Introducing Government

Chapter 1Chapter 1

GovernmentGovernment

Definition: Institutions (Executive,

Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make U.S. policy.

Definition: Institutions (Executive,

Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make U.S. policy.

PoliticsPolitics

• Definition:• The process by which we select

our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

• The Game!

• Also consider Lasswell’s definition:• Who gets what, when and how.

• Definition:• The process by which we select

our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

• The Game!

• Also consider Lasswell’s definition:• Who gets what, when and how.

The Policymaking SystemThe Policymaking System

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

PeoplePeople

InterestsProblemsConcerns

InterestsProblemsConcerns

Linkage InstitutionsLinkage InstitutionsPolitical PartiesElectionsNews & Entertainment

MediaInterest Groups

Political PartiesElectionsNews & Entertainment

MediaInterest Groups

Policy AgendaPolicy AgendaThe issues that

government is addressing at a point in time

Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.

It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

The issues that government is addressing at a point in time

Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.

It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

Policymaking Institutions Legislature (Congress & States) Executive (President & Governors) Courts (Federal and State) Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

Implementation• Impacts of policies:

– Effective or ineffective?– Are the resources

available?

DemocracyDemocracy

Definition: A system of selecting policymakers and of

organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.

Equality in voting Effective participation Enlightened understanding Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion

Definition: A system of selecting policymakers and of

organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.

Equality in voting Effective participation Enlightened understanding Citizen control of the agenda Inclusion

Theories of U.S. Democracy…Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Pluralist Theory A theory of government and

policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Groups will work together Public interest will prevail Compromise prevents radicalism.

Pluralist Theory A theory of government and

policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Groups will work together Public interest will prevail Compromise prevents radicalism.

Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Elite and Class TheoryA theory of government and

politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Not all groups are equalPolicies benefit those with

money / power

Elite and Class TheoryA theory of government and

politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Not all groups are equalPolicies benefit those with

money / power

Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Hyperpluralism A theory of government

and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism

Confusing / contradictory policies

Gridlock- inability to act at all

Hyperpluralism A theory of government

and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism

Confusing / contradictory policies

Gridlock- inability to act at all

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are needed to see this picture.

Challenges to Democracy

Increased Technical Expertise (complexity of government)

Limited Participation in Government

Escalating Campaign Costs

Diverse Political Interests

Questions About Democracy

Questions About Democracy

Are the people knowledgeable about government?

Do elections facilitate high turnouts?

Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?

Are the people knowledgeable about government?

Do elections facilitate high turnouts?

Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?

Questions about the Scope of Government

Questions about the Scope of Government

• How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?

• Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?

• Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

• How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?

• Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?

• Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

Questions about the Scope of Government,

continued…

• Does the media have sufficient freedom of press and speech to truly inform citizens of what is happening in government?

Questions about the Scope of Government,

continued…

Questions about the Scope of Government,

continued…• Do presidents have too much

power?• Is Congress representative of

American society?

• Do presidents have too much power?

• Is Congress representative of American society?

Questions about the Scope of Government,

continued…

Questions about the Scope of Government,

continued…Do the federal courts overstep

their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government?

Are the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?

Do the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government?

Are the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?