Chapter 1: American Government and Civic Engagement Show
CHAPTER SUMMARY 1.1What is Government?Government provides stability to society, as well as many crucial services such as free public education, police and fire services, and mail delivery. It also regulates access to common goods, such as public land, for the benefit of all. Government creates a structure whereby people can make their needs and opinions known to public officials. This is one of the key factors that makes the United States a representative democracy. A country where people elect representatives to make political decisions for them depends on the ability and willingness of ordinary people to make their voices known, unlike an oligarchy dominated by only a small group of people. RECALL KEY TERMSCHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGTHINK CRITICALLYWhat does government do for people? CHAPTER SUMMARY 1.2Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and TradeoffsMany question whether politicians are actually interested in the needs of average citizens and debate how much influence ordinary people have over what government does. Those who support the elite theory of government argue that a small, wealthy, powerful elite controls government and makes policy to benefit its members and perpetuate their power. Others favor the pluralist theory, which maintains that groups representing the people’s interests do attract the attention of politicians and can influence government policy. In reality, government policy usually is the result of a series of tradeoffs as groups and elites fight with one another for influence and politicians attempt to balance the demands of competing interests, including the interests of the constituents who elected them to office. RECALL KEY TERMSCHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGCHAPTER SUMMARY 1.3Engagement in a DemocracyCivic and political engagement allows politicians to know how the people feel. It also improves people’s lives and helps them to build connections with others. Individuals can educate themselves on important issues and events, write to their senator or representative, file a complaint at city hall, attend a political rally, or vote. People can also work in groups to campaign or raise funds for a candidate, volunteer in the community, or protest a social injustice or an unpopular government policy. Although wealthier, older, more highly educated citizens are the most likely to be engaged with their government, especially if they have intense preferences about an issue, younger, less wealthy people can do much to change their communities and their country. RECALL KEY TERMSCHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGTHINK CRITICALLYAre all Americans equally able to become engaged in government? What factors make it more possible for some people to become engaged than others? What could be done to change this? Chapter Study OutlineIntroduction Political parties are teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government. To do so, parties perform essential tasks of recruiting and nominating candidates, garnering the resources needed to run campaigns, and pursuing a policy agenda that can help them appeal to voters. Although Americans tend to be suspicious of “party rule,” the Democratic and Republican parties are essential to the daily operation of government and the conduct of American democracy in elections. This two-party system helps to structure voters’ electoral choice and provide coordination to America’s otherwise divided and separated governing institutions. 1. Why Do Political Parties Form? What fundamental problems do political parties help politicians and voters overcome?
2. What Functions Do Parties Perform? Once formed, what are the essential functions that political parties perform in American democracy and governance?
3. Parties and the Electorate How and how well do political parties organize the electorate? What groups tend to identify with Democrats and Republicans, respectively?
4. Parties as Institutions How are contemporary political parties organized? What functions do they serve and what services do they offer to candidates?
5. Party Systems What is a “party system”? What have been the major “party systems” throughout American political history? What is the place of third parties in the American party system?
Why are the principles of both majority rule and minority rights important in a democracy quizlet?Majority rule is how all democracies make political decisions by the getting the majority vote. Majority rule must be coupled with with guarantees of individual human rights. The rights of minorities does not depend on the good will. Rights are protected because democratic laws protect all rights of citizens.
Which of the following are examples of the powers of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?The Articles of Confederation created a national government composed of a Congress, which had the power to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign ambassadors, and manage relations with Indians.
Which economic system involves little government regulation or interference click or tap a choice to answer the question?Free enterprise, also known as free market or capitalism, is an economic system driven by supply and demand. Private businesses and consumers control the marketplace with little to no interference from the government. In this type of system, the government does not have a central plan for the nation's economy.
In which type of government does a small group of elites wield control over most governing decisions Inquizitive?The next form of government is oligarchy.
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