Exam I Test Review Introduction Politics and government matter American are apathetic about politics and government American youth are not likely to be informed about government and politics and January 20 2011 rarely participate Government policies are made for society Definition government is the institutions and processes through which public o This definition leads to two basic questions How should we govern What should government do Governments typically maintain a national defense provide services free collect taxes and preserve order Similar qualities that all governments share Governments socialize through schools K 12 o Pledge of the Allegiance Honor the Texas Flag Definition Politics what policies they produce politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues politics is the process by which we select our government leaders and Also consider Lasswell s definition o Who gets what when and how Who you etc What substance of policies How deals with political participation When i e when do certain bills go into effect The Policymaking System never ending cycle The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time People interests problems concerns Linkage institution parties election media and interest groups o Want to influence policy agenda political issues Policymaking institution legislature executive courts and bureaucracy Policy expenditures taxes laws regulations and non decisions People impacts of policy Linkage Institutions political channels through which people s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda Political parties Elections News and entertainment media Interest Policy Agenda Definition the policy agenda are issues that attract the serious attention of public officials Political issues arise when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it Some issues will be considered and others will not A government s policy agenda changes regularly Doesn t involve you the people Policymaking Institutions Definition policymaking institutions are the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues Legislative Congress Executive President Courts Federal and State Bureaucracies Federal and State Policies impact people Public policy a choice that government makes in response to a political issue Table 1 1 in book gives examples Impacts of policies o Does it solve the problem o Does it create more problems of origin the concerns of people Depending on answer policy impacts carry the political system backs to its point Democracy does not work without the people Definition government so that policy represents and responds to the public s preferences Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing Components of Traditional Democratic Theory by Robert Dahl o Equality in voting one person one vote if eligible January 25 2011 o Effective participation larger population participation should be representative of the More educated are more likely to vote not representative of population because there are more poor in the country refers to freedom and speech and freedom of o Enlightened understanding press both are essential to democracy Internet not always used want citizens to have some input but not o Citizen control of the agenda always the case politicians have to listen to more people than the constituents not complete control over the debate either saying citizenship should be open to everyone in the nation Based upon majority rule while preserving and protecting minority s rights Lincoln defined it by the people of the people for the people Founding Fathers were not fond of democracy didn t like the people o Inclusion Theories of U S Democracy know all three for Exam I Pluralist Theory a theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups each one pressing for its own preferred policies Groups will work together Public interest will prevail through bargaining and compromise Elite and Class Theory a theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper class elite will rule regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization Not all groups equal Policies benefit those with money and power Hyperpluralism pluralism gone sour a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that the government is weakened Ends up in policy gridlock too many dominant groups nothing gets done Group control policy and prevent government from acting o Do not win elections by displeasing groups Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to placate every group Know distinction between pluralism and hyperpluralism for Exam I Challenges to Democracy we expect too much from Congress Increased Technical Expertise Limited participation in government goes along with voting we have a low Escalating campaign costs too dependent on money money does not win turnout rate elections Diverse political interests policy gridlock are we too diverse and does it hurt the democratic process Yes that s why we end up in policy gridlock American Political Culture and Democracy Political culture an overall set of values widely shared within a society American culture is diverse and comprised of know all five for test below o Liberty right that cannot be taken away from you at all basis of our Bill of Rights Jefferson o Egalitarianism social equality equality of opportunity o Individualism developed in part of the Western Frontier we do not rely on government its what we earn on our own self reliant developing throughout U S not just Texas south o Laissez faire government keeps its hand off the economy government cannot interrupt economy in American culture o Populism the common man is idealized in American politics How active is the American Government It spends about 3 1 trillion annually It employs over 2 2 million people largest employer in the world It owns one third of the land national parks etc It occupies 2 6 billion square feet of office space It owns and operates 400 000 nonmilitary vehicles Summary affect everyone Young people are apathetic about government and politics even though they Democratic government which is how the United States is governed consists of those institutions that make policy for the benefit of the people What government should do to benefit the people is a topic to central questions of American government
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