Download Government Basics PPt

Introducing Government
in America
1
1
Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=lrk4oY7UxpQ&index=1&list=
PL8dPuuaLjXtOfse2ncvffeelTrq
vhrz8H
Essential Question:
What are the key functions of
government and explain why
they matter?
Government
 What is government?
 How should we govern? (Democratic-Republic)
 What should government do?





Maintain a national defence
Provide public goods and services
Preserve order
Socialize the young
Collect taxes
1.1
Afghanistan
1.1
National defense is a key public service. The United States spends over $650
billion a year on national defense.
As we learn from the caption, these troops are guarding the road in Afghanistan
against explosive devices planted by Taliban insurgents.
1.1 Which of the following is not a
duty of government?
a. Collecting taxes
b. Proving for national defense
c. Promoting religion
d. Preserving order
1.1
1.1 Which of the following is not a
duty of government?
a. Collecting taxes
b. Proving for national defense
c. Promoting religion
d. Preserving order
1.1
Politics
1.2
 What is politics?
 the activities associated with the governance of a country or
other area, especially the debate or conflict among
individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
 Who gets what, when, and how
 Political participation
 More than just voting
 Attending a rally
 Writing a letter
FIGURE 1.1: Political apathy among
young and old Americans, 1972–2008
1.2
FIGURE 1.2: Age and political
knowledge, 1972 and 2008
1.2
FIGURE 1.3: Election turnout rates of
young and old Americans, 1972–2010
1.2
Politics
 Single-issue groups
 e.g., abortion
 Single-issue groups consist of voters so concerned with
one issue that members often cast their votes on the basis
of that issue only, ignoring a politician’s stand on
everything else.
1.2
1.2 Which is true of single-issue
groups?
a. They increase voter participation.
b. They negatively affect voter turnout.
c. They vote just for politicians who
support their issue.
d. They force politicians to consider
compromises.
1.2
1.2 Which is true of single-issue
groups?
a. They increase voter participation.
b. They negatively affect voter turnout.
c. They vote just for politicians who
support their issue.
d. They force politicians to consider
compromises.
1.2
Essential Question:
How do citizens impact public
policy and how do policies
impact people?
Policymaking System
 People Shape Policy
 Politics Impact People
1.3
FIGURE 1.4: The policymaking system
1.3
People Shape Policy
 Linkage institutions
 Parties, elections, interest groups, media
 Connect people to the policy makers
 Policy agenda
 Issues that attract attention
 Political issue
 Result of people disagreeing about the
problem
 Policymaking institutions
 Congress
 Presidency
 Courts
1.3
Politics Impact People
 Public policy





Statute
Presidential action/executive action
Court decision
Budgetary choice
Regulation
 Policies should be effective –address
the problem designed to solve
 Policies must have a goal
1.3
Table 1.1: Types of public policies
1.3
1.3 Which of the following is an
example of public policy?
a. Personal conviction
b. Parental rule
c. Congressional statute
d. Religious edict
1.3
1.3 Which of the following is an
example of public policy?
a. Personal conviction
b. Parental rule
c. Congressional statute
d. Religious edict
1.3
Democracy in America
Essential Question:
Identify the key principles of
democracy and outline theories
regarding how it works in
practice.
Democracy in America
1.4
 Traditional Democratic Theory
 Three Contemporary Theories of American
Democracy
 Challenges to Democracy
 American Political Culture and Democracy
 A Culture War
Traditional Democratic
Theory
Key principles of the democratic process
 Equality in voting- one person, one vote
 Effective participation – adequate and equal
opportunities
 Enlightened understanding- free press and speech are
important
 Citizen control of the agenda- everyone has a voice
 Inclusion-of all citizens
 Majority rule and minority rights
 Representation – should reflect the ideas
and beliefs of the constituency
1.4
Three Contemporary Theories
of American Democracy
 Pluralism
 Groups of minorities working together
 Elitism
 Power is held by the wealthy
 Hyperpluralism
 Too many groups try to control policy
1.4
Challenges to Democracy
 Increased complexity of issues –
people are not well informed
 Limited participation in governmentthe young do not participate
 Diverse political interests -
Policy gridlock
 Escalating campaign costs- $$ and
politics is an ongoing challenge
1.4
American Political Culture
and Democracy
1.4
 Political culture based on American creed





Liberty
Egalitarianism
Individualism
Laissez-faire
Populism
FIGURE 1.5: Pride in equal treatment
of groups in the U.S. and other
established democracies
1.4
A Culture War?
 Polarization of liberal and conservative
political culture – intense commitment to a
candidate, a culture, or an ideology- separating one group
definitively away form another
 Is it happening?
 Testing a crisis of values
 Loss of traditional values (religion, family, education)
 Less patriotism – love for country
 Irreconcilable differences- (gay marriage, abortion)
1.4
1.4 Which of the following
illustrates hyperpluralism?
a. Use of the court system to try to set
policy
b. Decrease in patriotism
c. Reliance on Congress to limit special
interests
d. Diversity in political interests
1.4
1.4 Which of the following
illustrates hyperpluralism?
a. Use of the court system to try to set
policy
b. Decrease in patriotism
c. Reliance on Congress to limit special
interests
d. Diversity in political interests
Interest groups may turn to the courts instead of
Congress, turning the court system in a
battleground.
1.4
Scope of Government in
America
1.5
 How Active Is American Government?
Politicians constantly debate whether the scope of
government responsibilities is too vast, just about right,
or not comprehensive enough. This debate concerns
whether the goals that are agreed to be important are
best achieved through government action or rather
through means other than government.
1.5
The political debate over programs that help lowincome individuals continues. Do such programs
expand the scope of government too much? Or do they
help people to get by during hard times?
How Active Is American
Government?
 Gross domestic product (GDP)
•
The gross domestic product is the total value of all goods and services produced
annually by the United States. The federal government spends about one-third of
this, or $3.7 trillion a year, implementing public policies, and it employs about 24
million Americans.
 Americans expect government to solve
problems
 Unemployment, terrorism, illegal immigration, energy,
education, lack of access to health care
1.5