POLS Reading Notes Chapter 1: - There’s a gap between the youth and elderly in politics - Voter turnout rate is a lot lower for youths than it is for elderly - Those who participate in the political process are more likely to benefit from the government programs and policies - The elderly know that they have a lot at stake during elections - In the 60’s and 70’s it was hard to escape politics because it would be on every channel. Now it is easy because there is cable, and the internet. - Government- the institutions that make public policy decisions for a society. o Consists of Congress, the president, the courts and federal administrative agencies o Two important questions  How should we govern?  What should government do? - What governments do o Maintain a national defenseo Provide public goods and services Collective goods- things that everyone can use and share. (highways) o Preserve order o Socialize the young o Collect taxes - Politics- the process of determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues o “who gets what, when and how?” - Political participation- all the activities by which citizens attempt to influencethe selection of political leaders and the policies they pursue. Voting is the most popular form of political participation. - Single-issue groups- groups that are concerned with one issue that members often cast their votes on the basis of that issue only, ignoring all the other issues that are presented. - Policymaking system- process in which policy comes into being and evolves.o People (interests, problems, concerns) o Linkage institutions (parties, elections, media, interest groups) o Policy agenda (political issues. When people disagree about a problemand its solution) o Policy making institutions ( legislature, executive, courts, bureaucracy) o Public Policy (expenditures, taxes, laws, regulations, nondecesions. A choice the government makes in response to a political issue) 1o People (impact of policies) - People shape policy - Policy impacts- the effects that a policy has on people and on society’s problems- Democracy- a system of selecting policy makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences. - Democratic Theoryo Equality in voting- one person one vote. o Effective participation- people must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their preferences o Enlightened understanding- free press and speech. No monopolieso Citizen control of agenda- right to control the political agenda o Inclusion- everyone is included in rights and laws. - Majority rule- he majority’s desire must be respected - Minority rights- a principle of traditional democratic theory. It guarantees rights that do not belong to the majorities - Representation- the relationship between a few leaders and many followers - Pluralism- groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts o NRA, NOW, or American Council on education (ACE) are examples. - Elitism- an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization. - Hyperpluralism- a theory of American democracy contending that groups areso strong that government, which in in to the many different groups, is thereby weekend. o Government gives in to every conceivable interest and single-issue group. - Policy gridlock- a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done. - Political culture- an overall set of values widely shared within a society- Gross Domestic Product- The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year in a nation. Chapter 2: The Constitution- French and Indian War (7 years war) ended in 1763- Colonists lacked direct representation o They responded by forming The First Continental Congress in 1774o Sent delegates from each colony to Philadelphia to discuss the British- Thomas Paine- wrote Common sense - Richard Henry Lee moved that the United States should become independent- Primary author of the declaration was Thomas Jefferson 2o It announced and justified revolution to the citizens of the colonies - John Locke- philosophero Belief in natural rights Natural rights- rights inherent to humans (life, liberty and property) - Consent Governed- The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people o People must agree on who the ruler is- Limited government- the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.o Restrictions on what the government can do - Government had 2 responsibilities o Must provide standing laws so people know in advance whether their acts will be acceptable o The supreme power cannot take from any man any property without his consent. - Locke altered Jefferson’s saying of “life, Liberty and Property” to “Life, Liberty,and Pursuit of happiness” - Won Independence in 1783- Articles of Confederation- (first constitution, it failed) o Central government- weak o Executive branch- NONE o Legislature- One chamber. One vote per state o Courts- NONEo Regulation of commerce- NONEo Taxation- determined by states o National Defense- could raise and maintain an army and navy o Power over states- NONE - AOC adopted by Continental Congress in 1777, not effective until 1781 - All government power rested in the states with the AOC- Constitution created a STRONG national government- After the Revolution there was a shift in power and participationo Middle class could participate (farmers and artisians) - After the war the farmers were in debto Government listened to farmers because they were what composed the backbone of the nation o Debtors were able to pay big debts with worthless money because the government had printed so much - Shay’s Rebelliono Response to all the debt and the force acts o Series of armed attacks to courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms 3o Neither state or congress was able to raise a militia to stop shays and his followers  Showed that the AOC would not work. They couldn’t raise an armyo Elites assembled a paid force to do the job o This made the dislike for the AOC stronger because a army couldn’t be raised - Constitution replaced the AOC - Hobbes- without a strong central government society would not