Introducing Government in America With cartoons Government Institutions

Introducing Government in America With cartoons!

Government Institutions that make decisions for society n American national government institutions: n ¨ Congress, president, courts, federal administrative agencies (bureaucracy) What kind of government is best? n What should government do? n ¨ Maintain national defense, provide public services, preserve order, socialize youth, collect taxes

Politics n “Who gets what, when, and how” ¨ Harold D. Lasswell ¨ How society chooses governmental leaders and their policy agendas = process n Who? ¨ Voters, n candidates, groups, parties What? ¨ Benefits n and burdens / Rights and responsibilities How? ¨ Voting, supporting, compromising, lobbying

Public Policy n Course of action that government makes regarding a political issue ¨ Political issue = arises when people disagree about a problem and its solution n e. g. , health care ¨ Policy agenda = the issues that people are focused on at a given time n Public policy is shaped by people, linkage institutions, political issues, and political institutions ¨ Linkage institutions = how people’s concerns become important political issues n Elections, parties, interest groups, media

Values n n n n n Community Cooperation Democracy Equality Freedom Justice Security Self-reliance Stability Tolerance n How do values affect: ¨ Government? ¨ Politics? ¨ Public Policy? ¨ Health care policy?

Democracy Government by the people n How policymakers (politicians) are selected and how government is organized reflects what the people want n ¨ Direct democracy ¨ Representative democracy

Traditional Democratic Theory 5 Cornerstones of an Ideal Democracy 1. Equality in voting 2. Effective participation 3. Enlightened understanding 4. Citizen control of the agenda 5. Inclusion n Majority rule n Minority rights n

In what ways is the U. S. NOT an ideal democracy?

Contemporary Theories of American Democracy n Pluralist theory ¨ Politics is mainly a competition among groups that each have preferred policies ¨ Groups of minorities work together vs. majority rule ¨ Based on complex bargaining and compromise n Elite and class theory ¨ Upper-class elite will rule no matter what

Contemporary Theories of American Democracy n Hyperpluralism ¨ Groups are so strong that they make it impossible for government to govern ¨ Interest groups hold all the power

What aspects of American society make it more difficult to be democratic?

Challenges to Democracy n Increased technical (in)expertise ¨ Harder n Limited participation in government ¨ Low n voter turnout Especially for young voters ¨ ¨ n to be well-informed 33% for people under 25 in 2000 49% in 2008 = anomaly? Escalating campaign costs ¨ Dependent n on PACs for funding Diverse political interests ¨ policy gridlock

Presidential Turnout Rates for Voting-Age Population (VAP) and Eligible Population (VEP)

Group activity: ¨ Devise three to five ways to make VHS student government more democratic ¨ Consider: How government is organized n How policymakers are selected n How policy is made n ¨ Utilize theory the criteria of traditional democratic