Government - Chap 1- Notes

Politic and government in life:

• Prohibited schools from discriminating against genders and holding prayer sessions. Municipal boards regulate education and state certifies and pays teachers
  
• Ages at which you can drive, drink, and vote regulated by federal government
  
• Issues SSN and taxes wages for SS
  
• As a college students you may by drawing money from a federal loan
  

  
  

  Government and the Young People
  

• It is a proven stereotype that young people (under 25) are apathetic to politics and view it as corrupt and unchangeable
  
• An age gap in the percentage of people who follow politics
  

  
  

  
  Defining Democracy
  

• A means of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy reflects citizen's preferences
  

  
  

  Traditional Democratic Theory
  

• Must satisfy the following:
  
  • Equality in voting: 'One person, one vote'
    
  • Effective participation: Citizens must have equal opportunities to express their preferences throughout the decision-making process
    
  • Enlightened understanding: A marketplace of ideas
    
  • Citizen control of the agenda: Citizens have collective right to control the gov's policy agenda
    
  • Inclusion: Must include and extend rights to all those subject to its laws
    
• Must use majority rule: will of over half the voters should be followed
  
• Majority cannot overrule minority rights: Rights such as freedom of speech
  
• Representation: Make present once again (desires of the people should be replicated in government through the choices of elected officials
  

  
  

  Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy
  

• Pluralist theory:
  
  • Define: States that groups with shared interest influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts
    
  • (NRA or UAW)
    
  • Pluralist are positive that the public interest will eventually prevail in the making of public policy
    
  • Putnam argues that problems with democracy stem from a decline in group-based participation
    
  • Elite and Class Theory:
    
    • Critics of pluralists say that they miss the big picture by arguing that everyone can 'get a piece of the pie'
      
    • Define: Our society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class pulls the strings of thee government
      
      • Says that wealth is the basis of power
        
• Hyperpluralism:
  
  • Define: Groups are so strong that government is weakened as the influence of many groups cripples government's ability to make policy
    
    • Many groups are so strong that the government is unable to act
      
  • Assets that there are too many groups for the political decision-making process
    
  • Groups are sovereign and government is merely the servant
    

    
    

  Challenges to Democracy
  

• Increased technical expertise:
  
  • Ordinary citizens have the good sense to reach political judgments and that the government has the capacity to act on the judgments
    
  • However we live in a society of experts whose knowledge overshadows our own
    
• Limited participation in government:
  
  • Americans do not take full advantage of their opportunities to shape the government or select its leaders
    
  • Challenges the foundation of democracy
    
• Escalating campaign costs:
  
  • Political observers worry about the close connection between money and politics, especially in congressional elections
    
• Diverse political interests:
  
  • The diversity of the American people is reflected in the diversity of interests represented in the political system
    
  • Interests find it easy to gain effective access to policymakers
    
  • Interest may use its influence to thwart those who's policy proposals they oppose
    
  • Policy gridlock: They have a veto over policy (occurs when there each policy coaltion finds its way blocked by others