I. Introduction (2-6)

The single most important message of this book is that politics and government matter. Many Americans, especially young people, are apathetic about politics and government. Young people today pay less attention to politics than their parents did. Because they pay little attention to public affairs, young Americans are less likely to be well informed about government and politics. Young Americans participate less in politics and vote less compared to previous generations. This book will demonstrate that those who participate in politics are more likely to benefit from government policies.

II. Government (6-8)

The institutions that make authoritative decisions that apply to all of society are collectively known as government. In the United States these institutions include Congress, the president, the courts, and the federal administrative agencies. Two fundamental questions about governing are: how should we govern and what should government do? All modern governments have similar functions. These include:

(1) Governments maintain national defense.

(2) Governments provide public services.

(3) Governments have police powers to provide order.

(4) Governments socialize the young into the political culture.

(5) Governments collect taxes.

III. Politics (8-10)

Politics determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies they pursue. Harold Lasswell defined politics as “who gets what, when, and how.” The media focuses on the who of politics (voters, candidates, groups, and parties). How people play politics includes such actions as bargaining, supporting, compromising, and lobbying. The ways in which people get involved in politics make up their political participation. The what refers to the public policies that come from government, including the benefits and burdens.

IV. The Policymaking System (10-13)

A. People Shape Policy

The policymaking system reveals the way our government responds to the priorities of the people. The policymaking system begins with people who have interests, problems, and concerns. These interests, problems, and concerns are expressed through linkage institutions, which are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Parties, elections, interest groups, and the media are key linkage institutions between the preferences of citizens and the government’s policy agenda. The policy agenda consists of the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time. A political issue arises when people disagree about a problem or public policy choice made to combat a problem. Policymakers within the four policymaking institutions (Congress, the presidency, the courts, and the bureaucracy) make policies concerning issues on the agenda. Very few policies are made by a single institution. In policymaking, every political institution gets involved.

B. Policies Impact People

Public policy is a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem. There are many types of public policies. Even doing nothing is a policy choice. Policy impacts are the effects a policy has on people and society’s problems. Analysts of policy impacts ask how well the policy achieves its goal.

V. Democracy (13-19)

A. Defining Democracy

The writers of the Constitution were not fond of democracy. Most Americans define democracy as “government by the people.” This definition is misleading. Democracy can be defined as a means of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the people’s preferences.

B. Traditional Democratic Theory

Traditional democratic theory rests upon several principles on how a democratic government makes its decisions. The five cornerstones of an ideal democracy include: (1) equality in voting, (2) effective participation, (3) enlightened understanding, (4) citizen control of the agenda, and (5) inclusion. Democracies must also practice majority rule and preserve minority rights. In a large society a few will have to carry on the affairs of the many. The relationship between the few leaders and the many followers is one of representation. The closer the correspondence between representatives and their electoral majority, the closer the approximation to democracy.

C. Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy

Theories of American democracy are about who has power and influence, “who really governs in our nation?” Pluralist theory contends that groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts. Pluralists believe that through bargaining and compromise, group competition will reflect the public interest. Multiple access points to government allow groups that lose in one arena to take their case to another. Robert Putnam argues that many of the problems of American democracy today stem from a decline in group-based participation. The elite and class theory contends that our society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite rules. Wealth is the basis of this power and big business is the center of power. Hyperpluralism is a theory that claims that too many influential groups cripple government’s ability to govern. Many groups are so strong that government is unable to act. When policymakers try to placate so many single-issue groups the result is muddled and inconsistent policy.

D. Challenges to Democracy

There are many challenges to democracy in America and elsewhere. These include: (1) increased technical expertise held by only a few, (2) limited participation in government, (3) escalating campaign costs, and (4) diverse political interests that make it difficult for coalitions to form majorities and establish policy, often resulting in policy gridlock.

E. Preview Questions about Democracy

This text will examine several questions about democracy, voting behavior and elections, linkage institutions, policy choices, and the institutions of government. These questions will include:

Are people knowledgeable about matters of public policy?

Do they apply what knowledge they have to their voting choices?

Are American elections designed to facilitate public participation?

Does the interest group system allow for all points of view to be heard?

Do political parties provide voters with clear choices?

If there are choices, do the media help citizens understand them?

Is Congress representative of American society, and is it well organized to react to changing times?

Does the president look after the general welfare of the public or focus on political elites?

VI. The Scope of Government in America (20-23)

A. How Active is American Government?

In terms of dollars spent, government in America is vast. Governments spend one out of every three dollars of our gross domestic product. About 18 million Americans work for one of our governments. National defense and social security are two big areas of government spending. When spending grows, taxes must also grow.

B. A Comparative Perspective

Compared to most other economically developed nations, the United States devotes a smaller percentage of its resources to government and has a smaller tax burden.

C. American Individualism

One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is the prominence of individualism in American political thought and practice. Many immigrants came to escape government interference and the bountiful American frontier allowed them to get away from government. The policy consequences of individualism are a strong preference for free markets and limited government.

D. Preview Questions About the Scope of Government

The scope of government is a key theme in the text. The goal is to explore the implications of the way politics, institutions, and policy in America affect the scope of government. Several key questions are raised regarding the scope of government in terms of the constitutional structure of American politics; those that make demands upon government (public, political parties, interest groups, and the media); elected governmental institutions (presidency and Congress); and the nonelected branches of government (courts and bureaucracy).