FBLA Public Policy & Advocacy

Political Science

the scientific study of politics

Role and conflict of politics in government

Involves decisions/policies that affect the nation. Conflicts arise when there are differing viewpoints on issues

Democracy

power is held by people, decisions are made by voting

Capitalism

economic system, private individuals and businesses control production and distribution of goods and services

Constitutionalism

belief in importance of having a constitution that limits power of government, ensures individual rights

Types and sources of political power

Legitimate power - person's position or authority

Coercive - use of force

Shifting power from majority to a few

Concentration of power and an imbalance, does not full represent the people

Relationship: political culture and public opinion

culture - shared beliefs, values, norms of thinking,

public opinion - attitudes and preferences of the general public on specific issues culture influences opinions

Role of citizenship and civil society in a democracy

citizenship involvings actively partaking in democratic processes (voting, etc.) society collective actions and organizations outside of gov

political justice

Fair and equal distribution of power in political system, involves equal rights and opportunities to people

individual rights

freedoms that everyone is entitled to

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measurement of the total goods and services produced within a country, typically in a year

difference between countries, nations, states, and governments

Countries - geographic territory w defined borders

nation - group of people w common culture, lang, or history

state - defined territory and population

Government - governing body has authority to make and enforce laws w/in a state

history of political parties in the U.S

*Founders were profoundly uncomfortable with them

-Washington - "let me warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of partly generally"

-Tocqueville - "parties are an evil inherent in free government"

*corrupt, factional, smoke filled rooms, not independent

*Political Scientists contrast

-E.E. Schattschneider - "parties created Democracy"

-in the case of two parties, solves the "paradox of voting"

difference between the two-party and multi-party government systems

A multi-party system prevents the leadership of a single party from controlling a single legislative chamber without challenge. A system where only two parties have the possibility of winning an election is called a two-party system.

current political parties

Democrats and Republicans

role of minor political parties

they force major parties to address new issues and can take away votes from the major political party

relationship between political parties and special interest groups

Both have a goal of influencing government decisions with their interests.

special interest groups

an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions

difference between private and public special interest groups

Public special interest groups aim to promote public, or collective goods (benefits that help most or all citizens)

Private special interest groups seek benefits for a small portion of citizens

how special interest groups (for example: Boston Tea Party) have influenced American politics

Interest groups influenced American politics by swaying the publics opinion to influence government officials.

Outline the history of Civil Liberties in the United States

The first instance of Civil Liberties being incorporated into the United States was writing the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Many of the Civil Liberties that we have today appear.

importance and limitations of freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly

The importance of all of these allow Americans to have a more free society and express their own opinions and beliefs. Limitations of these are set for public order, safety and health.

procedural rights for the accused

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.

The right to privacy

The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of government. The Fourth Amendment is an example of this right as it protects Americans from unreasonable searches by the government.

right to bear arms

the idea in the Second Amendment that people have an individual right to own and carry weapons

role of courts in deciding civil liberty cases

Review legislation to ensure that our individual civil liberties are protected

history of civil rights

Many civil rights movements took place in the 1900's to gain rights of people of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

basic civil rights for all

1. The right to be free from discrimination

2. The freedom to worship as we choose

3. The right to vote for our elected representatives

4. The protections of due process

5. The right to privacy.

equal protection under the 14th Amendment

Originally only applied to freed slaves, expanded to apply directly to the states

Civil Rights for Women and Americans with Disabilities

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin in public places, schools, and employment.

role and functions of government

providing leadership, maintaining order, providing public services, providing national security, providing economic security, and providing economic assistance

autocracy

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

authoritarianism

the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

transitional governments

a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse.

powers and functions of legislatures

authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.

Differentiate between Congress and Parliament

congress has two branches of legislature whereas Parliament does not, and Congress must agree in order for a law to pass while parliament cannot block bills except in very limited circumstances

purpose of legislative committees

Committees monitor on-going governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the Senate.

U.S. Electoral College system

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President.

Differentiate direct and indirect elections

in a direct election, voters choose the candidate who wins. in an indirect election, voters choose one or more "electors" who then go on to choose the candidate.

individual representation and the U.S. electoral systems

Individual representation means that one person = one vote. The presidential electoral system has 538 electors but the people have individual representation in the popular vote.

primary elections

A preliminary election in which voters nominate party candidates for office.

election runoffs and recalls

An election recall is a way voters can remove people from office before their term.

