1. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Thirteenth AP* EditionEdwards/Wattenberg/LineberryChapter 1Introducing Government in AmericaPearson Education, Inc., Longman 2008

2. Introduction Politicsand government matter. Americans are apathetic about politics andgovernment. American youth are not likely to beinformed about government and politics andrarely participate in politics.Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 3. Introduction ThePolitical Disengagement of College Students Today (Figure 1.1)Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 4. IntroductionPearson Education,Inc., Longman 5. Introduction Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.3)Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 6. Government Definition:Government is the institutions andprocesses through which public policies are madefor society. This definition leads to two basic questions: How should we govern? What should government do? Governments typically maintain a nationaldefense, provide services, collect taxes, andpreserve order. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 7. Politics Definition: Politics is the process by which we select ourgovernmental leaders and what policies theyproducepolitics produces authoritativedecisions about public issues. Also consider Lasswells definition: Who gets what, when and how.Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 8. The Policymaking System The process bywhich policycomes into beingand evolves overtimePearson Education,Figure 1.4Inc., Longman 9. People Interests Problems ConcernsPearson Education,Inc., Longman 10. Linkage Institutions Definition: Linkage institutions are thepolitical channels through which peoplesconcerns become political issues on thepolicy agenda. Political Parties Elections News & Entertainment Media Interest GroupsPearson Education,Inc., Longman 11. Policy Agenda Definition:The policy agenda are issues thatattract the serious attention of public officials. Political issues arise when people disagree about aproblem and how to fix it. Some issues will be considered, and others willnot. A governments policy agenda changes regularly. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 12. Policymaking Institutions Definition: Policymaking institutions arethe branches of government charged withtaking action on political issues. Legislature (Congress) Executive (President) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 13. Policies Impact PeoplePublicPolicy: a choice that government makesin response to a political issue Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 14. Policies Impact People Impacts of Policies: Does it solve the problem? Does it create more problems? Depending on the answer, policy impacts carry the political system back to its point of origin: the concerns of people.Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 15. Democracy Definition: Democracy is a system of selectingpolicymakers and of organizing government sothat policy represents and responds to the publicspreferences. Components of Traditional Democratic Theory: Equality in voting Effective participation Enlightened understanding Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 16. Theories of U.S. Democracy Pluralist Theory A theory of government and policiesemphasizing that politics is mainly acompetition among groups, each one pressingfor its own preferred policies Groupswill work together Public interest will prevail throughbargaining and compromise Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 17. Theories of U.S. Democracy Elite and Class Theory A theory of government and politics contendingthat societies are divided along class lines andthat an upper-class elite will rule, regardless ofthe formal niceties of governmentalorganization Not all groups equal Policies benefit those with money andpowerPearson Education,Inc., Longman 18. Theories of U.S. Democracy Hyperpluralism A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Groups control policy and prevent governmentfrom acting Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation Confusing and contradictory policies result frompoliticians trying to placate every groupPearson Education,Inc., Longman 19. Challenges to Democracy Increased Technical Expertise Limited Participation in Government Escalating Campaign Costs Diverse Political Interests (policy gridlock) Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 20. American Political Culture and Democracy PoliticalCulture: An overall set of values widelyshared within a society. American culture is diverse and comprised of: Liberty Egalitarianism Individualism Laissez-faire Populism Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 21. Questions About Democracy People Are people knowledgeable about policy? Do they apply what the know when they vote? Do elections facilitate political participation? Institutions Is Congress a representative institution? Does the president look after the generalwelfare? Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 22. Questions About Democracy Linkage Institutions Do interest groups help the process, or do theyget in the way? Do political parties offer clear consistentchoices for voters or do they intentionallyobscure their positions? Do media help citizens understand choices?Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 23. How Active is American Government? It spends about $2.8 trillion annually It employs nearly 2 million people It owns one-third of the land It occupies 2.6 billion square feet of officespace It owns and operates 400,000 nonmilitaryvehicles Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 24. Questions about the Scope ofGovernment Constitution and Federalism What role does the Constitutions authorsforesee for the federal government? Does the Constitution favor government with abroad scope? Why did functions of federal governmentincrease? Has a more active government constrained orprotected civil rights and liberties? Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 25. Questions about the Scope ofGovernment, continued Public and Linkage Institutions Does the public favor a large, active government? Do competing political parties force government toprovide more public services? Do elections control the scope of government? Does pressure from interest groups create a biggergovernment? Has the media helped control the size of governmentand its policies?Pearson Education,Inc., Longman 26. Questions about the Scope ofGovernment, continued Elected Institutions Has the president been a driving force behindincreasing the scope and power of government? Can the president control a large government? Is Congress predisposed to support biggovernment? Is Congress too responsive to the public andinterest groups? Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 27. Questions about the Scope ofGovernment, continued Nonelected Institutions Are the federal courts too active in policy making,intruding on the authority of other branches ofgovernment? Is the bureaucracy constantly try to expand its budgetor is it simply reflecting the desires of elected officials? Is the federal bureaucracy too large and thus wastefuland inefficient in the implementation of policy? Pearson Education, Inc., Longman 28. Summary Young people are apathetic about government andpolitics, even though they affect everyone. Democratic government, which is how the UnitedStates is governed, consists of those institutionsthat make policy for the benefit of the people. What government should do to benefit the peopleis a topic central to questions of Americangovernment.Pearson Education,Inc., Longman