Introduction to American National Government

A government describes the means through which a society organizes itself.
- Allocates authority to accomplish collective goals and provide necessary benefits for the society as a whole.
Politics: The process of gaining and exercising control within a government.
- Aim: to set and achieve goals.
- Key Concept: Deciding who gets what, when, and how (Laswell).
- Focus: Distribution of power within a government.

There is a frequent confusion between governmental systems and economic systems.
- This confusion arises because certain political thoughts or governmental organizations develop alongside specific economic systems.
Example: The economic system of capitalism in Western Europe and North America coincided with the rise of ideas regarding democratic republics, self-governance, and natural rights.

In the United States, representative democracy typically aligns with a capitalist economic system.
- Capitalism Defined: A system where private businesses produce and sell most consumer goods and services aiming for profit.
- Public goods: Some goods or services, like public safety and education, cannot be produced profitably or sufficiently by private businesses; hence, a government provision is needed.
- Government's Role: Protecting common goods, like water and natural resources, crucial for individual use but requiring protection for communal benefit.

Types of goods can be categorized based on:
- Excludability: Who has access to the goods?
- Rivalrousness: How many people can access the good at the same time?

Governance in a democracy necessitates citizen representation.
- Citizens elect representatives to express their political ideas and views.
In the United States, the prevalent system is a republican democracy.
- Definition of Republican Government: A state where supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, with governance led by an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch (Oxford Dictionary).

Examples of Republics:
- United States
- Mexico
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- India
- China
- North Korea
Examples of Non-Republics:
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand (and 11 other countries)
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Belgium
- Sweden

Democracy Definition: A form of government where political power is controlled by the people.
- Etymology: The term originates from two Greek words—demos (citizen of a city-state) and kratos (power or rule).
Representative Democracy: In such a system, citizens do not govern directly. Instead, government institutions and policies are determined by elected representatives.
- There are checks on citizen power to protect minority rights.
Direct Democracy: Citizens participate directly in government decision-making without relying on elected representatives.

Most Democratic Countries:
1. Norway
2. New Zealand
3. Iceland
4. Sweden
5. Finland
6. United States
- Source: Statista.com

In a representative democracy, the elite theory suggests that a small elite group holds power while other citizens have negligible influence.
- C. Wright Mills:
- Argued that power is controlled by a combination of business, military, and political elites, mostly highly educated individuals from prestigious universities.
- Implication of Elite Theory: The wealthy utilize their economic power to influence the nation’s economy, hindering economic advancement for lower classes.
- Wealth allows elites to secure pivotal political positions from which they make decisions and allocate resources benefiting themselves.

Pluralist Theory: Competing interest groups affect government actions and hold political power.
- Citizen influence is exercised through participation in interest groups with shared goals and interaction with local, state, or national representatives.

Tradeoffs Perspective: Recognizes competing interests (elitist or pluralist) vie for governmental influence.
- Leads to government actions and public policies shaped by compromises and tradeoffs among these interests.

Traditionally, citizen engagement occurred via membership in small organizations like churches and local labor unions.
Currently, societal and technological advancements reduce citizens' time for active participation in civic organizations, a phenomena termed "bowling alone."
- People are more likely to join larger national organizations where each person's role appears minimal.

Young Americans (under 30) are generally less involved in partisan politics.
- 2015 Survey by Harvard University Institute of Politics: More young Americans identified as independents (40%) compared to Democrats (36%) and Republicans (21%).
- Younger individuals engage less in political action but contribute to civic activities, such as community service.

Civic engagement is strongly influenced by both wealth and education.
Wealthier and more educated individuals demonstrate a higher likelihood to vote and participate in civic activities.