GovernmentThis is, of course, an intro page on government. One of the things Itend to stress is that most everything we cover can be first broken down into what something IS, and then what something DOES. Wecan all pretty much agree on what something IS, but there's often disagreement on what something DOES. Read on...What is a government?A government is the set of institutions that make, carryout, and judge public policies. This is a pretty standard definition. Governments exist in different forms in different countries, and even different states. So take note of it, you'll see this term quite a bit!As I mentioned above, we can all pretty much agree on what government is. It's what it DOES that causes all the problems...What does a government do?Governments do a number of things. One way to look at our governments is by looking at what the different levels or layers of governments do, and then at what the different branches of governments do.So here's that first rub: Different levels of governments "DO" different things.What are the different levels of governments?In this country, there are basically three levels of governments. Each does some things on its own, and some they do together as well, like collect taxes. https://ecampusd2l.blinn.edu/content/enforced/37810-11419.11429.11433.13811.201610.MRG/Lect01/Government-TW.html?ou=37810Legislative– makes policies:There is the first branch that makes public policies– Congress at the federal level. They write and pass laws that we in the United States have to live under. In Texas, we have the Texas Legislature that takes care of that function just for those of us in this state. Andfinally at the local level, we have city councils that pass ordinances that govern things within the city limits. All of the things listed above are policies; some governments do them, some do not. Thesethings vary from one country to the next.-Executive– carries out policies:For the second function, the United States has a President and bureaucracy that is expected to execute or carryout the policies thatCongress passes. In Texas we have a governor and a bureaucracy (the state agencies) that executes the laws of Texas. The same is true with local governments; there are city managers and departments to carryout the laws of the U.S., Texas, and of their city.-Judicial– judges policies:Finally, there is a federal court system to judge the laws of the country, and to judge people by the laws of the country. Each state, like Texas, has its own court system, and many cities also have their own courts.Okay, if you didn't get the question correct, the little activity below has the same information in a more visual form. If you search for "checks and balances" on the Internet, you'll get a bunch of graphs (usually for U.S. government) that are different visualizations.Political SocializationPolitical socialization is the process by which people acquire beliefs, values, and habits ofthought and action related to government, politics, and society. The process of political socialization goes beyond an individual learning information about how the world actually operates, and instead relates to an individual developing a point of view about how people and institutions should operate. Axioms like “government is not the solution, it’s the problem,” “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” “people are competitive by nature,” and “we have a responsibility to take care of those who cannot make it in society” float about in our daily lives. Narrowly, these expressions reflect beliefs about certain issues. More broadly, they reflect some of the values of a political culture. Your beliefs and values may often feel like obvious and indisputable truths, but this is more a reflection of the power of the social forces that led to you having those ideas in the first place—beginning, almost, at the moment you’re born. Agents of Socialization Social scientists have identified a number of so-called agents of socialization, which are the people and institutions responsible for teaching us the dominant values of the society we’re raised in. These include parents, family, friends, church, and the media; they also include experiences with education, employment, government, and other public institutions. When you think of socialization, learning proper table etiquette might come to mind. Someone who sends a thank-you note after staying with a friend and puts a napkin on herlap before starting a meal has learned these behaviors through some agents of socialization, most likely her parents. The activity of political socialization is similar. It’s a type of socialization that refers specifically to the process of acquiring ideas about people, society, and government. Agents of socialization may teach us ideas regarding political rights (“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”), or the ideal political structure(“government of the people, by the people, for the people”). Home Life We begin learning the basics of “good behavior” when we’re young. Similarly, we also begin to pick up social and political attitudes at an early age. Parents, even apolitical ones, usually start this process through their body language and the comments they may make about different individuals and influences in society: the poor, the rich, corporations, economic regulation, political activism, and so on. A grunt here, a nod there, or repeated references to “those crooks in Congress” can make a strong impression on a young mind. Because parents are usually the closest and most influential authority figures around, children tend to internalize their parents’ views with relatively little questioning. Parents also usually react to the first political forays of their children. The extent of a child’s exposure to an agent of socialization can determine how much or little impact on their political socialization the interaction causes. Only very rarely do parents teach their children fully developed and elaborately articulated theories of politics or economics. Instead, they offer— usually unconsciously—snippets of political culture and ideology with significant gaps and possible inconsistencies; children gradually fill those in later through subsequent contact with other agents of socialization. As we mature, we expand our circle of influencers, all of whom are agents of socialization. For instance, other family and friends are more likely to reinforce