Introduction to AP Government and
Politics
I.
Constitutional
Underpinnings 515%
IV. Beliefs and
Behaviors about
Government 1020%
II. Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties 5-15 %
V. Institutions of
National
Government 3545%
III. Political Parties,
Interest Groups,
and the Mass
Media 10-20%
VI. Public Policy 515%
APGOPO TEST
• 60 multiple choice questions in 45 minutes
• 4 free response questions 100 minutes
I.
Constitutional
Underpinnings
5-15%
II. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
5-15 %
III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media 1020%
IV. Beliefs and Behaviors about Government 10-20%
V. Institutions of National Government 35-45%
VI. Public Policy 5-15%
Super duper important information
• If you choose to NOT take the AP government test in
May, the highest grade you can get in this class is a C.
• Attendance in this class is highly important, even
though it is 6th period. If you are here on a day where
you will miss sixth period for an activity, it is expected
that you will still turn in your assignment if you were at
school for any portion of the day.
• Read the book nightly and check your syllabus—when
you get it..
• You are responsible for approximately 1 chapter in your
textbook per week.
Governments around the world.
You’d be amazed…..
• At how much government shapes our lives.
• Its…EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But how many governments are in
America?
89,527
Wait….What???? That’s right.
89,527
This is called:
• FEDERALISM
• Examples?
But back to Starbucks….
• Is it such a bad thing that we have so much
government? That it is as ubiquitous as
Starbucks?
• This question is a Scope of Government
question. We have always had this
conversation in America. How much should
the government do?
Scope of Government how big is too
big?
Words we’ve all heard but let’s clarify:
• Government-the institutions that make
decisions for a society
(for the US national government these
institutions are Congress, The president, the
courts and the federal administrative agencies
AKA the Bureaucracy)
Take a guess…..How many elected officials are
there in the USA? Hint.. Not just nationally….
Lots!
What would Thomas Jefferson Say?
Most people agree that National
governments should provide:
1. National Defense
-USA spends 650 billion dollars on this!
2. Public services
-schools, libraries, hospitals
Public goods vs. public service Public goods cannot be denied to
anyone, just by their nature e.g. access to highways….national defense
Functions of Government
• Preserve order!
• Socialize the young….muah ha ha!
• Collect taxes
Politics
• Politics-the process by which we select our
governmental leaders and what policies these
leaders pursue.
• Most famous definition—Harold D. Lasswell’s
“Who gets what, when, and how.”
Policy making system
-It always begins with the people.
In my very humble opinion—(LMc.) This is what
makes us great. You want to change
something? It starts with YOU! Where else can
that happen?
Table 1.1
• Homework
• Quiz tomorrow on table 1.1. types of public
polices.
Policy making institutions:
• 1. Congress
• 2. presidency
• 3. courts
The three that are
established by the
Constitution
• Some political science brainiacs thing that
bureaucracy is another institution
Political participation
• Voter turnout—usually low at mid-term
elections in USA
• Interest groups• Linkage institutions-parties, elections, interest groups and the media—
the political channels by which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy
agenda.
The Policymaking System
• The process by
which policy comes
into being and
evolves over time.
Figure 1.4
Figure 1.3
Democracy---the best!
• Definition:
– A system of selecting
policymakers and of organizing
government so that policy
represents and responds to
the public’s preferences.
1. Equality in voting—one
person, one vote
2. Effective participation
3. Enlightened understanding—
free ideas, free speech,
4. Citizen control of the
agenda—if particular groups
have control…a democracy
ain’t happening!
5.Inclusion—citizenship open to
all
Founding Fathers did NOT agree
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. AARP and NRA and
NOW, UAW are interest groups that will
eventually find a way to represent their interest
• Public interest will prevail! A positive view in
general.
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.
Corporate groups rule America, just like
everywhere else.
Theories of U.S. Democracy
• Hyperpluralism
– A theory of government and politics contending
that groups are so strong that government is
weakened.
• There are too many ways for groups to control
policy.
• Confusing / contradictory policies. Too many
groups participating
Challenges to Democracy (sometimes,
challenges are a good thing)
1. Is it too slow—so much policy equals policy
gridlock
2. Who are the elite? Used to be: Those with land
or money:
e.g. Roosevelts, Kennedys
3. Now is it those with knowledge? Will this limit
changes in participation?
4. Escalating costs to run a campaign. Mucho dinero
Next week….American Culture and
democracy
• Read pp18-25 over the week end.
Another way to look at federalism