PSCI 1050 1st Edition Exam 1 Study Guide Lectures 1 5 Lecture 1 January 22 American Government Processes and Policies Define government and politics Define democracy Discuss theories of democracy Rational choice theory Introduce Public Policy Government Government is defined as the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society Government typically provides services collect taxes and maintain order Politics Politics is defined as the process of selecting our governmental representatives and what policies they produce systems of government requires compromise and bargaining Politics in a democracy concerns who participates and how Democracy Democracy is defined as a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents the public s preferences Democracy requires the following equality in voting citizen control of agenda popular consent and personal liberty Views of democracy The traditional view The contemporary view Group theories of democracy Pluralism politics is a competition among groups and the public interest prevails Elite and class theory groups with money will have the power and influences groups are not equal Hyperpluralism groups are too strong and dominate all politics weakens democracy Rational choice theory Rational choice theory is where individuals act in their own self interest We do what is best for us Public policy A policy is defined as a choice government makes in response to a public concern In American democracy people express policy concerns through linkage institutions parties media etc and action taken by policymaking institutions congress president Lecture 2 January 27 Foundations of Government The Constitution and Federalism Constitutions what they are US Constitution a product of rational self interest The Madisonian Model Foreign policy and the Constitution Federalism and public policy Constitutions Are defined as a nation s fundamental law It creates political institutions assigns or divides powers in a government Constitutions can dictate what government can and can not do US Constitution A product of competing interest s intent on furthering own self interest North vs South States vs Federal Government Self interest and compromise help create constitution Federalist 10 Madison organized factions parties or groups that could destroy the new republic Human behavior Virtue Interest Passion Madisonian Model Limiting majority control Separating powers Creating checks and balances Federalism The constitutional republic Favors the status quo Constitution and Foreign Policy Constitutional checks and balances congress and president Shared war powers in US Constitution Constitution sets broad parameters but leaves much open to development Lecture 3 January 29 Foundations of Government The Constitution and Federalism Foreign policy and the Constitution Federalism and public policy Federalism and the Constitution Constitution checks powers horizontally and vertically A vertical check on powers is where federal government checks state power and opposite as well Federalism Is a way of organizing a nation so two or more levels of government have a formal authority over the land and people It is important because it decentralizes our politics and policies Federalism and the Constitution The Division of power Article VI Supremacy Clause federal government is superior to states Although states have their own power and authority Amendment 10 Establishment of National Supremacy McCulloch vs Maryland Federalism and Public Policy Successful implementation of policy requires cooperation between states and federal government Federalism ensures federal government is supreme but that states play a vital role in the policy process Public Policymaking What is public policy How is policy made What is the policy process and how does it shape public policymaking Policy Is defined as a choice government makes in response to a political issue or public concern Three types of policy are Congressional statue Presidential action Court decision budgetary choices regulation Economic Policy Monetary Policy and Federal Reserve Board Fiscal Policy and the federal budget The Policy Process Is also known as the stages approach Problem identification Agenda setting Formulation Adoption Then budgeting 5 Implementation 6 Evaluation 1 2 3 4 Lecture 4 February 3 Public Policymaking What is public policy How is policy made What is the policy process and how does it shape public policymaking Problem Identification A problem comes up when citizens think that a current condition that a current condition that they face is unreasonable Policy problem is defined as a situation that produces needs and for which relief from government action is sought Policy Agenda Policy Agenda consists of issues that attract the serious attention of public officials When people disagree about a problem political issues arise Agenda Setting An issue reaches agenda status when there is enough support for the issue in a competitive political environment Policy making and linkage institutions can all affect the agenda Types of Agenda Systemic discussion Institutional action Mandatory the budget Discretionary health care reform Today s Agenda Top five categories are the economy and jobs terrorism health care immigration and the federal deficit Lecture 5 February 5 Public Policymaking What is public policy How is policy made What is the policy process and how does it shape public policymaking Formulation Once on the agenda policymakers start to formulate policy solutions or a course of action that can be taken Any of the policymaking or linkage institutions may formulate policy Adoption Is the approval of policy proposal most of the time through the lawmaking process Requires action by governmental official to adopt or reject a policy idea Implementation Is the process of carrying out public policies Evaluation Policy evaluator want to know if the policy accomplished what it intended to accomplish and if it was effective