AG UNIT 1

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Clayton State University *

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Political Science

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Apr 3, 2024

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1 American Government and Civic Engagement 1.1 What is Government? What is government? What are the key goals and purpose of government? What are the most common governmental duties? How is capitalism intertwined with democracy? What is socialism? How is socialism di ff erent from capitalism? This passage describes public goods provided by the local, state, and federal government. Make sure you can describe the di ff erences between local, state, and federal government services. The term government describes the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that the society as a whole needs. Among the goals that governments around the world seek to accomplish are economic prosperity for the nation, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens. governments commonly provide such things as education, health care, and an infrastructure for transportation. the economic system of capitalism in Western Europe and North America developed at roughly the same time as ideas about democratic republics, self- government, and natural rights. In socialist societies, the means of generating wealth, such as factories, large farms, and banks, are owned by the government and not by private individuals. The government accumulates wealth and then redistributes it to citizens, primarily in the form of social programs that provide such things as free or inexpensive health care, education, and childcare. At the federal, state, and local level, government provides stability and security, not only in the form of a military but also in the form of police and fire departments.

A key role of government is to make laws and regulations. This passage touches on the ideal of individual liberty. How is this concept reflected in our government? 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Tradeoffs What is elite theory? By the end of this section, make sure you can contrast elite theory with pluralist theory. What is pluralist theory? How does it contrast with elite theory? This passage describes tradeo ff s. Can you describe some tradeo ff s present in America, and what is their e ff ect? Local, state, and national governments also make laws to maintain order and to ensure the e ﬃ cient functioning of society, including the fair operation of the business marketplace. Politics involves choosing which values government will support and which it will not. If government chooses to support an ideal such as individualism, it may choose to loosen regulations on business and industry or to cut taxes so that people have more money to invest in business. According to elite theory, the wealthy use their power to control the nation’s economy in such a way that those below them cannot advance economically. Instead, pluralists argue, political power is distributed throughout society. Rather than resting in the hands of individuals, a variety of organized groups hold power, with some groups having more influence on certain issues than others. Since the framing of the U.S. Constitution, tradeo ff s have been made between those who favor the supremacy of the central government and those who believe that state governments should be more powerful.

This explains a cause of tradeo ff s. After reading this section, you should be able to describe why tradeo ff s (or compromises) occur and how they influence public policy and government action. 1.3 Engagement in a Democracy U.S. history is filled with examples of people actively challenging power or protecting their interests. Why is citizen engagement is important in a democracy? How are ordinary people able to influence government action? Consider the impact of civil rights legislation on education, public accommodations, discrimination, reproductive freedom, and more. How does the fight for civil rights continue today? By the end of this section, make sure you can describe the main ways that people can influence and become engaged in government, including awareness (described below). Tradeo ff s also occur as a result of conflict between groups representing the competing interests of citizens. Civic engagement can increase the power of ordinary people to influence government actions. Even those without money or connections to important people can influence the policies that a ff ect their lives and change the direction taken by government. The rights gained by these activists and others have dramatically improved the quality of life for many in the United States. Civil rights legislation did not focus solely on the right to vote or to hold public o ﬃ ce; it also integrated schools and public accommodations, prohibited discrimination in housing and employment, and increased access to higher education. People can become civically engaged in many ways, either as individuals or as members of groups. Some forms of individual engagement require very little e ff ort. One of the simplest ways is to stay informed about debates and events in the community, in the state, and in the nation. Awareness is the first step toward engagement.

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