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TAMU POLS 206 - What is Government?
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POLS 206 Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture- What is government?- What is politics?- Political Participation- Policy Making Systemo People Make Policy- Traditional Democratic Theoryo Key Principles of the Democratic Process Current Lecture-What is government?a. Made up of those institutions that make authoritative binding decisionsb. Politics does not equal government – politics happens within governmentc. How should we govern?i. US - Representative democracy (republic) b. What should government do?i. Maintain a national defense 1. Ex. US – standing military2. Ex. Costa Rica – no standing military but have volunteer force ii. Provide public goods and services1. Roads, water, air, etc. ii. Preserve order1. Police forceii. Socialize the young 1. Public schools – pledge of allegiance ii. Collect taxes-What is politics?a. Who gets what, when, and howThese 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. Who – anyone who can get involvedii. What – substance (policy)iii. When – timing, differs with each bill iv. How – political participation (voting, writing letters, working on campaigns, running for office, protest, etc.)-Political Participationa. More than just votingi. War, open violence, running for office, etc.b. Population 18-29 years old : ~50% don’t care to participate in the government - Policymaking Systema. People Shape Policyi. Linkage Institutions 1. Elections – main one ii. Policy agenda1. Issues that draw serious attention from policy makers2. What is important to people who give them moneyii. Policy Institutions 1. Legislationa. Congress is the center of all policy making in the US ii. Politics Impact People1. Public Policya. Statuteb. Presidential Action c. Court decisiond. Budgetary choicee. Regulation2. Policies should be effectivea. Feedback is how we know if it is effective 2. Policies must have a goal -Traditional Democratic Theorya. Key Principles of the democratic process (according to Dahl):i. Equality in voting1. 1 person = 1 vote2. Less meaning for voting and more for representation (ex. equal populationin 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 sameii. Effective participation1. Also deals with representation, those who vote should reflect rest of populationa. Ex. US pop. - 12% African American so 12% of voters should be African Americanii. Enlightened understanding1. Freedom of speech and press2. Without these there cannot be any civic understanding and therefore no democratic processii. Citizen control of the agenda1. Ability to get involved and control agendaii. Inclusion 1.Everyone who comes into the democracy should have the ability to become a


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