Marc Turetzky
Pols1, Spring 2016
Name ____________________________________________
In Class Work 1: "What is Politics" Questions (Ch 1 in Dye, PIA) *Turn this in
AFTER Quiz 1 (use it to study for quiz1)*
1. What is politics? What is power?
a) Politics:
b) Power:
2. What is government? What are the general purposes of government and politics
according to the Preamble to the Constitution?
a) Government:
b) Purposes of Government:
3. What is democracy? Define direct democracy. Define representative democracy. Why
did the founders dislike direct democracy so much? What is the paradox of democracy?
a) Direct Democracy:
b) Representative Democracy:
c) Founders disliked "democracy" because...
d) Paradox of democracy:
4) Why have Americans become so much more suspicious/less trusting of government
over the last several decades? What does professor Dye suggest?
5. Who really runs America/governs? Explanation 1: the elitist perspective of government.
Explain the basics...
6. Who really runs America/governs? Explanation 2: the pluralist perspective of
government. Explain the basics...
7. Which of these perspectives (elitist or pluralist) is right? Why?
8. What is the most significant thing you learned in today's discussion? Why...
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John Stossel's "Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics"
1. According to John Stossel, many Americans fall prey to the "I believe in magic"
phenomenon about political candidates. What drives this behavior?
2. What is the main argument in Stossel makes in the video? Do you agree or disagree with
what he is arguing?