POLS 206 Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture What is government What is politics Political Participation Policy Making System o People Make Policy Traditional Democratic Theory o Key Principles of the Democratic Process Current Lecture What is government a Made up of those institutions that make authoritative binding decisions b Politics does not equal government politics happens within government c How should we govern i US Representative democracy republic b What should government do i Maintain a national defense 1 Ex US standing military 2 Ex Costa Rica no standing military but have volunteer force ii Provide public goods and services 1 Roads water air etc ii Preserve order 1 Police force ii Socialize the young 1 Public schools pledge of allegiance ii Collect taxes What is politics a Who gets what when and how These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute i ii iii iv Who anyone who can get involved What substance policy When timing differs with each bill How political participation voting writing letters working on campaigns running for office protest etc Political Participation a More than just voting i War open violence running for office etc b Population 18 29 years old 50 don t care to participate in the government Policymaking System a People Shape Policy i Linkage Institutions 1 Elections main one ii Policy agenda 1 Issues that draw serious attention from policy makers 2 What is important to people who give them money ii Policy Institutions 1 Legislation a Congress is the center of all policy making in the US ii Politics Impact People 1 Public Policy a Statute b Presidential Action c Court decision d Budgetary choice e Regulation 2 Policies should be effective a Feedback is how we know if it is effective 2 Policies must have a goal Traditional Democratic Theory a Key Principles of the democratic process according to Dahl i Equality in voting 1 1 person 1 vote 2 Less meaning for voting and more for representation ex equal population in districts a In a District with 400 000 each vote is worth more than a district with 1 2 million 2 Every vote counts the same ii Effective participation 1 Also deals with representation those who vote should reflect rest of population a Ex US pop 12 African American so 12 of voters should be African American ii Enlightened understanding 1 Freedom of speech and press ii ii 2 Without these there cannot be any civic understanding and therefore no democratic process Citizen control of the agenda 1 Ability to get involved and control agenda Inclusion 1 Everyone who comes into the democracy should have the ability to become a citizen
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