Introduction to Government

AP American Government

Political Culture vs.Political Socialization

• Political Culture: a collection of beliefs and attitudes toward government and the political process held by a community or nation; affects political behavior

• Significance: political culture allows society to agree upon the fundamental principles of the nation, to have a common perception of the rights and obligations of citizens, and to have a set of rules for participating in the political process

• Political Socialization: the process by which such beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and to our children

(core values)

Declaration of Independence“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men arecreated equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with

certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, libertyand the pursuit of happiness.”

• Purpose of Declaration: to establish the basic goals/values– There are universal truths that can be known and acted upon– There is equality before the law– There is a belief in a higher power that transcends human law– There are rights that are entitled at birth– There is liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Compare to Constitution

Understanding Government

• Government: a permanent structure (institution) through which society makes and enforces its public policies

• Institution: a long standing structure or association that performs certain functions for society

• Politics: the struggle or process engaged in by human beings to decide which members of society receive the benefits or privileges and which members are excluded from certain benefits or privileges

Why is there Conflict in Politics?• People have different beliefs over

what is right or wrong• People have different beliefs over

religion• People have different beliefs over

the role of government• People have different beliefs over

what society’ goals should be

• Because there is competition for scarce resources (i.e. benefits and privileges)

Why do Citizens Obey Laws?• Authority: government has the authority

to make such laws along with the ultimate right to enforce compliance with their decisions

• Legitimacy: people obey because laws possess legitimacy as a result of having been made according to an accepted political process by representatives of the people

• Power: government has power to enforce laws meaning that government has the ability to cause others to modify behavior and conform

Core Values

IndividualLiberty

MinorityRights

EconomicRights

PoliticalEquality

MajorityRule

IndividualLiberty

MinorityRights

EconomicRights

PoliticalEquality

MajorityRule

Individual Liberty: all persons have personal freedom but there are limits on those freedoms; we give up some of our freedom for the good of government and society

Political Equality: all persons are born with equal standing before the government equal rights; this leads to popular sovereignty

Majority Rule: this assumes that the right to rule belongs to the people and that the people are equal; decisions should be made by the greater number of people

Minority Rights: the majority is not “the people” therefore the rights of the minority must be protected or everyone’s rights will diminish

Economic Rights: includes the right to own property is essential to individual rights and the pursuit of happiness but economic equality is not guaranteed

Core Values

ClassicalDemocracy

Definition: a democracy which emphasizes the importance of citizen participation in government through debating, voting and holding office– Citizens are committed to learning about democracy– Citizens are committed to participating in the democracy– Citizens are well informed and discuss public affairs– Citizens tell public officials what they think and they vote– Citizens share common goals and work together

Why Does the Reality of Political Participation Fall Short of Classical

Democratic Expectations?

Answer: The United States is not a classical democracy because majority rule does not exist if the majority of the people do not participate. In addition, those who do participate do no represent the true demographics of the nation nor do those who are elected reflect the nation’s demographics.

Statistics:

-- 50% of citizens do not vote in presidential elections

-- 67% of citizens do not vote in non-presidential elections

-- Less than 33% of citizens vote in local elections

-- 20% of citizens do nothing that is political

-- 10% of citizens take advantage of opportunities to participate

Pluralism

Definition: the theory that American government is responsive to groups of citizens working together to promote their common interests and that enough people belong to interest groups to ensure that government ultimately hears everyone, even though most people do not actively participate in the government

– Citizens join organizations that represent their interests– These groups bring members’ views to decision-makers– This process create balance in the overall system– As a result, no group(s) can dominate the government

Does the Reality of Pluralism Fall Short of its Expectations?

“[I]n a marketplace of ideas, and political objectives under rules that allow for the distribution of policy victories across the great majority of the electorate

while preventing any one group from becoming permanent losers. This allows the greater good to be served with an economy of participation.”

Answer: Despite this theory, many issues “fall through the cracks” of interest group representation (lack of organization, insufficient funds). There is no guarantee than an issue can be resolved through this process no can we guarantee that an issue can be resolved through this process nor can we guarantee that either party will be satisfied by a given policy.

Compare to Constitution

HyperPluralismDefinition: the idea that it is difficult for government to arrive at solutions

to problems because interest groups (organizations that try to achieve at least some of their goals with government assistance) have become so numerous and so many groups have a “veto” on issues that affect them.– With so many interest groups, it is difficult to find common ground to

work out solutions to problems

– Efforts to bring about major change in nation democratic priorities are extremely difficult

– Gridlock occurs when policies are not administered effectively because the President/Congress cannot agree on what to do

– Parties play the “blame game” which encourages elected officials to distrust each other and promotes public cynicism about government responsiveness and effectiveness

– Compromise slows the process down and can lead to vaguely worded laws (seeming allowing others to then legislate)

What is the Validity of theTheory of Elitism?

Elitism

Definition: the an explanation of how government works that focuses on the roles of relatively small numbers of individuals in key positions– Based on the “law of iron oligarchy” which states that in any effective

organization, power always gravitates towards a few

– Argues that the United States is much less democratic than pluralist believe

– Points out that groups with average or below average incomes have limited representation

– Argues that interest groups create their own elite by establishing permanent organization with paid staff/leadership

– Points out that over time, paid staff members being to identify with the decision-makers rather than the rank and file members

– As a result, group membership no longer guarantees that one’s interests will be accurately represented by the process

Power Elitism

Definition: the belief that a small group of people share the most powerful jobs and make the most important economic and political decisions; these decisions aid them in retaining power– Criticizes pluralism for focusing only on the public sector and ignoring

the private sector of our dual system

– Claims that citizens incorrectly assume that decisions are made in the public sector where interest groups compete intensely

– Claims “business forms a system unto itself, where the elite make decisions that affect the welfare of all Americans and use their vast resources to influence the outcome of public policy…”

– Claims that under this system, groups with little or no representation are permanent losers and interest groups only compete for a small piece of the pie

What makes America great?

Our Shared Goals Democracy Individual Liberty Economic Rights Political Equality Majority Rule Minority Rights Our Diversity

What else makes

America great?