IntroductionIntroduction

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Overview of government and its rolesOverview of government and its roles Overview of American Political Overview of American Political

Culture and how it compares to the Culture and how it compares to the rest of the worldrest of the world

Introduction to key concepts in Introduction to key concepts in American governmentAmerican government

Key TermsKey Terms

Social ContractSocial Contract Civic ParticipationCivic Participation Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology FederalismFederalism

Introduction

I. The Social Contract:

A. Democratic government is basically a simple concept— it is a social contract in which people agree to join in partnership to carry out functions that as individuals they cannot otherwise accomplish.

B. Examples: build and run schools, highways, criminal justice systems, create monetary and banking systems, insure national defense.

II. The Contract Restricts Independence: A. Even the most enlightened social contracts require citizens to give up some of their personal freedom, independence and wealth.

B. All of us must follow majority rules, although enlightened governments protect the fundamental rights of all citizens, and provide ways to influence and change the government.

Popular ConsentPopular Consent

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory• People are source of powerPeople are source of power• People give consent to government People give consent to government

to ruleto rule• Government provides protection of Government provides protection of

natural rightsnatural rights

The Theory of The Theory of Democratic GovernmentDemocratic Government

Direct democracyDirect democracy Indirect democracyIndirect democracy RepublicRepublic

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy

A system in which all come A system in which all come together periodically to discuss together periodically to discuss policy and abide by majority rule.policy and abide by majority rule.

New England town meetingNew England town meeting

Indirect DemocracyIndirect Democracy

A system of government that A system of government that allows citizens to vote for allows citizens to vote for representatives who will work representatives who will work on their behalf.on their behalf.

RepublicRepublic

A government rooted in the A government rooted in the consent of the governed.consent of the governed.

III. Involuntary:III. Involuntary:

You and I have no choice about being a part of the social You and I have no choice about being a part of the social contract. We were born or perhaps immigrated into it. contract. We were born or perhaps immigrated into it. Short of moving to another country, we are obligated to Short of moving to another country, we are obligated to obey its laws, but, since we live in a democracy, we can obey its laws, but, since we live in a democracy, we can work to change them. work to change them.

IV Impact: IV Impact:

Government has a huge impact on all of us. As one Government has a huge impact on all of us. As one measure of the impact of government on each of us, over measure of the impact of government on each of us, over our lifetime as workers, we will give governments about our lifetime as workers, we will give governments about 1/3 of all the money we earn.1/3 of all the money we earn.

V. The Role of Civic Participation: V. The Role of Civic Participation:

A. Self-governance, or political participation, lies at the A. Self-governance, or political participation, lies at the heart of a representative democracy. heart of a representative democracy.

B. That is why the Texas Legislature passed a law B. That is why the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring you to take this course. The hope is that an requiring you to take this course. The hope is that an informed citizen, will be an active citizen. informed citizen, will be an active citizen.

C. Unfortunately, for many of you, this required course C. Unfortunately, for many of you, this required course comes at the wrong time in your life. comes at the wrong time in your life.

D. Studies show that young adults are the most D. Studies show that young adults are the most politically apathetic age group in our society. politically apathetic age group in our society.

E. There are good reasons. Many of you are not yet E. There are good reasons. Many of you are not yet homeowners, parents, and serious taxpayers. When homeowners, parents, and serious taxpayers. When you are, you will more clearly see the valve, role and you are, you will more clearly see the valve, role and impact of government. impact of government.

VI. Who Does Participate? VI. Who Does Participate?

A. A. Educated and higher-income Americans are the most Educated and higher-income Americans are the most politically informed and politically active members of our society. politically informed and politically active members of our society.

B. In any community, you will find an educated and generally B. In any community, you will find an educated and generally upper-income elite that plays a major role in the political process. upper-income elite that plays a major role in the political process. A few hundred people have a great deal of political power in A few hundred people have a great deal of political power in Houston. Houston.

C. Very busy people take the time to participate because they C. Very busy people take the time to participate because they know how important a role government plays in society.know how important a role government plays in society.

D. We have more elections than any other democracy.D. We have more elections than any other democracy.

VotingVoting

Turnout by Age, 2000 (Figure 6.3)Turnout by Age, 2000 (Figure 6.3)

Americans Are Not Very Americans Are Not Very Knowledgeable About the Specifics of Knowledgeable About the Specifics of

American GovernmentAmerican Government

Governments around the World Governments around the World

Most governments on the earth today, and in the past, Most governments on the earth today, and in the past, have been tragic failures. have been tragic failures.

