American Democracy1-* 1-* Political thinking: Involves the careful gathering and sifting of information to form a knowledgeable view about a political issue Important for responsible citizenship 1-* Learning to Think Politically Barriers to political thinking Main barrier: unwillingness of citizens to make the effort to self-inform Changes in media consumption: more people consume biased cable television and Internet blogs “Spin” by political leaders and government entities Research shows faulty perceptions becoming more prevalent * 1-* Political science: the systematic study of government and politics * 1-* Defines the relationship between citizens and government * 1-* 1-* Unsettled land fostered freedom through migration Many fled Europe to escape religious persecution * 1-* Government’s role is to serve the people * 1-* European aristocratic privilege versus American equal treatment under the law Perplexing ideal in the early years of the nation: Some were free while others were enslaved Differing opinions on the meaning of equality persist * 1-* American colonials had substantial self-determination * 1-* America’s cultural beliefs are idealistic Failures to meet the high ideals: Slavery * 1-* Reaching to meet the high ideals: Abolition and suffrage movements 1-* Politics and Power in America Politics: the means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs Power: the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments Authoritarian and totalitarian governments: nondemocratic, repressive regime types * 1-* * 1-* 1-* 1-* A democratic system System in which the people govern, by direct or representative means In practice, majority rule through the free and open election of representatives Majoritarianism: the majority effectively determines what government does * 1-* A democratic system Contrast with authoritarian government that represses opposition through intimidation, restriction of rights, and even imprisonment and physical abuse * 1-* A constitutional system The Constitution: elaborate checks and balances, Bill of Rights Constitutionalism: idea that there are lawful restrictions on government’s power Restraints on majority power * 1-* 1-* A free-market system Some government intervention through regulatory, taxing, and spending policies Tax rate much lower in U.S. than in European countries Corporate power: influence firms have over policymakers Elitism: power exercised by the influential few * 1-* Who does govern? Defining characteristic of American politics: widespread sharing of power * 1-* Governing officials, the elective institutions, and their appointive bodies Focus on public policies throughout book *
