POLS 206 1st EditionExam # 1 Study GuideLecture 1-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 howi. 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 USii. 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 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 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 press 2. 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 citizenb. Majority rule and minority rightsi. 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 Democracya. Pluralismi. Groups of minorities working togetherii. Good policy will prevail because groups must compromiseiii. Groups compete --> Compromise --> policy making --> Government is stronger than any individual groupb. Elitismi. Power is held by wealthyb. Hyper pluralismi. Too many groups try to control policyii. Government is too weak to do anythingiii. Leads to gridlock and nothing getting doneiv. *Key to pluralism is that groups compete and something gets done*-Challenges to Democracya. Increased complexity of issuesi. Requires the need of informed politicians and informed electorate b. Limited participation in governmenti. Only 55% voting participation in United States b. Diverse political interestsi. Policy gridlockii. Too many people want too many different things b. Escalating campaign costsi. Money is very important in elections -American Political Culture and Democracy a. Political culture based on American creed i. Liberty1. Liberty for allii. Egalitarianism1. "Equality"2. Equality under the laws ii. Individualism1. Limited government 2. Self reliant, life should based on self abilities and not what the govt does for you ii. Laissez-Faire1. "Hands off" economy2. Free market or capitalism ii. Populism1. For the people -How Active is the American Government?a. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)i. Sum of all goods and services produced by the countryii. Government spends 1/3iii. Government employs 24 million people1. Number is growing and makes the US government the largest employer on the planet 2. Own 1/4 - 1/5 of land in the countryb. Americans expect the government to solve problemsi. Unemployment, terrorism, illegal immigration, energy, education, lack of accessto health care Chapter 2 - The Constitution -The Constitutiona. Does not set up neutral rules for politicsi. Has a conservative(not ideology) bias favoring status quo -2.1: Origins of the Constitutiona. Road to the Revolutioni. No taxation without representation1. Sending troops to protect colonies2. Colonists were not keeping any wealth, all was going to England 3. Starts very peacefully Lecture 3a. Declaring Independence i. Declaration of Independence1. Thomas Jefferson 2. Justified revolution3. Revolutionaries needed foreign assistance b. English Heritage: Power of Ideasi. John Locke1. Natural Rights a. Life, liberty, propertyb. Purpose of government is to be protected ii. Consent of the governed iii. Limited government b. American Creed i. Individualismii. 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 oWeak central governmentoPower held by states (taxes were dependent on states) oLegislation was one chamber with one vote per state oCould raise and maintain a military-Changes in the States -Economic Turmoil -Aborted Annapolis meeting -2.3: Making a Constitution-Philadelphia Convention oGentlemen in Philadelphia oPhilosophy 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 ConstitutionoPowers of Congress-Found in table in PP slides oProhibitions 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