POLS 206 1st Edition Exam 1 Study Guide Lecture 1 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 i Who anyone who can get involved ii 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 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 2 Without these there cannot be any civic understanding and therefore no democratic process ii Citizen control of the agenda 1 Ability to get involved and control agenda ii Inclusion 1 Everyone who comes into the democracy should have the ability to become a citizen b Majority rule and minority rights i Majority decides but minority rights must be protected ii Minority is ideas not the group of people necessarily b Representation Lecture 2 Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy a Pluralism i Groups of minorities working together ii iii Good policy will prevail because groups must compromise Groups compete Compromise policy making Government is stronger than any individual group b Elitism i Power is held by wealthy b Hyper pluralism i Too many groups try to control policy ii Government is too weak to do anything iii Leads to gridlock and nothing getting done iv Key to pluralism is that groups compete and something gets done Challenges to Democracy a Increased complexity of issues i Requires the need of informed politicians and informed electorate b Limited participation in government i Only 55 voting participation in United States b Diverse political interests i Policy gridlock ii Too many people want too many different things b Escalating campaign costs i Money is very important in elections American Political Culture and Democracy a Political culture based on American creed i Liberty 1 Liberty for all ii Egalitarianism 1 Equality 2 Equality under the laws ii Individualism 1 Limited government 2 Self reliant life should based on self abilities and not what the govt does for you ii Laissez Faire 1 Hands off economy 2 Free market or capitalism ii Populism 1 For the people How Active is the American Government a Gross Domestic Product GDP i Sum of all goods and services produced by the country ii Government spends 1 3 iii Government employs 24 million people 1 Number is growing and makes the US government the largest employer on the planet 2 Own 1 4 1 5 of land in the country b Americans expect the government to solve problems i Unemployment terrorism illegal immigration energy education lack of access to health care Chapter 2 The Constitution The Constitution a Does not set up neutral rules for politics i Has a conservative not ideology bias favoring status quo 2 1 Origins of the Constitution a Road to the Revolution i No taxation without representation 1 Sending troops to protect colonies 2 Colonists were not keeping any wealth all was going to England 3 Starts very peacefully Lecture 3 a Declaring Independence i Declaration of Independence 1 Thomas Jefferson 2 Justified revolution 3 Revolutionaries needed foreign assistance b English Heritage Power of Ideas i John Locke 1 Natural Rights a Life liberty property b Purpose of government is to be protected ii Consent of the governed iii Limited government b American Creed i Individualism ii Rule by the People b Winning Independence i New ideas incubated in a unique environment ii Not easy b Conservative Revolution 2 2 Government that Failed 1776 1787 Articles of Confederation o Weak central government o o o Power held by states taxes were dependent on states Legislation was one chamber with one vote per state Could raise and maintain a military Changes in the States Economic Turmoil Aborted Annapolis meeting 2 3 Making a Constitution Philadelphia Convention o Gentlemen in Philadelphia o Philosophy into Action High principles vs self interest Human nature political conflict resulting from factions Purpose of government Nature of government Lecture 4 2 4 Critical Issues at the Convention Equality issues Economic issues in the Constitution o Powers of Congress Found in table in PP slides o Prohibitions on and Obligations of the States States could not Coin money or issue paper money Tax imports or exports Pass laws impairing the obligations of contract Require payment of debts in paper money States were to Respect civil court judgments and contracts made in other states Return runaway slaves from other states o Other key provisions The new government assumed the national debt contracted under the Articles of Confederation A republican form of government was guaranteed Individual Rights Issues o Preserving individual rights a priority o Personal freedoms of the Constitution Suspension of habeas corpus prohibited except in times of war or insurrection