Introducing Government in
America
AP Government
Chapter One
Thomas Jefferson once said that there has
never been, nor ever will be, a people who are
politically ignorant and free.
Government: Institutions that make
Authoritative decisions for any given society
1. Maintain national defense
2. Provide public services
3. Preserve order
4. Socialize the young
5. Collect taxes
Key Terms
Politics: “Who gets what, when, and
how”—Harold D. Lasswell
Linkage Institutions: Policymaking
systems that transmit the preferences
of Americans to the policymakers in
government (i.e.. Parties, interest
groups, media, elections)
Has our nation become
more or less democratic
over the past 200 years?
Discuss with your neighbor.
Writers of the Constitution had no
fondness for democracy as many of
them doubted the ability of ordinary
Americans to make informed
judgments about what government
should do
--Lineberry
Our Views have
Changed…or have they?
Roger Sherman, delegate
to Constitutional
Convention, said the
people “Should have as
little to do as may be with
the government”
Much later, Americans
came to cherish
democracy and believe
that all citizens should
actively participate in
choosing leaders
Abraham Lincoln
stated in the famous
Gettysburg Address,
“government of the
people, by the
people, and for the
people”…
Moving us closer to
our democratic, all
inclusive society
today
Traditional Democratic
Theory
According to Robert Dahl, democracy, ideally,
should satisfy 5 criteria:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Equality in voting = “One person, one vote”
Effective Participation
Enlightened Understanding
Citizen Control of the Agenda
Inclusion = Must include and extend rights to all
subject to laws
Democratic Terms
Majority Rule: in choosing among alternatives,
will of over half the voters should be followed
Minority Rights: Basic principles such as
freedom of speech and assembly are inviolable
minority rights, which the majority cannot infringe
upon
Theories of American
Democracy
Theories about who has power and influence in a society
Who really governs in our nation?
Three Theories
1. Pluralist Theory
2. Elite and Class Theory
3. Hyperpluralism
Pluralism
Pluralist Theory
Groups with shared interests influence public policy
by pressing concerns through organized efforts
NRA, NOW, UAW are examples of organized groups
that compete with one another for control over policy
and yet no one group or set of groups dominates the
political arena
Generally optimistic that public interest will eventually
prevail in making public policy through a complex
process of bargaining and compromise
Groups of “minorities” working together
Thoughts on Pluralism…
Robert Dahl “All active and legitimate groups in
population can make themselves heard at some
crucial stage in the process”
Alexis de Tocqueville (1830s’) “nation of joiners”
which he attributes high levels of associational
activities as a crucial reason for success of American
democracy
Robert Putnam argues that many of the problems of
American democracy stems from a declines in groupbased participation because technology (TV, Internet)
has served to increasingly isolate Americans
PTA, Elks, Shriners, League of Women
Voters all have been declining for decades
Believes that Americans’ activities are
becoming less tied to institutions and more
self-defined
“Bowling Alone” explains that membership in
bowling has dropped sharply while at the
same time, more people are bowling
Elite and Class Theory
Elite & Class Theory
Contends that our society is divided along class lines
and that upper class elite pulls the strings of
government
Wealth (property, stocks, bonds) is the basis of this
power
1/3 of nation’s wealth held by 1% of population
Wealthy 1% control most policy decisions because
they can afford to finance election campaigns and
control key institutions, such as large corporations
Don’t merely influence policymakers but are
policymakers=power
Hyperpluralism
Hyperpluralism
Pluralism gone sour; Groups are so strong
that government is weakened
Many groups are so strong that the
government is unable to act
Too many ways for groups to control policy
(any policy requiring the cooperation of
national, state, and local levels of government
can be hampered by reluctance of any one of
them
Groups have become sovereign and
government is merely their servant
These powerful groups divide the government
and its authority
Government gives in to every conceivable
interest and single issue group
When this happens, policies are confusing;
contradicting and muddled…if policy can be
created at all