Introducing Government in
America
Chapter 1:
Unit Essential Question: Why does Government
matter?
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_cameron#t808763
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/extra/features
/july-dec00/brokensystem.html
Lesson Essential Questions
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Why do Politics and government matter?
 Why and to what extent are Americans
apathetic about politics and government?
 Are American youth less likely to be
informed about government and politics and
participate less in politics?
Introduction
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The Political Apathy of young and old Americans
today.
Introduction
Introduction
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Presidential Election Turnout Rates of young and older
Americans
Source: U.S Census Bureau Current Population Surveys
Government
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Definition:
– The institutions and processes through which
public policies are made for society.
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This definition leads to two basic questions:
– How should we govern?
– What should government do?
– Maintain a national defense.
– Provide public goods and services.
– Preserve order.
– Socialize the young.
– Collect taxes.
Politics
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Definition:
– The process by which we select our
governmental leaders and what policies these
leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative
decisions about public issues.
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Also consider these ideas inferred by the
definition:
– Who gets what?, when? and how?
The Policymaking System
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Figure 1.3
The process
by which
policy comes
into being and
evolves over
time.
People- Politics and the
system should reflect

Interests of the people
 Problems of the people
 Concerns of the people
Linkage Institutions

Political Parties: Republican, Democrat,
Independent parties (libertarian and Green party)
 Elections
 News & Entertainment Media: Fox, CNN, BBC,
E., etc…
 Interest Groups: http://votesmart.org/interestgroups#.V7demvkrLIU
Policy Agenda
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Political Issues
– These arise when people disagree about a
problem and how to fix it.
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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
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Legislature (Congress)
 Executive (President and Cabinet)
 Courts (Federal and State)
 Bureaucracies (Federal and State)- non
elected who help.
Policy Impacts People
Policy Impacts People

Impacts of policies on people:
 Does it solve the problem?
 Does it create more problems?

What issues today are policies changing in?
Democracy: Traditional theory

Definition:
– A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing
government so that policy represents and responds to
the public’s preferences.
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Equality in voting: Def: “One person one vote”
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda- If wealthy people
control the agenda what happens?
Inclusion- Think citizenship? Is it right to
exclude?
Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Pluralist Theory-(Coexistence is the goal)
– 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
Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Elite and Class Theory
– A 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 equal
 Policies benefit those with money / power
 Who would this be? EX. Oil cartels control a
highly valued resource that effects all business
Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Hyper-pluralism
– A theory of government and politics contending that
groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism(competing preferred policy)
 Confusing / contradictory policies
 Gridlock- inability to act at all
 Has this been taking place in our governmental
system?
Challenges to Democracy

Increased Technical Expertise- The average
American knows nothing about eligibility
criteria for welfare, agriculture price
supports, foreign competition.
 Limited Participation in Government
 Escalating Campaign Costs- Mostly funded
today by PAC’S
 Diverse Political Interests
American Individualism

Individualism is the belief that individuals
should be left on their own by the
government.
 Individualism is highly valued in the United
States with a strong preference for free
markets and limited government.
 “ with certain unalienable rights”-Thomas
Jefferson
Exit slip

What are the policy making institutions of
America?
 Who are the most important people in the
policy making system?
Questions About Democracy

Are the people knowledgeable- and do they
apply what they know?
 Do interest groups help the process, or do
they get in the way?
 Do political parties offer clear consistent
choices for voters?
 Does the President & Congress work in the
best interests of ALL the people?
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?
Questions about the Scope of
Government, continued…

Do competing political parties make for
better policies?
 Do more interest groups create a bigger
government?
 Does the media help control the size and
policies of government?
Questions about the Scope of
Government, continued…

Can the president control the government,
or has it gotten too big?
 Can Congress respond to the needs of the
people, or just to the interest groups?
 Do members of Congress expand
government by seeking to be re-elected?
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?
Exit slip

Name 2 new ideas that you learned about
the American government today and why
that is important to you?
Close Reading Tuesday:
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Directions:
Read the article published on canvas titled “Is the system broken?” one
time for a close read. Take about 15 minutes.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/extra/features/julydec00/brokensystem.html
As you read, make a T-chart and title it observations and questions.
Create as many bullet pointed examples as you can to analyze the text.
Use your method of o.p.c.l.v on the back with a T-CHART.
We will discuss when finished.
Engel v.Vitale
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1. Read the excerpt of the opinion of the court case Engel v. Vitale listed below
for a close Reading.
2. As you go through it make a T-chart and write down observations and
questions you might have about the case.
We will have a discussion about the case for the last 25 minutes of class.
Be prepared to discuss in your Student briefs:
Title
Facts of the Case.
Key Issues (Constitutionality?)
Decisions (Holdings) -courts answer to the case (Links to an external site.)
Reasoning (Rationale)-content from the case as to why the opinion rules this way
Separate Opinions-were there separate opinions from judges? (Links to an external site.)
Analysis- how right was this decision in historical context and why? (Links to an external
site.)
Free Response questions- FRQ’S
LEQ: To what extent are your political parties in
our nation divided?
Due Monday(Hard copy hand written)
Go to the websites for the party platforms of the:
 Green party http://www.gp.org/platform
 Republican party https://www.gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform/
 Libertarian party https://www.lp.org/platform
 Democratic party https://www.democrats.org/
 Look under the subheadings to find answers:
 Answer these Questions: (Make sure you analyze at least 2 party platforms that
are the most unfamiliar to you when comparing and contrasting the issues.
 1. How divided do you think two political parties are on 1. social issues,
2.environmental issues, 3.economic issues, and 4.political issues? Make a valid
argument for each with P.E.E. paragraphs by comparing two party platforms.
 2. Which party in your view is providing the least reform? List examples and
provide analysis. (P.E.E)
 3. Which party is promoting the most reform? List examples and provide analysis.
(P.E.E)
Constitution Timeline-Monday
2ND SEMESTER
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Directions: As you dive into Chapter 2 on the Constitution
and begin your book notes, create a timeline of the creation
of the Constitution of events beforehand and up to its
inception, either on the web here (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site. or a hand written copy, for
you to study as you move through the chapter material. –
Due Tuesday 1/16
If you complete a web version, make sure to send me a
sharable link to grade.
Make sure to be working on Book notes…
Multiple Choice Wed:

Go to Canvas and click on Modules and
open the directions for completing your open
book MC questions.
 Use the chapter text to help you answer these
questions.
 This is due by the end of the day!
FRQ’S: LEQ: What do your
state political parties stand
for? Are they divided?
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Directions: On Schoology complete a discussion post answering
these questions below about your state political parties.
 Go to the web and find your state political party websites and
platforms. Look under sub-headings and discuss these 3
questions:
 What do you propose are the most pressing issues they are trying
to fix in Florida?
 What positions on the political issues do these political parties
stand for?
 Explain at least 4 issues and state why you agree and or disagree
with these policies and or positions.