US Government Chapter 1

What are some types of public policy? (5)

1. Congressional statute 2. Presidential action 3. Court decision 4. Budgetary choices 5. Regulation

What are the criteria for a democracy in traditional democratic theory? (5)

1. Equality in voting (not necessarily universal, but representative) 2. Effective participation (opportunities for citizens to express their opinions) 3. Enlightened understanding (free press and free speech) 4. Citizen control of the agenda (citizens control the government's policy agenda) 5. Inclusion (citizenship is open to everyone in a nation)

Why do Carpini and Keeter believe that it is important to stay informed about public affairs? (3)

1. Fosters civic virtues 2. Helps citizens identify what policies would benefit them and incorporate this knowledge into their voting behavior 3. Promotes active participation in politics

What are the challenges to democracy? (4)

1. Increased technical expertise 2. Limited participation in government 3. Escalating campaign costs 4. Diverse political interest

What are the functions performed by national governments? (5)

1. Maintain a national defense 2. Provide public services (schools, libraries, other public goods) 3. Preserve order 4. Socialize the young (education) 5. Collect taxes

What is public policy?

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue

What is democracy?

A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences

What is political participation? (definition and examples)

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue Ex. voting, protest, civil disobedience

What are the pros of the growth of the media/internet?

Better communication (on forums and directly with public office) More and easier to find political information

What is majority rule?

Choosing among alternatives means that the majority's desire must be respected

What are public goods?

Goods that are non-exclusive and transferrable

What is hyperpluralism?

Groups are so strong that government is weakened/divided Interest groups are sovereign, government gives in to all of them and creates confusing, ineffective policy that does not reflect the public interest

What is evidence for pluralist theory?

Groups like NOW and the NRA can lobby Congress or go to the courts

What are single-issue groups?

Groups that have a narrow interest and tend to dislike compromise Ex. pro-life, pro-choice

What are policymaking institutions? (definition and examples)

The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues Ex. Congress, the presidency, and the courts

What do many political scientists consider the fourth policymaking institution in the US?

The bureaucracy

What is representation?

The desires of the people are replicated in government through the choices of elected officials

What are policy impacts?

The effects a policy has on people and problems

What is government?

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society

What is the policy agenda?

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time

What is evidence against elite and class theory?

The person in the White House still has influence, not just corporate giants; Gore would have cut taxes

What are linkage institutions? (definition and examples)

The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda Ex. elections, political parties, interest groups, the media

What is the policymaking system?

The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. People's interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for policymakers -> policies are developed -> these policies impact people and generate more interests, problems, and concerns

What is politics?

The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue

What is evidence against pluralist theory?

Interest groups are declining in membership (PTAs, League of Women Voters, etc.) People participate in politics along

What are the cons of the growth of the media/internet?

It is easier to avoid the subject of political affairs because there are more options

Why is increased technical expertise a barrier to democracy?

It is harder for individual citizens to make well-informed decisions??!?!?!?!?!?!?

What are three other principles included in traditional democratic theory?

Majority rule Minority rights Representation

What is elite and class theory?

Societies are divided along class lines and an upper-class elite rules Big business controls policies

What is pluralist theory?

Politics is mainly a competitions among groups, each pressing for its own preferred policies No one group dominates The public interest prevails in the making of public policy through a process of bargaining and compromise

What are minority rights?

Rights (like free speech and association) guaranteed to those who do not belong to majorities

What is evidence for elite and class theory?

The 1% can finance campaigns and control key institutions Policies follow the desires of the wealthy (Princeton study)