Unit I: Foundations of American Democracy Practice Flashcards

Foundations of American Democracy and the Role of Government

• Government acts as the set of institutions that make decisions for a society as a whole. In the United States, this is structured through four primary branches of the federal government:

  • Congress: Divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate, responsible for creating legislation.

  • The President: The executive head responsible for executing laws.

  • The Courts: Ranging from federal to state and local levels, responsible for interpreting laws.

  • The Federal Bureaucracy: Various administrative agencies responsible for the administration and implementation of policies.

• There are two essential questions that guide the study of government:

  • How should we govern? While the nation is a democracy, questions remain regarding whether it is "ideally" democratic, who specifically holds power, and who influences government policies.

  • What should government do? This involves exploring the scope of government and determining if the government is doing too much or if more action is required to meet societal needs.

• National governments throughout the world fulfill five specific functions:

  • Maintain a National Defense.

  • Provide Public Services and Public Goods.

  • Preserve order.

  • Socialize the Young.

  • Collect Taxes.

• Public debate often centers on prioritization: which of these functions is most important, how spending should be divided between them, and whether the government is the most appropriate entity to manage these tasks.

Political Apathy and Youth Engagement

• Politics and government impact daily life through visible outcomes such as benefit checks and school funding. Public engagement is necessary because citizens cannot simply remove themselves from the process without leaving decisions entirely to professionals.

• Contemporary trends in political apathy among American youth ($18-29$ years old) have historically been driven by several perceptions:

  • A belief that an individual cannot make a difference.

  • A view that politics is inherently corrupt.

  • General lack of interest.

• The proliferation of media and information access over recent decades has made it easier for individuals to avoid news, politics, and worldly updates. This expansion of channels, social media, and websites creates a juxtaposition where young people are often highly active in direct community service and volunteerism but remain less involved in formal politics.

• Statistical data regarding political apathy ($1972-2020$) shows the percentage of those who follow politics infrequently:

  • The $18-29$ age group consistently shows higher infrequent following compared to the $65+$ demographic.

  • Engagement after the $2020$ election showed a significant increase among youth ages $18-24$ compared to polling after the $2018$ election.

• Youth participation metrics ($2018$ vs. $2020$):

  • Volunteering for a political campaign: $7\%$ ($2018$) to $8\%$ ($2020$).

  • Donating money to a campaign: $8\%$ ($2018$) to $16\%$ ($2020$).

  • Talking to friends about political issues/elections: $46\%$ ($2018$) to $63\%$ ($2020$).

  • Registering others to vote: $11\%$ ($2018$) to $31\%$ ($2020$).

  • Trying to convince other young people to vote: $33\%$ ($2018$) to $59\%$ ($2020$).

  • Attending a march or demonstration: $28\%$ ($2018$) compared to $10\%$ in $2016$.

• Historic youth voter turnout (ages $18-24$) in midterm elections:

  • $1974$ (Baby Boomers): $32\%$

  • $1978$: $24\%$

  • $1982$: $25\%$

  • $1986$: $22\%$

  • $1990$ (Generation X): $21\%$

  • $1994$: $22\%$

  • $1998$: $19\%$

  • $2002$: $19\%$

  • $2006$ (Millennials): $23\%$

  • $2010$: $25\%$

  • $2014$: $17\%$

  • $2018$ (Generation Z): $31\%$

Defining Politics and the Policymaking System

• Politics is defined as the process of determining whom we select as our leaders and what policies they will pursue. It is summarized as "who gets what, when, and how."

• Key Political Vocabulary:

  • Political Participation: The various ways people get involved in politics.

  • Public Policy: Every decision made by the government, including every law passed, budget established, and ruling handed down. Examples include the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), vaccine/mask mandates, and tax laws.

  • Policy Agenda: Issues that attract serious, immediate attention from public officials (e.g., economy-focused agendas).

  • Linkage Institutions: Groups that transmit the preferences of Americans to policymakers. These include political parties, elections, the media, and interest groups.

  • Policymaking Institutions: The three institutions established by the Constitution—Congress, the President, and the Courts—that can take direct action on political issues.

• The Policymaking System is the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

Theoretical Models of Politics

• The Lasswell Model: Developed by Harold Lasswell, this model simplifies the process into four components:

  • WHO (The Participants): Individuals (voters, candidates, office holders) and Groups/Organizations (Business, Labor, Agriculture; Demographic groups like Men, Women, Elderly, various ethnicities and religions; Organizations like the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Libertarian Party, NOW, AARP, NAACP, UAW, NAM, and AFL-CIO).

  • WHAT (The Values/Goals): Recognition, influence, prestige, justice/equity, access, jobs, contracts, public policy, the status quo, and the public interest.

  • HOW (The Methods/Tools): Voting, lobbying, platforms, speeches, bargaining, intimidation, bribery, violence, logrolling, public relations, and campaigns.

  • WHEN (The Impact): The timing of the policy effect, which may be immediate ("NOW") or delayed ("LATER").

• The E.E. Schattschneider Model: This model emphasizes conflict as the central element of politics.

  • Politics involves the socialization of conflict. Conflict is likely to change as it moves into the political arena.

  • Democratic governments provide an arena to resolve private disputes. A private dispute becomes public and reaches the policy agenda based on four factors:

    1. The scope of the conflict.

    2. The importance of other conflicts competing for government attention.

    3. The intensity and influence of the competing groups.

    4. The range of governmental powers and resources available.

  • The Schattschneider process follows a cycle: Conflict among private groups occurs; issues gain visibility through media; the issue reaches the government agenda; feedback occurs as a new balance of power leads to renewed conflict.