AM GOV 2010 AM GOV 2010

Joseph A. LoscoJoseph A. LoscoRalph E. BakerRalph E. Baker

CITIZENSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP IN OUR CHANGING OUR CHANGING

DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACYChapter 1Chapter 1

As You ReadAs You Read What kinds of civic involvement fuel What kinds of civic involvement fuel

democracies?democracies? What ideals fuel American democracy?What ideals fuel American democracy? What are some of the changes and challenges What are some of the changes and challenges

facing America today?facing America today?

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POLITICS, POWER, AND POLITICS, POWER, AND PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

Politics, the process by which we choose Politics, the process by which we choose government officials and make decisions about government officials and make decisions about public policy, is a voluntary activity.public policy, is a voluntary activity.

American government is a representative American government is a representative democracy, meaning that its citizens hold public democracy, meaning that its citizens hold public officials accountable through periodic elections officials accountable through periodic elections and the rule of law.and the rule of law.

America’s representative democracy is America’s representative democracy is characterized by:characterized by: Majority ruleMajority rule Protections for minority rightsProtections for minority rights

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POLITICS, POWER, AND POLITICS, POWER, AND PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

Who exercises political power?Who exercises political power? Ruling elite theory: Wealthy and well-educated Ruling elite theory: Wealthy and well-educated

citizens exercise a disproportionate amount of citizens exercise a disproportionate amount of influence over political decision making.influence over political decision making.

Pluralism: Various groups vie for government Pluralism: Various groups vie for government favor and political power, but none enjoys long-favor and political power, but none enjoys long-term dominance.term dominance.

Citizen participation is essential to ensure the Citizen participation is essential to ensure the preservation of constitutional freedoms. preservation of constitutional freedoms.

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AMERICAN POLITICAL AMERICAN POLITICAL IDEALSIDEALS

Liberal democracy is the ideology that guided Liberal democracy is the ideology that guided the American experience.the American experience.

Liberal democracy reveres individual rights and Liberal democracy reveres individual rights and expresses faith in popular control of government.expresses faith in popular control of government.

Liberal democracy rests on three essential Liberal democracy rests on three essential notions: natural rights, the formation of a social notions: natural rights, the formation of a social contract by consent of the governed, and contract by consent of the governed, and majority rule. majority rule.

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THE CHANGING FACE OF THE CHANGING FACE OF THE AMERICAN CITIZENRYTHE AMERICAN CITIZENRY

Growing diversity: The American population is Growing diversity: The American population is increasingly drawn from across the world; ethnic increasingly drawn from across the world; ethnic minorities now make up some 30 percent of the minorities now make up some 30 percent of the population.population.

Growing older: An older population growing Growing older: An older population growing rapidly poses challenges for Social Security and rapidly poses challenges for Social Security and Medicare programs.Medicare programs.

Growing apart: Outward markers of class are Growing apart: Outward markers of class are not as obvious today, but significant economic not as obvious today, but significant economic divisions still exist among Americans.divisions still exist among Americans.

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THE FUTURE OF THE FUTURE OF CITIZENSHIPCITIZENSHIP

Americans are exploring new forms of civic Americans are exploring new forms of civic engagement and political participation.engagement and political participation. More colleges and universities turning to student More colleges and universities turning to student

service learningservice learning Some states experimenting with voting by mailSome states experimenting with voting by mail Candidates, parties, and nonpartisan groups Candidates, parties, and nonpartisan groups

increasing efforts to reach out to voters, especially increasing efforts to reach out to voters, especially young peopleyoung people

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THE FUTURE OF THE FUTURE OF CITIZENSHIPCITIZENSHIP

The Internet is becoming an important tool for The Internet is becoming an important tool for mobilizing civic engagement.mobilizing civic engagement. Community groups using Internet to organize and Community groups using Internet to organize and

publicize initiativespublicize initiatives Political candidates increasingly using Internet for Political candidates increasingly using Internet for

fundraising and for motivating votersfundraising and for motivating voters

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Citizen Activities in a Citizen Activities in a Democratic SocietyDemocratic Society

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Trust in National GovernmentsTrust in National Governments

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Composition of Neighborhoods by Composition of Neighborhoods by Racial and Ethnic GroupsRacial and Ethnic Groups

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The Graying of AmericaThe Graying of America

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Projected Growth in Employment by Projected Growth in Employment by Education or Training CategoryEducation or Training Category

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Reasons for Not Voting, Reasons for Not Voting, 1818––24-Year Olds24-Year Olds

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Hot or Not?Hot or Not?

Should the government be in Should the government be in the business of promoting the business of promoting civic engagement and political civic engagement and political participation?participation?

Get InvolvedGet Involved

Find out how your civic engagement level Find out how your civic engagement level measures against that of students from around measures against that of students from around the country. Take the Civic Engagement Quiz the country. Take the Civic Engagement Quiz from the Center for Information and Research on from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. It is available Civic Learning and Engagement. It is available on their website at on their website at www.civicyouth.org. You can . You can score yourself and compare your level of activity score yourself and compare your level of activity to a national sample of students from around the to a national sample of students from around the country.country.

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SummarySummary What kinds of civic involvement fuel What kinds of civic involvement fuel

democracies?democracies?Citizens can contribute to the civic life of Citizens can contribute to the civic life of

democracy by participating in voluntary democracy by participating in voluntary associations that build social capital, or bonds associations that build social capital, or bonds of trust among citizens, and by participating in of trust among citizens, and by participating in the political process that fuels our form of the political process that fuels our form of government.government.

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SummarySummary What ideals fuel American democracy?What ideals fuel American democracy?American democracy gets its inspiration from American democracy gets its inspiration from

the liberal democratic views of John Locke the liberal democratic views of John Locke and rests on three essential notions: natural and rests on three essential notions: natural rights, the formulation of a social contract by rights, the formulation of a social contract by the consent of the governed, and majority rule. the consent of the governed, and majority rule.

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SummarySummary What are some of the changes and What are some of the changes and

challenges facing America today?challenges facing America today?We are growing more diverse, older, and subject We are growing more diverse, older, and subject

to continuing class divisions. to continuing class divisions.

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