Introducing Government in
America
Chapter 1
Introduction

Politics and government matter.
 Americans are apathetic about politics and
government.
 American youth are less likely to be
informed about government and politics and
participate less in politics.
Introduction

The Political Disengagement of College Students
Today (Figure 1.1)
Introduction
Introduction

Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.2)
Government

Definition:
– The institutions and processes through which
public policies are made for society.

This definition leads to two basic questions:
– How should we govern?
– What should government do?
Politics

Definition:
– The process by which we select our
governmental leaders and what policies these
leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative
decisions about public issues.

Also consider Lasswell’s definition:
– Who gets what, when and how.
The Policymaking System

Figure 1.3
The process by
which policy
comes into being
and evolves over
time.
People

Interests
 Problems
 Concerns
Linkage Institutions

Political Parties
 Elections
 News & Entertainment Media
 Interest Groups
Policy Agenda

Political Issues
– These arise when people disagree about a
problem and how to fix it.

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

Legislature (Congress)
 Executive (President)
 Courts (Federal and State)
 Bureaucracies (Federal and State)
Policy Impacts People
Policy Impacts People

Impacts of policies:
 Does it solve the problem?
 Does it create more problems?
Democracy

Definition:
– A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing
government so that policy represents and responds to
the public’s preferences.





Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda
Inclusion
Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Pluralist Theory
– 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
Theories of U.S. Democracy…

Hyperpluralism
– A theory of government and politics contending
that groups are so strong that government is
weakened.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralism
 Confusing / contradictory policies
 Gridlock- inability to act at all
Challenges to Democracy

Increased Technical Expertise
 Limited Participation in Government
 Escalating Campaign Costs
 Diverse Political Interests
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?
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.
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 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?