Introduction to AP U.S. Government and Politics

Mr. Burkowski Jr. (JB)Academy for Advanced Academics

Know and Understand the Basic Functional Concepts of American Politics The Electorate – The Voter

Self-Interests Beliefs/Philosophies

Interest Groups Issues Lobbying

The Government Institutions Legislation Executive Bureaucratic Agencies Judicial

The Linkage Institutions Political Parties Media Elections and Campaigns

Again, Think Politically “I know exactly how a bill becomes a law in

the federal government.” OK, do you know why a legislator would

delay or prevent a bill from becoming a law? Do you know how the legislator would do this?

Do you know why and how a bill can become law faster than usual?

It is more than knowing the rules, but how to play the game.

Power and Types of Government

Power is the ability to coerce someone to do what you want

Autocracy Oligarchy Theocracy Totalitarianism Democracy

Autocracy Unlimited power is vested in one

person Absolute Monarchy

Hereditary position Ex. Louis XIV, Saudi Arabia

Dictatorship Assume power through force or

persuasion Ex. Kim Jong-il of North Korea

Oligarchy Power is vested in the hands of a few,

usually elites In most cases, power passed down through

heredity and/or elitist characteristic to preserve influence and power

Plutocracy or Aristocracy is rule by the wealthy

Examples: Sparta Apartheid South Africa

Theocracy Power is assumed by religious leaders

who establish laws and limits based on religious decree

Examples: Massachusetts Bay Colony Islamist Republic of Iran

The Ayatollah Holy See/Vatican City

The Pope

Totalitarianism

Government assumes all power and controls all aspects of society

The state may fall under the control of a single dictator, political party, or group of elites

Examples: Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy

Democracy Rule by many, rule of the people

Citizens participate in the political process and determine public policy

Direct Democracy All citizens determine public policy

Representative Democracy Citizens elect representatives to determine public

policy Republic

People reserve the ultimate authority Government leaders answer to electorate Government limited by constitution and/or popular

sovereignty

Type of Governments for U.S. Government Parliamentary System

Legislative supremacy which delegates powers to executives Ex. United Kingdom

Unitary government Power solely reserved in central government Central government delegates power Ex. United Kingdom

Confederation Loose alliance of sovereign states States reserve sovereignty and work together for common causes toward foreign

states Central government significantly limited and changes to government require

unanimous consent Ex. U.S.A. under Articles of Confederation

Federation/Federal Republic Strong central government manages national policies Division of powers between national and state/local governments Federal government holds supreme power Ex. U.S.A. under U.S. Constitution

Democratic Theories Traditional

Consent of the governed

Pluralist Interest groups

Elite/Elitist Upper class leaders

Bureaucratic Bureaucrats/government officials

Hyperpluralism Numerous interest groups