Preparing for Each Chapter
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Outline chapter – i.e. chapter title and section
headings
Note key chapter terms in bold under their
respective section
Read (first and last sentence of )each paragraph
for relevance
Attend class and fill in additional information
covered under respective section heading
Review outline/notes after each class
Citizenship in Our Changing
Democracy
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Democracy – form
of government in
which the people
rule either directly or
through elected
leaders (p.3)
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Citizenship – Status
conferring rights and
protections to
members of the
political community
but, in return,
requiring allegiance
and involvement (p.3)
Politics, Power, and Participation
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Politics – The process by which we choose government
officials and make decisions about public policy (p.3)
Civic Life – Participation in the collective life of the community
(p.3)
Government – The body charged with making official policies
for its citizens (p.3)
Civil Society – The broad array of voluntary associations that
bring citizens together to deal with community and social issues
of common concern (p.3) ; a.k.a. social capital = necessary
ingredient in democracy
Types of Government (POLITICS)
Monarchy/dictatorship – single person absolute power
 Representative democracy – form of government in
which popular d.m. is restricted to electing or appointing
the public officials who make public policy (p. 4)
 Pure (direct) democracy – decision making done by
entire citizenry
*U.S. = representative democracy using majority rule &
protections for minority rights
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Political POWER (p.4)
Modern U.S. = both theories
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Ruling Elite Theory –
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View positing that wealthy
and well-educated citizens
exercise a disproportionate
amount of influence over
political decision making
(p. 4 & 5)
Pluralism – View positing
that various groups and
coalitions constantly vie
for government favor and
the ability to exercise
political power but none
enjoys long-term
dominance (p.5)
PARTICIPATION and Democracy
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Active citizens essential to success of
democracy (p.3)
Political participation – taking part in activities
like voting, or running for office aimed at
influencing the policies or leadership of
government (p.9)
AMERICAN Political Ideals
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Ideologies – Ideas, values and beliefs about
how government should operate (p.7)
Liberal Democracy – Ideology stressing
individual rights and expressing faith in
popular control of government (p.7)
–
Three essential notions:
1) natural rights
2) formation of social contract by governed
3) majority rule
The Changing Face of the American
Citizenry
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Growing Diversity – land of immigrants
Growing Older – “graying of America”
Growing Apart – *SOCIAL CLASS (combo.
of wealth, income, education and occupation)
- now have “classlessness”
- economic gap growing
The Future of Citizenship
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Service Learning Programs
Social Capital
Civic Engagement
*VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN “OUR”
DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY