POLS 206 Exam 1 | Latest study |
Questions and Answers
(1) What is government? - ANSW--The institutions that make public policy decisions for a society
-For us: Congress, the president, the courts, and federal administrative agencies ("the bureaucracy")
Functions of ALL Governments - ANSW-1. Maintain a National Defense
2. Provide public goods and services
3. Preserve Order
4. Socialize the young
5. Collect Taxes
Collective goods - ANSW-If they exist, they, by nature, cannot be denied to anyone and must be shared
by everyone
Public Goods - ANSW-ie, College, medical care
-goods that can be provided to some without being provided to all.
(2) What is politics? - ANSW--Harold Laswell "Who gets what, when, and how"
-The process determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue.
-Produces authoritative decisions about public issues.
Political Participation - ANSW-All the activities by which citizens attempt to influence the selection of
political leaders and the policies they pursue.
-Voting is most common, but other means include contacting public officials, protest, and civil
disobedience
Single-issue groups - ANSW--Groups with a narrow interest on which their members take an
uncompromising stand
(3) What is a policy-making system? - ANSW-The process by which policy comes into being and evolves.
1. Political Issues formed by the People.
2. Linkage Institutions transfer people's preferences to the policymakers
3. Policy Agenda shaped
4. Policy Agenda goes through policy-making institutions (Congress, the president, and the courts, the
"fourth" bureaucracy)
5. Implement the public policy
6. Impact people
Political issues - ANSW-Created by people's interests, problems, and concerns which in turn shape policy,
which impacts people and starts the cycle again.
-an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.
Linkage Institutions - ANSW-Channels by which people's concerns become political issues on policy
agenda.
-elections, political parties, interest groups, the media.
(4) What is policy agenda? - ANSW-The issues that attract the serious attentions of public officials and
other people involved in politics at a point in time.
, -What politicians think is important
(5) What is public policy? - ANSW--A choice that a government makes in response to a political issue.
-A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.
-ie, congressional statue, presidential action, court decision, budgetary choice, and regulation
Democracy - ANSW-A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing the government so that policy
represents and responds to the public
(6) Know Dahl's principles of traditional democratic theory - ANSW-1. Equality in Voting
2. Effective Participation
3. Enlightened Understanding
4. Citizen control of the agenda
5. Inclusion
Equality in Voting - ANSW--one person, one vote (applies to representation)
Effective Participation - ANSW-Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their
preferences throughout the decision making process.
Enlightened Understanding - ANSW-Free press and free speech
-no monopoly or distortion of information
Citizen control of the agenda - ANSW-Our ability to get involved and be heard
Inclusion - ANSW-Path to citizenship should be open to all
(7) Know the philosophy of John Locke - ANSW--Life, liberty, and property
-overthrow a government when it no longer serves the people
-consent of the governed
-limited government
1. Standing laws so people know if their acts are acceptable.
2. Cannot take property without consent.
(8) Know the theories of American Democracy - ANSW-1. Pluralism-groups of minorities compete for
resources, policies, a voice, etc. so that no one party can dominate.
2. Elitism-Elite Class Theory: Society is made up of classes and the wealthy few govern. More millionaires
in Congress, career politicians, etc.
3. Hyperpluralism- Pluralism gone sour, groups are so strong and gov so weak that nothing gets done ->
gridlock
(9) What is representation? - ANSW-Basic principle of American democracy that relates the few leaders
and many followers.
Challenges to American Democracy - ANSW-1. Increased complexity of issues
2. Limited Participation in Government
3. Diverse Political Interest
4. Escalating Campaign Policy
American Political Culture - ANSW--Overall set of values widely shared within American Society
1. Liberty for all
Questions and Answers
(1) What is government? - ANSW--The institutions that make public policy decisions for a society
-For us: Congress, the president, the courts, and federal administrative agencies ("the bureaucracy")
Functions of ALL Governments - ANSW-1. Maintain a National Defense
2. Provide public goods and services
3. Preserve Order
4. Socialize the young
5. Collect Taxes
Collective goods - ANSW-If they exist, they, by nature, cannot be denied to anyone and must be shared
by everyone
Public Goods - ANSW-ie, College, medical care
-goods that can be provided to some without being provided to all.
(2) What is politics? - ANSW--Harold Laswell "Who gets what, when, and how"
-The process determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue.
-Produces authoritative decisions about public issues.
Political Participation - ANSW-All the activities by which citizens attempt to influence the selection of
political leaders and the policies they pursue.
-Voting is most common, but other means include contacting public officials, protest, and civil
disobedience
Single-issue groups - ANSW--Groups with a narrow interest on which their members take an
uncompromising stand
(3) What is a policy-making system? - ANSW-The process by which policy comes into being and evolves.
1. Political Issues formed by the People.
2. Linkage Institutions transfer people's preferences to the policymakers
3. Policy Agenda shaped
4. Policy Agenda goes through policy-making institutions (Congress, the president, and the courts, the
"fourth" bureaucracy)
5. Implement the public policy
6. Impact people
Political issues - ANSW-Created by people's interests, problems, and concerns which in turn shape policy,
which impacts people and starts the cycle again.
-an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.
Linkage Institutions - ANSW-Channels by which people's concerns become political issues on policy
agenda.
-elections, political parties, interest groups, the media.
(4) What is policy agenda? - ANSW-The issues that attract the serious attentions of public officials and
other people involved in politics at a point in time.
, -What politicians think is important
(5) What is public policy? - ANSW--A choice that a government makes in response to a political issue.
-A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.
-ie, congressional statue, presidential action, court decision, budgetary choice, and regulation
Democracy - ANSW-A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing the government so that policy
represents and responds to the public
(6) Know Dahl's principles of traditional democratic theory - ANSW-1. Equality in Voting
2. Effective Participation
3. Enlightened Understanding
4. Citizen control of the agenda
5. Inclusion
Equality in Voting - ANSW--one person, one vote (applies to representation)
Effective Participation - ANSW-Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their
preferences throughout the decision making process.
Enlightened Understanding - ANSW-Free press and free speech
-no monopoly or distortion of information
Citizen control of the agenda - ANSW-Our ability to get involved and be heard
Inclusion - ANSW-Path to citizenship should be open to all
(7) Know the philosophy of John Locke - ANSW--Life, liberty, and property
-overthrow a government when it no longer serves the people
-consent of the governed
-limited government
1. Standing laws so people know if their acts are acceptable.
2. Cannot take property without consent.
(8) Know the theories of American Democracy - ANSW-1. Pluralism-groups of minorities compete for
resources, policies, a voice, etc. so that no one party can dominate.
2. Elitism-Elite Class Theory: Society is made up of classes and the wealthy few govern. More millionaires
in Congress, career politicians, etc.
3. Hyperpluralism- Pluralism gone sour, groups are so strong and gov so weak that nothing gets done ->
gridlock
(9) What is representation? - ANSW-Basic principle of American democracy that relates the few leaders
and many followers.
Challenges to American Democracy - ANSW-1. Increased complexity of issues
2. Limited Participation in Government
3. Diverse Political Interest
4. Escalating Campaign Policy
American Political Culture - ANSW--Overall set of values widely shared within American Society
1. Liberty for all
