Overview
This chapter introduces the concept of American government, its functions, forms, and the importance of civic engagement in a representative democracy. It examines how citizens participate, the types of government, and the theories of who governs the U.S.
Foundations of American Government
- The U.S. relies on citizen participation at all levels for representative democracy.
- Democracy is defined by citizen rights, including voting and holding office.
- Government organizes society to achieve collective goals like prosperity, security, and well-being.
- Politics is the process of gaining and exercising control to achieve specific goals, especially resource allocation.
Government, Economy, and Goods
- The U.S. combines representative democracy with capitalism, emphasizing individualism and market freedom.
- Capitalism allows private ownership of goods and services; socialism involves government ownership and redistribution.
- Public goods (e.g., national defense, public education) are provided to all without charge, funded by taxes.
- Common goods (e.g., clean water, fish) require government regulation to ensure sustainability.
- Toll goods (e.g., private schools) are accessible for a fee; private goods are sold by businesses for profit.
Types of Government
- The U.S. is a representative democracy (republic) where citizens elect representatives to make decisions.
- Majority rule is balanced by protection of minority rights.
- Other forms include direct democracy (people make decisions directly), monarchy, oligarchy, and totalitarianism.
Who Governs: Theories and Trade-Offs
- Elite Theory: A small, wealthy elite controls government for their benefit.
- Pluralist Theory: Power is distributed among many competing interest groups.
- The trade-off perspective sees policy as the result of ongoing compromises among groups and interests.
Civic Engagement and Participation
- Civic engagement is vital; participation includes voting, discussing politics, volunteering, and activism.
- Social capital (networks and trust) enhances willingness to engage.
- Historical movements (abolition, civil rights, women's suffrage) show the impact of collective action.
- Young people often feel disengaged due to partisanship and issues irrelevant to them but can be motivated by specific policies.
Ways to Engage in Democracy
- Stay informed via reputable news sources.
- Vote in local and national elections, requiring registration.
- Attend rallies, write to representatives, sign or circulate petitions.
- Volunteer in community service or political campaigns.
- Join interest groups or advocacy organizations.
- Engage in activism (protests, boycotts, 'buycotts') to advocate for change.
Factors Affecting Engagement
- Political involvement increases with education, income, and intense personal preferences.
- Younger Americans participate less in traditional politics, often identify as independents, and favor issue-based politics.
- Barriers to youth participation include difficulty registering to vote and lack of relatable campaign issues.
- Partisan polarization can discourage engagement among certain groups.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Government — System for organizing society and allocating authority.
- Politics — Process of gaining/exercising control to set/govern policy and resource distribution.
- Public Goods — Services provided by government for all, free of charge.
- Common Goods — Resources available to all but limited in supply.
- Toll Goods — Goods accessible for a fee to those who can pay.
- Private Goods — Market-supplied goods for profit.
- Democracy — Government by the people, either directly or through representatives.
- Representative Democracy — Citizens elect officials to make laws/policies.
- Monarchy — Rule by a single hereditary leader.
- Oligarchy — Rule by a small elite group.
- Totalitarianism — Government controls all aspects of life.
- Elite Theory — Belief that elites hold power.
- Pluralist Theory — Power distributed among interest groups.
- Trade-off Perspective — Policy results from compromise among competing interests.
- Civic Engagement — Participation in government/political activities.
- Social Capital — Value from social networks that facilitate cooperation.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and define the key terms listed.
- Reflect on your own civic engagement and consider ways to become more actively involved.
- Visit websites of organizations such as Common Cause or Friends of the Earth for volunteer opportunities.
- Register to vote if eligible and stay informed on current political issues.