Chapter 1 Quiz Study Guide

I was NOT missing this method of studying :'(

Definitions: Politics and Government

• Politics: The process of influencing the actions & policies of government.

• Government: The institutions that make up the system of policymaking.

Mergens and Bible Study

• Omaha, NB: Bridget Mergens asked principal if start T Bible Study group, denied with school board —- said different from other clubs, but she didn’t agree.

  • Rep. by T advocates Nat. Legal Foundation; basis 1984 Equal Access Act (EAA) prevent pub. schools discrim religious clubs

    • 1981, affirmed right for public colleges but not HS — afraid not tell dif. with endorsement

• SC, BoE of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens (1990) held EAA and right HS relig clubs; Sandra Day O’ Connor majority opinion affirmed could tell difference.

  • Critics (i.e. Principal James Findley) afraid allow more controversial clubs

Boyd and GSA

• Boyd County, KT students petition GSA; 2002 school officials denied. Only 1/21, Future Busi Leaders of America and Fellowship Christian Athletes approved

  • Contacted ACLU, month after sent letter (EAA) approved; 1st meeting, angry mob and 2 days later student protest

• Emergency BoE meeting, cancelled all EC for year, but GSA stopped while others used school

  • 2004 ACLU settlement with school: treat all clubs equal, anti-harassment trainings for staff, HS/MS students

• Both used political tools - Mergens’ NLF (pub interest law) and Boyd’s ACLU; EAA cases, and judicial system

Ideas of the Constitution: Democracy, Locke, Montesquieu, Hume

• Democracy: from Greek “demos” (people) and “kratos” power; a system of government where power comes from the people

• Locke’s arguments against the divine right of kings:

  • Natural rights: cannot be taken away by government (L,L,PoH)

  • Social Contract: People give up some liberties for government control for orderly society

• Montesquieu’s ideas of separation of powers and Scottish Hume’s idea carefully design government to avoid control by greedy/wealthy

American Political Culture and the parts of the Constitution

• American Political Culture: The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share

  • Can be contradictory; i.e. Greek republicanism emphasized participation and comon good as hierarchy/discrimination race/gender

• 5 parts to the Constitution: Preamble (set up argument UK gov unlegit), definition citizen' rights (L,L,PoH), longest part list of grievances vs. King (i.e. TwoR), last sep. col from UK with pledge protect “lives, fortunes, sacred honor'“

• July 4, 1776 - Jefferson’s draft approved by Congress to est. democracy

Popular Sovereignty, Republicanism, Inalienable Rights

• Popular Sovereignty: gov. right to rule from ppl; can elect new if unhappy

• Republicanism: Sys in which government authority from people through reps.

  • Practicality; rep asserts interests in policymaking —- US HoR 2 yrs, Pres 4 yrs Senate 6 yrs

• Inalienable Rights: rights gov cannot take away (L,L,PoH); just political system protects

Liberty, PoH & American Dream, Religion

• Liberty: Social/econ/polt freedom —- TO do things, FROM things (delicate balance)

• PoH: Every citizen can achieve goals with hard work, sacrifice, and talent

• Religion shapes polt. culture (ppl fleeing prosecution Mayflower)

Participatory Democracy and Civil Society Groups

• Participatory Democracy: theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

• Civil Society Groups: independent associations outside of government control

• Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam talks about many people bowl with those they know, but decline in people joining leagues where meet diverse perspectives

  • Less diverse, less work for common good; less pariticpatory democracy

  • Critics say young people organize differently to work for common good

Pluralist Theory

Pluralist Theory: theory of democracy emphasizing role groups in policy making

• One way infl. polt. process join an interest group

• Interest groups: NLF, ACLU, NRA, AARP

• Thousands compete, so none dominant; many ways infl (contact officials, donate campaigns, lawsuits)

• Groups have adv/disadv; policymaking complex, needs bargain/compromise

Elitist Theory

• Elitistist Theory: theory democracy that elite have disprop infl on policymaking

  • Elected officials overinfl by wealthy interest groups (1%); growing income gap

  • Social welfare like Medicaid help low-income, but arguably lax reg and tax breaks help wealthy lot more

• Critics argue disadv can still participate, like vote and encourage others to vote

Political institutions and constitutional republic

• How much power gov? How dist?

  • Totalitarian: no limits to gov power

  • Authoritarian: suppress citizens to maintain power; might be SOME non gov social/econ groups and not TOTAL citizen control

• Political Institutions: structure of gov (legislature, executive, judicial); Constitution est. blueprint and limit power protect citizens

  • With first 7 words Preamble, est. sovereignty from people

• Constitutional Republic: elect reps. most laws/policy - limits to prevent from infringing on people’s rights

  • Balance order/security with liberty/prosper; Constitution supreme law of land