A runoff election occurs when there isn't a winner by majority, so they remove the candidates that had the fewest votes and leave only the top ones. This goes on until there is a winner by majority.

role of Congress

-Hold hearings, draft laws, declare war, fiscal policy

-Eager to please the people

electoral evolution of Congress

a. PAST: The house at first was unstable and viewed as unimportant and having no power. More people quit than were defeated. The Senate was also unstable, more than 1/3 rd of senators failed to serve out their term.

b. TODAY: Congress example of Professional legislature: legislature whose members serve full time and for long periods.

c. Congress: from amateur institution to professional legislature

rationale for reapportionment and redistributing congressional districts

The purpose of congressional redistricting is to ensure that each person in a state is equally represented in the United States House of Representatives by the creation of congressional districts that are as equal in population as possible so as to achieve the principle of "one person - one vote."

party nomination

the official nomination of a candidate to run for office. This means that the party will fully support this candidate's campaign.

national forces that influence Congress

State of the Economy, performance, and conservativeness,

difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns

Presidential- more competitive, larger (more popular), more aggressive, funded by private and public money

Congressional- incumbents usually win, congress members can take credit for service in ways that a president cannot, can separate themselves from controversy

factors that influence election outcomes

State of Economy (if good then more votes in favor of the incumbent) and National issues, party identification (how popular or successful they are), and campaign strategies

difference between the state and U.S. court systems

State courts are established by the laws of each state and have broad jurisdiction. These courts can hear cases on everything ranging from criminal matters to family law disputes. In contrast, federal courts are established under the U.S. Constitution and have a much narrower jurisdiction.

power of the federal judiciary

Federal courts enjoy the sole power to interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases.

federal court system of the U.S

1. 94 District Courts (trial courts)

2. 13 Courts of Appeals (intermediate appellate courts)

3. 1 United States Supreme Court (the court of final review)

judicial decision-making process

The process by which judges interpret and apply legal principles to particular cases.

checks and balance system on the power of the U.S. Supreme Court

1. The Senate confirms all Supreme Court appointments.

2. The House can impeach justices and the Senate try them

3. Congress can alter the number of justices on the Court.

4. Congress can initiate constitutional amendments, thereby seeking to overturn judgments of the Court

difference between original and appellate jurisdiction

Original jurisdiction is a court's power to hear a trial and accept evidence.

Appellate jurisdiction is a court's power to hear an appeal and review the trial for error.

selection of Supreme Court Justices process

The President usually will consult with Senators before announcing a nomination.

how special interest groups use litigation strategies to influence government policy

They sue (litigation) groups they oppose to further pursue their cause.

bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

history, impact, and problems associated with federal bureaucracy

History: The federal bureaucracy began with the three cabinet departments established by George Washington in 1789.

Impact: implementing laws, making and enforcing rules when legislative prescriptions are vague, and settling disputes (as courts would) through administrative adjudication.

Problems:

1. Red tape

2. Conflict

3. Duplication

4. Imperialism

5. Waste

relationship between the President, Cabinet, and Congress when determining legislation

- can either pass or not potential presidential authorizations

- has to confirm and support the president's nominees

- the president can veto legislation presented to him

how elections are related to public perception of government

Elections are the events on which opinion polls have the greatest measured effect. Public opinion polls do more than show how we feel on issues or project who might win an election. The media use public opinion polls to decide which candidates are ahead of the others and therefore of interest to voters and worthy of interview.

how mass media and journalism have impacted the political system

In the area of policy-making, media can contribute to setting the agenda for the press, the public, and policymakers through highlighting what issues are newsworthy at a particular time

bureaucratic accountability process

The bureaucracy is held accountable by the president, who ensures that bureaucrats follow the mandate of the executive branch; by Congress, which investigates and legislates over the bureaucracy; and by the courts, which ensure that the bureaucracy follows the law.

difference between private- and state-controlled media

Private: any media outlet whose financing is provided by individuals or private groups. (Not owned by the government

State: Media that is owned, dictated, and managed by the government

media's influence on the public

A) They can sway people who are uncommitted on particular issues.

B) They can influence people on issues far removed from personal experiences.

C) They can influence what people think about (more so than how), such as a president's policy agenda (a set of issues, problems, or subjects viewed as important by government decision-makers).

media bias and the reason for public criticism of media

Media bias: unjust favoritism and reporting of a certain ideas or standpoint.

role of media in elections and other government activities

Mainstream media has been known as a sort of ''watch dog'' or Fourth Estate that protects democracy and citizen rights and holds politicians and government accountable. The so-called Fifth Estate refers to social media, which informs the public about elections, critical issues, and government activities.

rules that govern media

censorship, copyright, defamation, broadcast law, and antitrust law.

