AP Gov Unit 1 Notes

Gov.

Institutions that make public policies for socities

Functions of Gov.

National Defense, Provide + Regulate public goods + services, maintain order w/ police

2 basic questions

How govern, what gov do? Answered differently based on political party

What determines leaders?

Politics

Laswell Model

Who benefits, what received, how implemented

Democracy

Gov. of, for, by the people

Representative (indrect) democracy

People elect reps. that make laws

Direct

People directly vote for policy

Participatory Theory

Americans directly influence government w/ majority rule + minority rights

Policymaking Institutions

Branches charged with responsibilityfor taking action on political issues, including the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

What is the function of the Bureaucracy?

Helps president carry out laws, ex: Police

Linkage instutitions

Institutions that link public w/ Reps. Includes political parties, elections/campaigns, news, interest groups

Pluralist Theory

Gov is competition between groups w/ common interest. Common in interest groups.

Eliteist Theory

Social groups don’t have equal power; wealthy control most.

Athenian Democracy

Limited citizenship; office held by chance; taken over by demagouges

Demagouges

Charismatic leader who took over gov

Roman Republic

Ruled by magistrates. Senate advised and gave consent for magistrate to rule.

Magistrates

Consuls (presidents)

Tribunes (veto)

Praetors (judges)

Elected by assemblies.

Who did the Senate comprise of?

Retired magistrates usually