. Policy impacts are the effects a policy has on people and problems.

19 LO 1.3

20 LO 1.3

21 Democracy LO 1.4: List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today. Traditional Democratic Theory Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Challenges to Democracy American Political Culture and Democracy A Culture War? Preview Questions about Democracy

22 LO 1.4

23 Democracy LO 1.4 Traditional Democratic Theory Democracy is a system in which policy represents and responds to the public s preferences. Five components of Traditional Democratic Theory are equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, citizen control of the agenda, and inclusion.

24 Democracy LO 1.4 Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Pluralist Theory is a theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. Groups must bargain and compromise to get policies.

25 Democracy LO 1.4 Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy (cont.) Elite and Class Theory contends that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule. Policies benefit those with money and power.

26 Democracy LO 1.4 Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy (cont.) Hyperpluralism is a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group.

27 Democracy LO 1.4 Challenges to Democracy Increased complexity of issues make it harder for citizens to make decisions. Limited participation in government, especially voting. Escalating campaign costs stop people from running for office. Diverse political interests result into policy gridlock.

28 Democracy LO 1.4 American Political Culture and Democracy Political culture is an overall set of values widely shared within a society. Five elements of American political culture are liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, and populism.

29 LO 1.4

30 LO 1.4

31 Democracy LO 1.4 A Culture War? James Q. Wilson believes that America is a more polarized nation today than at any time in living memory. Other scholars believe that there is relatively little evidence of a so-called culture war going on among ordinary American citizens.

32 Democracy LO 1.4 Preview Questions about Democracy Are people knowledgeable about matters of public policy? If there are choices, do the media help citizens understand them? Is Congress representative of American society, and is it capable of reacting to changing times?

33 The Scope of Government in America LO 1.5: Explain the debate in America over the proper scope of government. How Active Is American Government? Preview Questions about the Scope of Government

34 The Scope of Government in America LO 1.5 How Active Is American Government? Spends $3.8 trillion yearly. Employs 2.8 million civilians and 1.4 million in the military. It owns one-third of the land in the United States. It occupies 2.6 billion square feet of office space.

35 LO 1.5

36 The Scope of Government in America LO 1.5 Preview Questions about the Scope of Government What role did the Constitution s authors foresee for the federal government? Does the public favor a large, active government? Is Congress too responsive to the demands of the public and organized interests?

37 LO 1.1 Summary Describe the key functions of government and explain why they matter. All governments perform include maintaining a national defense, providing public services, preserving order, socializing the young, and collecting taxes. These functions matter because they impact our lives.

38 Which of the following is an example of a public good? LO 1.1 A. College education B. Automobile insurance C. Home ownership D. National defense

39 Which of the following is an example of a public good? LO 1.1 A. College education B. Automobile insurance C. Home ownership D. National defense

40 LO 1.2 Summary Define the various aspects of politics. Politics determines who our leaders are and what policies they pursue. The who of politics is the voters, candidates, parties, and groups; the what is the benefits and burdens of government; the how is the various ways in which people participate in politics.

41 Politics determines who we select as our governmental leaders and policies these leaders pursue. LO 1.2 A. who B. what C. when D. how

42 Politics determines who we select as our governmental leaders and policies these leaders pursue. LO 1.2 A. who B. what C. when D. how

43 LO 1.3 Summary Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Citizens interests and concerns are transmitted through linkage institutions to the policy agenda of the policymaking institutions. The policies that are made then influence peoples lives.

44 All of the following are considered linkage institutions EXCEPT LO 1.3 A. the media. B. interest groups. C. political parties. D. courts. E. elections.

45 All of the following are considered linkage institutions EXCEPT LO 1.3 A. the media. B. interest groups. C. political parties. D. courts. E. elections.

46 LO 1.4 Summary List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today. Key principles of democracy are equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, citizen control of the agenda, and inclusion.

47 LO 1.4 Summary List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today. The theories regarding how democracy works in practice are the pluralist theory, elitist and class theory, and hyperpluralist theory.

48 LO 1.4 Summary List the key principles of democracy, theories regarding how it works in practice, and challenges it faces today. Challenges democracy faces today are complexity of issues today, citizens limited participation, escalating campaign costs, and the policy gridlock resulting from diverse political interests.

49 According to Robert Dahl s traditional democratic theory, an ideal democratic process should satisfy all of the following criteria EXCEPT LO 1.4 A. equality in voting. B. effective participation. C. enlightened understanding. D. majority rule.

50 According to Robert Dahl s traditional democratic theory, an ideal democratic process should satisfy all of the following criteria EXCEPT LO 1.4 A. equality in voting. B. effective participation. C. enlightened understanding. D. majority rule.

51 LO 1.5 Summary Explain the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Politicians debate if the scope of government responsibilities is too vast, just about right, or not comprehensive enough. This debate concerns whether the goals that are agreed to be important are best achieved through government action or rather through means other than government.

52 The annual budget of the federal government is nearly. LO 1.5 A. $4 trillion B. $5 trillion C. $6 trillion D. $7 trillion

53 The annual budget of the federal government is nearly. LO 1.5 A. $4 trillion B. $5 trillion C. $6 trillion D. $7 trillion

54 Photo Credits page 2: Chuck Kennedy/Getty; 3T: AP Photo; 3TC: Getty Images; 3TB: Jewel Samad/Getty Images; 3B: Joseph Sohm/Corbis; 5: Colorblend Images/Getty Images; 7: AFP/Getty Images; 8: AP Photo; 9: AP Photo; 10: AFP Getty Images; 12 AFP Getty Images; 14: Chris Wildt/ 16: Alex Wong/Getty Images; 18: Joseph Sohm/Corbis; 20: Robert Trippett/Sipa; 21: David Horsey; 23: Jewel Sammad/Getty Images

55 Text Credits U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Surveys. Data can be found at