Government Vocab

Ways to become a citizen

1.) Naturalization

2.) Birth

Jus Soil

citizenship is determined where one is born

Law of Blood (Child)

• both parents are American citizens

• 1 parent is an American citizen and has lived in the states for at least 5 years

Losing citizenship

Treason; Expatriatism

Expatriatism

loss of citizenship

Ex: treason, voting in a foreign country, serving for another country

Denaturalization

person caught becoming a citizen by committing fraud

Public obedience

the duty of citizens to follow laws and regulations established by the government.

Civil obedience

the act of peacefully following laws and government directives, often in the context of social or political resistance.

3 Goals of Good Governance

1.) Consent of the government (being heard)

2.) Common good

3.) Individual rights

Civic education

citizenship training; requires knowledge, skills, dispositions

Expectations of citizens

Public Obedience and civil obedience

Richard remming

“Government is an institution of the state that maintains social order, provides social services and enforces laws which are binding”

Confederation

treaty

Anarchy

1.) No government

2.) lacks social order

3.) No public services

4.) Cannot enforce laws

5.) governments has to be an institution of the state

Public Policy

A set of decisions or actions taken by the government to address public needs

• its what the government chooses to do and chooses not to do

Policymaking institutions

1.) Supreme Court (Judiciary) (exclusionary rule)

2.) Congress (make laws) (legislative)

3.) President (Executive order)

4.) Federal bureaucracy (PRESIDENT FAITHFULLY EXECUTES THE LAWS)

Federal Bureaucracy

3-5 million people working in 500 executive agencies who implement public policy

Formal Institutions

3 branches

Congress has more power.

Does congress or the president have more power?

Congress

makes laws

Presidents

enforces laws

Harold Lasswell

“who gets what, when, and how” (defining politics)

Political Institution

House of Representative

Presidency

Justices

APPOINTED by the president APPROVED by the senate

Linkage Institutions

pathways of communication between policymakers and the people

Ex: Social Media

• campaigns (advertising)

• Interest groups (influence public policy)

• Political Parties (put resources together to take over the government)

Political culture

Norms, beliefs values, that ALMOST all of us share

Ex: Democracy

Political Ideology

beliefs, values, the norms that SOME of us share

Ex: abortion

Liberalism

• prefers a prolity of values

• favors rights of minority

• collective responsibility

Conservatism

• prefers shared support of values

• favors law and order

• favors individual responsibility (local)

Political socialization

how we absorb information

Number 1 way: Parents

others: friends/colleagues, social media, clubs/groups, where you’re from

Policy Making Model

Pluralism, Hyper pluralism, elitism

Pluralism

public policy is made at the juncture of groups

• larger groups having greater influence

SIZE

Hyper pluralism

public policy is made at the juncture of groups

• wealth, access, and vigor of the group influences

PRESSURES

Elitism

individuals with disproportionate wealth have disproportionate influence

Functions of government

• Maintain National defense - protect nation’s sovereignty through armed forces

• Provide public services - Education, transportation, and public safety

• Preserve order - ensure internal peace and security

• Socialize the Young - instill national values through educations and civic programs

• Collect taxes - fund governmental operations and services

Politics

Def - process where we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue

• Political participation - citizens vote, protest, lobbying

• Single-issue groups - organizations focused on specific interests, influencing policy decisions

Policymaking system

• People - express interest, problems, and concerns

• Linkage institutions - political parties, elections, media, interest groups that connect people to policymakers

• Policy Agenda - issues that attract the serious attention of public officials

• Policymaking institutions - legislative, executive, bureaucracy, judicial

  • Congress - creates laws

  • Presidency - enforces laws

  • Courts - interprets laws

  • Bureaucracies - implement policies

• Public Policy - he choice gov’t makes in response to a political issue

• Policy impacts - effects policies have on people and problems

Traditional democratic theory

Principles

• Equality in voting - one person, one vote

• Effective Participation - citizens must have equal opportunities to express their preferences

• Enlightened understanding - a democratic society must be a marketplace of ideas

• Citizens control of the agenda - citizens should have the right to control the gov’ts policy agenda

• Inclusion - Gov’t must include everyone subjected to its laws

Challenges to democracy

• Increased complexity of issues - issues are too complex for a normal citizen to make informed decisions

• Limited participation in government - low voter turnout challenges the foundation of democracy

• Escalating campaign costs - the need for substantial campaign funds may corrupt the democratic process

• Diverse political interests - diversity can lead to policy gridlock

Debate over gov’t role

Activist Gov’t - advocates for a larger role in economic and social affairs

Limited gov’t - Prefers minimal governmental intervention in personal and economic matters