Most governments on the earth today are not really based Most governments on the earth today are not really based on any type of viable system of self-governance. Many do on any type of viable system of self-governance. Many do not even pretend to allow their citizens to play a role in not even pretend to allow their citizens to play a role in their government. their government.

Look at the modern world. There are about 190 nations that Look at the modern world. There are about 190 nations that are members of the United Nations. are members of the United Nations.

Most are not real democracies. Most are not real democracies.

Most are not very competent; many are very badly run Most are not very competent; many are very badly run dictatorships. dictatorships.

China, most African nations, most of Central and Latin China, most African nations, most of Central and Latin America, most of the Middle East nations are governmental America, most of the Middle East nations are governmental failures of one type or another. failures of one type or another.

Percentage of the World’s Percentage of the World’s Population, 2003Population, 2003

IX The Founding Fathers: IX The Founding Fathers:

A. The framers of the constitution of 1788 (the A. The framers of the constitution of 1788 (the constitution our government is based on) had seen a lot constitution our government is based on) had seen a lot of bad governments. They wanted to avoid what they of bad governments. They wanted to avoid what they thought of as the worst flaws. thought of as the worst flaws.

B. One primary goal was to design a government that B. One primary goal was to design a government that could not be seized by a small group of people. could not be seized by a small group of people.

C. As a precaution, they divided the government into C. As a precaution, they divided the government into three branches Executive, Legislative, Judiciary. three branches Executive, Legislative, Judiciary.

D. Additionally, they build checks and balances into the D. Additionally, they build checks and balances into the system. Each branch has some power over the other system. Each branch has some power over the other branches. branches.

E. And, last, they created an independent judiciary to safe E. And, last, they created an independent judiciary to safe guard it from corrupting political forces. guard it from corrupting political forces.

F. One result is a rather conservative F. One result is a rather conservative government. One that makes fundamental government. One that makes fundamental changes carefully and usually slowly. changes carefully and usually slowly.

G. Over the course of the semester, we will G. Over the course of the semester, we will examine how our government is designed, how examine how our government is designed, how our government has evolved over time to become our government has evolved over time to become a more viable democracy, how the basic a more viable democracy, how the basic institutions function, and how public policies are institutions function, and how public policies are made. made.

Americans Have Grown Increasingly Americans Have Grown Increasingly Skeptical of the National GovernmentSkeptical of the National Government

The Public Thinks There Is a Lot of The Public Thinks There Is a Lot of Waste In GovernmentWaste In Government

The American PeopleThe American People

Population Growth, Population Growth, Demographics, Cultural Demographics, Cultural

ValuesValues

U.S. Population by Race and U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2000 and 2025Ethnicity, 2000 and 2025

Population of NationsPopulation of Nations

1.1. ChinaChina 1.3 billion1.3 billion2.2. IndiaIndia 1.1 billion1.1 billion3.3. USAUSA 300 million300 million4.4. IndonesiaIndonesia 219 million219 million5.5. Nigeria Nigeria 160 million160 million6.6. RussiaRussia 144 million144 million7.7. JapanJapan 130 million130 million8.8. MexicoMexico 105 million105 million9.9. GermanyGermany 82 million82 million10.10. IranIran 68 million68 million11.11. FranceFrance 60 million60 million12.12. SwedenSweden 9 million 9 million 13.13. NorwayNorway 4.5 million4.5 million

Graying of AmericaGraying of America

The growth of the population age 65 and older will The growth of the population age 65 and older will affect every aspect of our society, presenting affect every aspect of our society, presenting challenges as well as opportunities to policymakers, challenges as well as opportunities to policymakers, families, businesses, and health care providers.families, businesses, and health care providers.

• In 2011, the “baby boom” generation will begin to turn 65, and by 2030, it is projected that one in five people will be age 65 or older.

