FBLA Public Policy

the scientific study of politics

Political Science

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

Role and conflict of politics in government

power is held by people, decisions are made by voting

Democracy

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

Capitalism

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

Constitutionalism

Legitimate power - person's position or authority Coercive - use of force

Types and sources of political power

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

Shifting power from majority to a few

culture - shared beliefs, values, norms of thinking, public opinion - attitudes and preferences of the general public on specific issues culture influences opinions

Relationship: political culture and public opinion

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

Role of citizenship and civil society in a democracy

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

political justice

freedoms that everyone is entitled to

individual rights

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

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

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

difference between countries, nations, states, and governments

*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"

history of political parties in the U.S

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.

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

Democrats and Republicans

current political parties

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

role of minor political parties

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

relationship between political parties and special interest groups

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

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

difference between private and public special interest groups

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

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

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.

Outline the history of Civil Liberties in the United States

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.

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

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.

procedural rights for the accused

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.

The right to privacy

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

right to bear arms

Review legislation to ensure that our individual civil liberties are protected

role of courts in deciding civil liberty cases

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

history of civil rights

The right to be free from discrimination

The freedom to worship as we choose

The right to vote for our elected representatives

The protections of due process

The right to privacy.

basic civil rights for all

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

equal protection under the 14th Amendment

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

Civil Rights for Women and Americans with Disabilities

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

role and functions of government

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

autocracy

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

totalitarianism

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

authoritarianism

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

transitional governments

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.

powers and functions of legislatures

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

Differentiate between Congress and Parliament

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

purpose of legislative committees

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

U.S. Electoral College system

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.

Differentiate direct and indirect elections

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.

individual representation and the U.S. electoral systems

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

primary elections

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.

election runoffs and recalls

-Hold hearings, draft laws, declare war, fiscal policy -Eager to please the people

role 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

electoral evolution of Congress

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."

rationale for reapportionment and redistributing congressional districts

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

party nomination

State of the Economy, performance, and conservativeness,

national forces that influence Congress

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

difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns

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

factors that influence election outcomes

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.

difference between the state and U.S. court systems

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

power of the federal judiciary

94 District Courts (trial courts)

13 Courts of Appeals (intermediate appellate courts)

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

federal court system of the U.S

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

judicial decision-making process

The Senate confirms all Supreme Court appointments.

The House can impeach justices and the Senate try them

Congress can alter the number of justices on the Court.

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

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

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.

difference between original and appellate jurisdiction

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

selection of Supreme Court Justices process

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

how special interest groups use litigation strategies to influence government policy

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

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: Red tape, Conflict, Duplication, Imperialism, Waste

history, impact, and problems associated with federal bureaucracy

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

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

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 elections are related to public perception of government

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

how mass media and journalism have impacted the political system

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.

bureaucratic accountability process

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

difference between private- and state-controlled media

They can sway people who are uncommitted on particular issues. They can influence people on issues far removed from personal experiences. 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's influence on the public

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

media bias and the reason for public criticism of media

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.

role of media in elections and other government activities

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

rules that govern media

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.

Yellow media on MSA

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

public opinion

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.

public culture

elections and polls

how to measure public opinion

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.

how public opinion leaders are selected recognized

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.

difference between random and quota sampling used to collect public opinion

sampling bias

non response bias

response bias

question order bias

information bias

bias associated with opinion 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.

how voter turnout is impacted by polls and surveys

Voting
- Protest
-Public consultations
- Jury duty
- Signing a petition
- Writing letters to public officials
- Blogging about a political issue
- Campaign volunteering

List alternative forms of political participation

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

difference between laws and customs

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

code 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

difference between criminal law and civil law

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

statutory 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

administration, regulatory, and religious law

(1) problem identification

(2) agenda setting

(3) policy formulation

(4) policy adoption

(5) policy implementation

(6) policy evaluation

steps of the public policy process

regulatory policy

constituent policy

distributive policy

redistributive policy.

List types of policy

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.

examples of Republican and Democrat policy beliefs

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

social insurance 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)

public assistance programs

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.

difference between market and state-controlled economies

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

give examples of regulatory policy

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.

governmental policies to protect the U.S. economy

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

business cycles influenced by governmental decisions

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.

how government promotes economic interests

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

fiscal policy

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

how monetary policy is determined by the Federal Reserve

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

types of U.S. foreign policy

The Executive Branch and the Congress

which government entities are responsible for foreign policy

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.

situations that call for U.S. military power

By developing and implementing foreign policy

how government protects the ideals, interests, and needs of America