AP Gov Chapter 1

the government's role

1. maintain national defense
2. provide public goods/services
3. preserve order
4. socialize the youth
5. collect taxes

efficacy

capacity or power to produce a desired effect

rallying point

a point or principle on which opposing groups can come together to support

generation gap

a difference between the views of young people and older people

partisan gap

a difference between the views of political parties

contemporary theories of American Democracy

pluralism, hyper pluralism, elitism, marxism, bureaucratic

pluralism

groups of citizens that advocate for common interests and strive for the same political goal

hyperpluralism

Lehman's: too many groups competing causing nothing to get done (gridlock = stuck)
Internet's: groups are so strong that government is weakened

elitism

the attitude that society should be governed by an elite group of individuals (top 1%)

marxist

the belief that people who control economic systems should control the government

bureaucratic

bureaucrats (hired to work for gov.) implement the laws

the policymaking system

1. political issues get on the policy agenda
2. policymakers make policy
3. policies affect people

policymaking process

1. people: interests, problems, concerns
2. linkage institutions: parties, elections, media, interest groups
3. policy agenda: policy issues
4. policymaking institutions: legislature, executive, courts, bureaucracy
5. policy: expenditures, taxes, laws, regulations, non-decisions
6. people: impacts

key ideas for understanding politics

1. politics is conflictual
2. political process matters
3. politics is everywhere

US and political conflicts

religious, partisan, race/ethnic, geographic