Government and Public Opinion Concepts
Section 2: What is Government?
Vocabulary to Know:
Government: An institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws.
Legitimate Authority: The recognized right to make decisions; requires the consent of the governed.
Sovereignty: The ultimate authority and power within a territory, free from external control.
Legislative Branch/Legislature: The branch of government responsible for making laws.
Executive Branch: The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.
Judicial Branch/Courts: The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.
Power of the Sword: The government's ability to enforce laws through the use of force.
Key Institutions to Know:
Legislatures:
Federal Government: Congress (composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate).
Georgia Government: General Assembly (composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate).
Executive Branch Heads:
Federal Government: President.
Georgia Government: Governor.
Judicial Branch Heads:
Federal Government: U.S. Supreme Court.
Georgia Government: Georgia Supreme Court.
Bureaucratic Agencies: Belong to the Executive Branch of government.
Legitimate Authority to Wield Power: All governments claim to possess legitimate authority to wield the power of the sword, even if their legitimacy is contested.
Section 3: Two More Ways Governments Exercise Power over the People
Vocabulary to Know:
Relational Power: Influence exercised through relationships and interactions.
Power of the Purse: The government's ability to tax and spend money to influence behavior.
Positive Incentive: Rewards provided to motivate certain behaviors.
Negative Incentive: Punishments or penalties imposed to discourage certain behaviors.
Affecting Hearts and Minds: Efforts to change public opinion and beliefs, often through media and education.
Propaganda: Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
Difference Between Power of the Purse and Power of the Sword:
The power of the purse involves financial control and influence, while the power of the sword is about coercion and enforcement through violence or threat of violence.
Positive vs. Negative Incentives Using the Power of the Purse:
Positive incentives encourage behavior through rewards (e.g., tax breaks for certain actions).
Negative incentives discourage behavior through penalties (e.g., fines for violations).
Power of the Purse in Definition of Government:
Using the power of the purse is not part of the definition of government because it pertains to methods of governance rather than the functions of authority and order.
Affecting Hearts and Minds in Definition of Government:
This approach is also not included in the definition of government as it pertains to influencing public opinion more than governing authority.
Section 4: A Universal Purpose of Government: Providing Public Goods
Vocabulary to Know:
Private Goods: Items owned by individuals or corporations, which are exclusive to the owner.
Public Goods: Goods that are available for all and are not limited by the consumption of individuals.
Free Riding: When individuals benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them.
Collective Action Problems: Situations where individuals' self-interest leads to a failure to achieve a collective outcome, often due to coordination issues or the incentive to free ride.
Two Public Goods Governments Always Provide:
National Defense
Public Infrastructure
Section 5: American Government: A Liberal Democracy
Vocabulary to Know:
Liberal Democracy: A form of government that ensures individual freedoms and civil liberties within a democratic framework.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Direct Democracy: Citizens directly participate in decision-making processes.
Authoritarian or Autocratic Government: Government concentration of power in a single authority or small group.
Interest Group: Organizations of people with shared objectives seeking to influence political decisions.
Political Party: An organization seeking to gain political power by electing candidates to public office.
Limited Government: A government structure restrained in its power over individuals, typically outlined in law or constitution.
Rule of Law: The principle that law applies equally to all individuals.
Constitutional Government: A government bound by the fundamental laws outlined in a constitution.
Sham Constitution: A constitution that exists simply for appearances, lacking genuine legal authority or enforcement.
Constitutional Protections for Human Rights: Safeguards against infringement of individual rights by the government.
Separation of Powers: The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.
Checks and Balances: Mechanisms to prevent any one branch of government from overpowering the others.
Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
Difference Between Representative Democracy and Direct Democracy:
In a representative democracy, representatives make laws and govern on behalf of the people, whereas in a direct democracy, citizens directly vote on laws and policies.
The American government is characterized primarily as a representative democracy.
Authoritarian/Autocratic vs. Democratic Government:
Authoritarian governments centralize power and usually suppress political opposition, while democratic governments emphasize free elections, civil rights, and are accountable to the citizens.
Sham Constitution vs. Constitutional Government:
A country with a sham constitution does not function as a constitutional government, as it lacks genuine legal authority and typically fails
to protect rights.
Separation of Powers in U.S. System:
The executive branch wields the power of the sword (enforcement), while the legislative branch possesses the power of the purse (financial control).
Section 6: The Current State of American Politics
Vocabulary to Know:
Politics: The process by which groups make decisions and is often characterized by negotiation and compromise.
Pernicious Polarization: A condition where political divisions create hostility and impede cooperation among opposing parties.
Politics as an Alternative to Authoritarianism and Violence/Civil War:
Politics provides a mechanism for societal conflict resolution that does not resort to violence, facilitating peace and governance through dialogue and law.
Dangers of Pernicious Polarization:
It can lead to the dismantling of civil discourse, fostering an environment of distrust and hostility that undermines democratic norms and interactions.