Yellow media on MSA

Yellow journalism and yellow press are American terms for journalism and associated newspapers that present little or no legitimate, well-researched news while instead using eye-catching headlines for increased sales.

public opinion

the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues

public culture

A dominant set of values, ideas, and practices that circulate in public discourse. Social groups may speak in the language of these values, ideas, and practices to gain a voice in a society.

how to measure public opinion

elections and polls

how public opinion leaders are selected recognized

Opinion leaders are seen as trustworthy and non-purposive. People do not feel they are being tricked into thinking a certain way about something if they get information from someone they know.

difference between random and quota sampling used to collect public opinion

Random Sampling: a subset of a statistical population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen

Quota sampling: requires that representative individuals are chosen out of a specific subgroup with similar characteristics.

bias associated with opinion polls and surveys

1. sampling bias

2. non response bias

3. response bias

4. question order bias

5. information bias

how voter turnout is impacted by polls and surveys

By providing information about voting intentions, opinion polls can sometimes influence the behavior of electors. Polls also pass information about candidates, other voters, issues, etc.

List alternative forms of political participation

- Voting

- Protest

-Public consultations

- Jury duty

- Signing a petition

- Writing letters to public officials

- Blogging about a political issue

- Campaign volunteering

difference between laws and customs

Laws are enforced while customs are not enforced by the law but are traditionally done.

American law

-Congress makes laws

-the courts interpret them

-the police enforce them

code law

a written set of laws that apply to everyone under a government

difference between criminal law and civil law

•Civil Law: that portions of the law which defines the personal and property rights of individuals; the rights of an individual to seek redress or to prevent a wrong; any action other than criminal proceedings.

EX. divorce, child custody, protective orders, injunctions, debt, personal damages

•Criminal Law: law which for the purpose of preventing harm to society, (a) declares what conduct is criminal, and (b) prescribes the punishment to be imposed for such conduct. It includes the definition of specific offenses and general principles of criminal responsibility. Criminal laws are commonly codified into criminal or penal codes, e.g. Texas Penal Code.

EX: criminal trespass, murder, assault, theft

statutory law

Law passed by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures

administration, regulatory, and religious law

Administrative laws: laws pertaining to administrative agencies, laws govern the formation and operation of administrative agencies, type of public law.

Regulatory law: broad area of the law, covers many different types of issues, legal procedures, and regulations.

Religious law: the morality, ethics, or rules that are taught by a given religious tradition or doctrine

steps of the public policy process

(1) problem identification

(2) agenda setting

(3) policy formulation

(4) policy adoption

(5) policy implementation

(6) policy evaluation

List types of policy

1. regulatory policy

2. constituent policy

3. distributive policy

4. redistributive policy.

examples of Republican and Democrat policy beliefs

Republican: support for lower taxes, free market capitalism, deregulation of corporations, and restrictions on labor unions, restrictions on immigration, gun rights, restrictions on abortion, and increased military spending.

Democrat: egalitarianism, social equality, protecting the environment, liberalism, support voting rights and minority rights, LGBT rights, multiculturalism, and religious secularism.

social insurance programs

Programs to help the elderly, ill, and unemployed if the claimant has paid into them

public assistance programs

government programs that pay benefits to those who are unable to earn income (because of permanent disabilities or because they have very low income and dependent children); financed by general tax revenues and viewed as public charity (rather than earned rights)

difference between market and state-controlled economies

Market economies: private ownership of the means of production and voluntary exchanges/contracts.

State-controlled economies: (command economy) governments own the factors of production such as land, capital, and resources.

give examples of regulatory policy

the removal of lead from gasoline, the ban on arsenic in drinking water, or the installation of airbags in cars.

governmental policies to protect the U.S. economy

To protect the economy, the U.S. government can utilize its fiscal policy by raising or lowering taxes and/or increasing or decreasing spending, as well as use monetary policy, through the Federal Reserve, to buy and sell treasury bonds, change the reserve requirements in banks, and change the discount rate.

business cycles influenced by governmental decisions

Governments try to manage business cycles by spending, raising or lowering taxes, and adjusting interest rates.

how government promotes economic interests

How does the government promote economic activity?

Governments influence the economy by changing the level and types of taxes, the extent and composition of spending, and the degree and form of borrowing.

fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

how monetary policy is determined by the Federal Reserve

managing the level of short-term interest rates and influencing the availability and cost of credit in the economy

types of U.S. foreign policy

trade, diplomacy, sanctions, military/defense, intelligence, foreign aid, and global environmental policy.

which government entities are responsible for foreign policy

The Executive Branch and the Congress

situations that call for U.S. military power

Defending America from attack, protecting Americans abroad, allies, and the freedom to use international sea, air, and space, and to deter enemies and opportunists from taking action that would challenge U.S. interests.