AP Government & Politics

What is politics in its most simplest form?

- Getting power/how you attain it
- basically equals power
- the intersection between conflict and cooperation
- the ability to make others do what you would have them to do
- ability to influence or outright control the behavior of people

What is politics considered to be?

- It is considered to be a congested topic/ very opinionated and has has a negative connotation with it

Definition of Politics:

Politics is the process by which we select our goverment leaders and what policies they produce
- politics produces authoritatuce ( power ) decisions about public uses

Is politics natural?

Yes, politics is considered to be a natural/ primal part of human nature even monkeys use politics

What is the significance of the Greeks regarding Politics?

They were the first to analyze politics

What is the definition of Power?

Power is the ability to influence/ control the behavior of others often against resistance
- there are many forms of power

Where can power be found? Provide an example.

It can be found in all human/ social relationships
Ex. family, work,school, and social

What are the SIX sources of Civic Power and their individual meaning?

- Physical Power: states can force you/ facing consequences
- Wealth
- State Action: legal aspect/ laws
- Social Norms: ways of doing certain things that is acceptable amongst others
- Ideas: very powerful because it can change societal views
- Numbers: can create impact

What is Political Realism? Give me examples of the people who wrote about it .

Long history of equating power with politics
Ex.
Thucydides --> The Melian Dialogue ( about the Polynesian War )
Machiavelli --> The Prince ( How you use power )
Hobbes --> The Leviathan ( Authoritarian )
Bismarck --> Realpolitik, Blood & Iron Speech
Morgenthau - Politics among Nations

What are the 3 laws of Power?

1. Power is never static
2. Power is fungible ( not good or bad )
3. Power compounds ( it increases )

What is the government?

Government is really how that part is distributed

Democracy vs, Authoritarian

D: from the people
A: Strong Leader

What are the two types of democracy?

Direct democracy: Athenian, representative/ voting for issues directly
Negatives: Can lead to tyranny/ mob ruling
Indirect Democracy: Representative - originated from Rome
- Res republica ( republic )
- a republic ( it is what the Unites States )

What is the American government rooted in?

The American government is rooted in cultural experiences of early European colonists/ interactions with indigenous people

What are the facts about the earliest inhabitants of the Americas?

- 30,000 years
- not homogenous
- had 100 million people
- European diseases
- warfare
indigenous
- had trade of democracy of pluralism / consensus

What are the 1st colonists?

- reasons for immigration
- 1st permanent settlement was in Jamestown, Virginia ( 1607 )
- 1st slaves arrived in 1619

What are the facts about the Religious traditions?

Puritans
- " city on hills"
- strict code of authority
- importance on individualism

Who were the challangers of Religious Puritan Traditions?

Roger William
Anne Hutchinson
Thomas Hawk
Willian Penn
They all supported religious traditions

What are the functions of the American Government?

1. Establishing Justice
- systems of law ( rule of law = applies to everyone )
- common principle
2. Ensuring Domestic tranquility
- Police forces, armed forces
3. Providing for the Common Defense
- President as commander in chief
- Defense budget
4. Promoting General Warfare
- An ideal - but what's involved
- expansion over time in this concept
5. Securing the Blessing of Liberty
- Americans enjoy many liberties which allow oppurtunities to prosper
- freedom to criticize the government & petition

What are the affects of the changing demographic?

- affects American political culture

What affects diversity have?

- diversity withing race, ethnicity, generational/ regional differences impacts how Americans view themselves and the role of the government

What are the other factors changing demographics?

- racial & ethnic composition
- aging
religious beliefs
Regional growth & Expansion
Family & Family Size

Types of Democracy: Participatory Democracy

- requires involvement of multiple people
- direct democracy
ex. voting, protesting

Types of Democracy: Pluralist

- interest groups influence political decision making
- with so many competing none will have complete control

Type of Democracy: Elitist

- People with more money, power, & Privilege exert more influence over government
ex. Electoral college