TexasTexasAge 65+ PercentagesAge 65+ Percentages

19901990 20002000 20302030

AngloAnglo 12.712.7 13.313.3 23.723.7

BlackBlack 7.87.8 7.47.4 13.613.6

HispanicHispanic 5.35.3 5.65.6 10.410.4

OtherOther 3.73.7 5.85.8 27.727.7

TexasTexasRace & Ethnicity PercentagesRace & Ethnicity Percentages

19901990 20002000 20302030

AngloAnglo 60.760.7 54.654.6 36.436.4

BlackBlack 11.711.7 11.411.4 9.59.5

HispanicHispanic 25.525.5 31.031.0 46.246.2

OtherOther 2.12.1 3.13.1 7.97.9

Americans Are Far More Involved with Americans Are Far More Involved with Religion Than People ElsewhereReligion Than People Elsewhere

Americans Emphasize Individual Americans Emphasize Individual Responsibility Much More Than Responsibility Much More Than

People ElsewherePeople Elsewhere

Americans Are Far Less Supportive Than Americans Are Far Less Supportive Than People Elsewhere of Government Actions to People Elsewhere of Government Actions to

Reduce Economic InequalityReduce Economic Inequality

Income Inequality in U.S. Income Inequality in U.S. vs. Other Countriesvs. Other Countries

Americans Are Much More Optimistic About Americans Are Much More Optimistic About Their Chances of Getting Ahead Than Their Chances of Getting Ahead Than

People ElsewherePeople Elsewhere

Even Racial and Ethnic Minorities Share the Even Racial and Ethnic Minorities Share the

Individualist Values of the Larger SocietyIndividualist Values of the Larger Society

Even Less Affluent Americans Share the Even Less Affluent Americans Share the Individualist Values of the Larger SocietyIndividualist Values of the Larger Society

What Americans Value: Political What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesIdeologies

Political Ideology:Political Ideology: A coherent set of beliefs about politics, A coherent set of beliefs about politics,

public policy, and public purpose.public policy, and public purpose. Who Are the Liberals and Who Are the Liberals and

Conservatives?Conservatives? Views change over timeViews change over time

What Americans Value: Political What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesIdeologies

What Americans Value: What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

U.S. Tax Burden vs. Other DemocraciesU.S. Tax Burden vs. Other Democracies

U.S. Debt vs. Other CountriesU.S. Debt vs. Other Countries

SummarySummary Our government is a social contract that we are born or Our government is a social contract that we are born or

immigrated into that restricts our independence in order to immigrated into that restricts our independence in order to provide safety and basic services.provide safety and basic services.

Participation in the system has been declining.Participation in the system has been declining.

Democracy and Self-Governance are relatively new ideas Democracy and Self-Governance are relatively new ideas that are spreading, but there are still many countries that that are spreading, but there are still many countries that are not free.are not free.

Our government was the first democracy.Our government was the first democracy.

The founding fathers designed the government very The founding fathers designed the government very carefully to guard against tyranny with separation of carefully to guard against tyranny with separation of powers, checks and balances, and an independent powers, checks and balances, and an independent judiciary.judiciary.

SummarySummary The United States is an immigrant society with an The United States is an immigrant society with an

increasing number of minorities.increasing number of minorities.

There are two major ideologies liberal and conservative. There are two major ideologies liberal and conservative. Moderates are those in the middle.Moderates are those in the middle.

The Federal Budget is an important part of the government The Federal Budget is an important part of the government because it is composed of various types of taxes and pays because it is composed of various types of taxes and pays for all the services our government provides.for all the services our government provides.

We have a system of federalism where power is distributed We have a system of federalism where power is distributed between the national, state, and local governments. between the national, state, and local governments.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Given this information about Given this information about declining turnout, lack of knowledge, declining turnout, lack of knowledge, and who actually participates, what and who actually participates, what are the implications for our are the implications for our government and the social contract?government and the social contract?

Is the spread of Democracy Is the spread of Democracy inevitable? How and why does it inevitable? How and why does it spread?spread?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Is there a relationship between the Is there a relationship between the fact that the US is an immigrant fact that the US is an immigrant society and the values of society and the values of individualism we discussed? If so individualism we discussed? If so what?what?

Why do you think the tax burden is Why do you think the tax burden is less here than in other countries? less here than in other countries? What are the implications does this What are the implications does this have?have?

Supplemental Supplemental

Federalism Federalism

The Relationship Between the The Relationship Between the Federal and State GovernmentsFederal and State Governments

The BureaucratsThe Bureaucrats

Growth in Civilian Government Employees (Figure Growth in Civilian Government Employees (Figure 15.1)15.1)

Where Are the Key Where Are the Key Buildings in Washington?Buildings in Washington?

Party Eras in American HistoryParty Eras in American History

Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.3)Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.3)

The Party in the ElectorateThe Party in the Electorate