AP United States Government

Chapter 1

Constitutional Development

The Theory of Modern Government

Key Terms– Conservative– Direct Democracy– Elite and class theory– Government– Hyper pluralism– Liberal– Linkage institution– Loose Construction– Pluralism– Policy Agenda– Political Parties– Politics– Public Policy– Representative Democracy– Strict Constructionists

Chapter Overview

When analyzing the interrelationship between government and politics, one must understand the theoretical nature of both concepts.

Political decisions result in many policy decisions.

Government– those institutions that create public policy. (working

definition)– Formal institutions of government on the national level

are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Similar at the state and local levels also. (constitutional definition)

Chapter Overview

In addition to the defined institutions of government, modern government is also characterized by those agencies that implement public policy.– Bureaucracies– Regulatory agencies– Independent executive agencies– Government corporations– Cabinet

Chapter Overview

Harold Laswell defines politics as “who gets what, when, and how.”

The definition of politics evolved from the writings of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in the Federalists Papers.

Politics is characterized by conflict and resolution, compromise, and the interrelationship of individuals and groups.

Why are politicians able to succeed or fail in getting elected and why do they succeed or fail in the process of creating policy?

What government does through politics results in public policy. In evaluating how successful government and politicians are,

you must look at the extent that public policy is achieved.

The Basic Function of Government

People will differ in their views of the functions of government.

Preamble to the Constitution– Establishment of a more perfect union– Establishment of justice – Insurance of domestic tranquility– Promotion of the general welfare– Security of individual liberty

People will differ on the meaning, interpretation, and implementation of these functions of government.

The Meaning of Politics

Because politics deals with individuals and their needs, values, and attitudes, it stands to reason that people with similar attitudes will band together to form political parties.

Once a political party is formed, in order for the needs, values, and attitudes to translate into actual policy, the party must succeed in electing its members to office.

The Meaning of Politics

Individuals running for office must have – Electorate support– Political (the party) support– Financial support

Incumbency also comes into play– Offers an advantage over young politicians new to

the scene.

The Role of the Electorate

The role of the electorate is also crucial in determining the means in which individuals get involved.– How voters perceive the candidate’s positions on

issues.– The way people feel about the party – Comfort level of the voters in relation to the

candidate and the party– Media influence

The Function of Interest Groups

The United States political system evolved from various interest groups vying to implement a policy agenda.

The United States political system was characterized and created from established groups who had differing attitudes toward how best to form a new government.

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Once the Constitution was ratified, the two parties evolved. Federalists Party

– Headed by Alexander Hamilton– Made up of the upper class– Supported strong national government– Policy to solve the nations economic problem s– Appealed to business interests– Loose Construction

A liberal interpretation of the Constitution

The Function of Interest Groups

The Democratic-Republicans – Led by Thomas Jefferson – Party of the “common man”– Limited role of the central government– Strict constructionists

Conservative interpretation of the Constitution

– Supported by farmers, merchants, and the middle class of American society.

– Believed Congress should be the main cog of government

Linkage Institutions- The Informal Institutions

Public policy is affected by the linkage institutions of political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.

By definition, a linkage institution is the means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.

When specific political issues are resolved, they become the basis for policy.

The interaction of linkage institutions results in the formation of a policy agenda by candidates running for elected office.

Policy-Making Institutions

The formal institutions created by the Constitution including the presidency, Congress, and the courts and bureaucracies are the significant and major policy-making institutions.

The development and growth of bureaucracies becomes a fourth branch of government, because it has independent regulatory power and is connected directly and indirectly to the federal government itself.

Policy-Making Institution

The size of government has increased since World War II as a result of the bureaucracy, which became an integral part of the government.

The influence of the bureaucratic agencies on public policy has been dramatic. – Regulatory Agencies

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Policy-Making Institutions

The president as chief executive proposes to Congress a legislative agenda.

Along with the agenda is a budget proposal that defines the extent of government involvement in supporting legislation as well as size of government.

The decision to sign or veto legislation determines the fate of legislation and the resulting public policy.

Congress, through its committee system and ultimately its votes, determines the fate of the president’s legislative agenda and the proposed budget.

Supreme Court– Judicial restraint – Judicial Activism

Evolution of Representative Democracy

The development of our representative democracy evolved from other forms of democracies.

Roots of our political system are in ancient Greece. Based on the writings of Enlightenment thinkers.

– Montesquieu– Locke

Origins of Athenian democracy come from the premise that governmental rule should be that of the many rather than the few.

Enlightenment thinkers proposed that a democracy should rely on the consent of the people.

Natural rights that could not be taken away by the government.– Life – Liberty– Property

Such concepts as equality, freedom, and order, became the driving forces of our democracy.

Evolution of Representative Democracy

The measurement of democracy became open and free elections.

– Elections should be open to all citizens– Elections should be determined by a majority or plurality.– Our constitutional republic in its early days did not meet

this criteria. – Today we still have the electoral college, which determines

elected officials rather than a direct vote.

Evolution of Representative Democracy

To determine if our democracy is still working, relies on the way the individual determines the final fate of who runs the government and how policy is determined.

Linkage institutions and sovereignty, individuals must have a forum and a vote to determine their elected officials.

– Guarantees of voting equality– Make-up of congressional districts should be as democratic as possible.– Amendments to the Constitution creating direct election of senators.– Voting rights for freed slaves, women, and 18 year olds.– Elimination of poll taxes

Participation in politics and government is another indicator.– Free media – Involvement by citizens– Individual freedom must be respected and is guaranteed through the Bill of Rights.– Government itself must operate on the basis of consensus and compromise.

The Importance of Control

If you control the agenda, you will be the one to get the what, when, and how.

There are three schools of thought regarding how the agenda is controlled.

– Pluralism Involves different groups all vying for control of the policy

agenda. No single group emerges, forcing the groups to compromise. A centrist position is achieved and although no one group is

totally happy, a number of groups agree on mutually acceptable positions.

The Importance of Control

Elite and Class theory– Revolves around an economic strata of society controlling the

policy agenda.– An upper class, the wealthy of society is recognized as the elite

and controls the linkage institutions of government. The third theory is hyper pluralism

– An extension of pluralism run amuck– So many interest groups vying for control that government cannot

operate.– It is almost like gridlock without any means of compromise.– Any attempt to mediate or placate the many interests groups

results in such a watered down policy that the end product does not resemble the original proposal.

The Importance of Control

Our democracy has components of each of these political theories.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Most political scientists would agree that a democracy characterized by a pluralists society working in harmony and achieving compromise through centrist positions usually has a good chance of success.

The Importance of Goals

Modern government changes as a result of who can best serve the public interest.

Whether or not elected officials are achieving their goals is what translates into public policy.

Whether or not officials are meeting the needs of the public.

The Importance of Goals

To make a final judgment, as yourself these questions as you study government.

– What is the public interest?– Who determines the parameters of what the public wants?– How much influence should government have on the lives of its

citizens?– How big should government be?– How much money should government spend?– What is the best way to raise money for government spending?– How should government and its elected officials deal with serious

issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and birth control?– Should candidates campaign negatively in order to get elected?– How should government and politicians restore the public’s

confidence in their elected officials and government?