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Introducing Government
Essential Questions:
» What is a government?» What forms a government?» How does a government function?» What is the purpose of a
government?
» What is a government?» What forms a government?» How does a government function?» What is the purpose of a
government?
GovernmentGovernment
Definition: Institutions (Executive,
Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make and implement policy.
A system that enforces power over an area of space.
Definition: Institutions (Executive,
Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucratic) that make and implement policy.
A system that enforces power over an area of space.
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
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
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?
What is this process of deciding about politicsWhat is this process of deciding about politics Aristotle Since we see that every city-state is a sort of
community and that every community is establish for the sake of some good (for everyone does everything for the sake of what they believe to be good, it is clear that every community aims at some good, and the community which ahs the most authority of all includes all the other aims highest, that is, at the good with the most authority. This is what is called the city-state or political community. [1.1.1252a1-7]
Aristotle Since we see that every city-state is a sort of
community and that every community is establish for the sake of some good (for everyone does everything for the sake of what they believe to be good, it is clear that every community aims at some good, and the community which ahs the most authority of all includes all the other aims highest, that is, at the good with the most authority. This is what is called the city-state or political community. [1.1.1252a1-7]
What is a just way to choose a leader? What is the place of slavery in the world? What is the most efficient and effective form of
constitution? What is the role of the citizen in a communal
organization. What is the ideal “political man” What is the best incentives for a productive economy?
What is a just way to choose a leader? What is the place of slavery in the world? What is the most efficient and effective form of
constitution? What is the role of the citizen in a communal
organization. What is the ideal “political man” What is the best incentives for a productive economy?
