Instructor Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..................................................................................................2
Cengage Supplements................................................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives....................................................................................................................................3
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments............................................................................3
Key Terms..................................................................................................................................................5
What's New in This Chapter....................................................................................................................6
Chapter Outline.........................................................................................................................................7
Additional Discussion Questions..............................................................................................................8
Suggested Method for Activities and Assignments...............................................................................10
Additional Activities for Assignments....................................................................................................11
Additional Resources...............................................................................................................................11
Cengage Video Resources.....................................................................................................................11
External Videos or Playlist....................................................................................................................12
Internet Resources.................................................................................................................................12
Suggestions for Additional Reading and Primary Sources....................................................................12
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................14
Generic Rubrics.....................................................................................................................................14
Standard Writing Rubric........................................................................................................................14
Standard Discussion Rubric...................................................................................................................15
,PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the study of American government, explore the ways in which
observers have studied and explained American politics, and examine the ways in which politics are
demonstrated in society.
CENGAGE SUPPLEMENTS
The following product-level supplements provide additional information that may help you in preparing
your course. They are available in the Instructor Resource Center.
Political Science Guide to Teaching Online
o A guide with technology and pedagogy tips for teaching your course online.
American Government YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFM0VUmi-
f8BvRMaiWae4g
o A selection of videos for customizing your learning path
MindTap Educator Guide
o A detailed list of the assets in your MindTap course
Transition Guide
o A guide that highlights content changes and updates in the new edition of the textbook
and courseware design
Standard Writing Rubric
o A customizable rubric for evaluating students’ written work, for use as both a grading
tool and a student-facing document for setting expectations.
Standard Discussion Rubric
o A customizable rubric for evaluating students’ discussion contributions, for use as both a
grading tool and a student-facing document for setting expectations.
MindTap Performance Reports Instructor Guide for American Government
o A guide for making the most of the new performance reports functionality within
MindTap.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
LO 1-1: Explain how politics drives democracy.
LO 1-2: Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
LO: 1-3: Explain why “who governs?” and “to what ends?” are fundamental questions in American
politics.
LO 1-4: Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues.
,COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
Chapter PPT slide Activity/Assessment Duration Texas Standards for
Objective GOVT 2305
1-1 MindTap: Why Does 10 min 2. Demonstrate
Government Matter to Me? knowledge of the federal
system.
1-1 MindTap Case Study: What 30 min 2. Demonstrate
is Government For? knowledge of the federal
system.
1-2 8–9 Small Group Discussion: 8–10 min 8. Analyze issues and
Define Politics and Power. policies in U.S. politics.
1-3 10–13 Large Group Discussion: 15 min 8. Analyze issues and
Make Your Own Political policies in U.S. politics.
Agenda
1-3 MindTap Learn It: The 15 min 2. Demonstrate
Purpose of Politics and knowledge of the federal
Government system.
1-4 7 Small Group: How Should 10 min 8. Analyze issues and
the Federal Government policies in U.S. politics.
Act? Should the federal
government do more to
ensure protests are peaceful?
Should the federal
government take on more
responsibility to prevent
public health crises, such as
the COVID-19 pandemic?
1-4 MindTap Reconsider the 10 min 8. Analyze issues and
Issue: The Government policies in U.S. politics.
1-1 through MindTap: What Would You 15 min 8. Analyze issues and
1-4 Do: Will You Favor or policies in U.S. politics.
Oppose the Ban on
Initiatives?
[return to top]
, KEY TERMS
Benefit: A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
Bureaucratic view: View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
Class view: View that the government is dominated by capitalists.
Client politics: A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.
Cost: A burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is adopted.
Creedal passion view: View that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes
Democracy: The rule of the many.
Direct or Participatory democracy: A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
Elite: Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, such as money, prestige, or
expertise.
Entrepreneurial politics: A policy in which almost everybody benefits, and a small group pays.
Interest group politics: A policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays.
Issue: A conflict, real or apparent, between the interests, ideas, or beliefs of different citizens.
Legitimacy: Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.
Log-rolling: A legislator supports a proposal favored by a colleague with reciprocal support for a
proposal endorsed by the legislator.
Majoritarian politics: A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.
Pluralist view: View that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
Policy entrepreneurs: Activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf
of unorganized interests.
Political agenda: Issues that people believe require governmental action.
Politics: The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled
Pork-barrel legislation: Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or
states in the hope of winning their votes in return.
Power elite view: View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside
of government.
Power: The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s
intentions.
Representative democracy: A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive
struggle for the popular vote.
[return to top]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..................................................................................................2
Cengage Supplements................................................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives....................................................................................................................................3
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments............................................................................3
Key Terms..................................................................................................................................................5
What's New in This Chapter....................................................................................................................6
Chapter Outline.........................................................................................................................................7
Additional Discussion Questions..............................................................................................................8
Suggested Method for Activities and Assignments...............................................................................10
Additional Activities for Assignments....................................................................................................11
Additional Resources...............................................................................................................................11
Cengage Video Resources.....................................................................................................................11
External Videos or Playlist....................................................................................................................12
Internet Resources.................................................................................................................................12
Suggestions for Additional Reading and Primary Sources....................................................................12
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................14
Generic Rubrics.....................................................................................................................................14
Standard Writing Rubric........................................................................................................................14
Standard Discussion Rubric...................................................................................................................15
,PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the study of American government, explore the ways in which
observers have studied and explained American politics, and examine the ways in which politics are
demonstrated in society.
CENGAGE SUPPLEMENTS
The following product-level supplements provide additional information that may help you in preparing
your course. They are available in the Instructor Resource Center.
Political Science Guide to Teaching Online
o A guide with technology and pedagogy tips for teaching your course online.
American Government YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFM0VUmi-
f8BvRMaiWae4g
o A selection of videos for customizing your learning path
MindTap Educator Guide
o A detailed list of the assets in your MindTap course
Transition Guide
o A guide that highlights content changes and updates in the new edition of the textbook
and courseware design
Standard Writing Rubric
o A customizable rubric for evaluating students’ written work, for use as both a grading
tool and a student-facing document for setting expectations.
Standard Discussion Rubric
o A customizable rubric for evaluating students’ discussion contributions, for use as both a
grading tool and a student-facing document for setting expectations.
MindTap Performance Reports Instructor Guide for American Government
o A guide for making the most of the new performance reports functionality within
MindTap.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
LO 1-1: Explain how politics drives democracy.
LO 1-2: Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
LO: 1-3: Explain why “who governs?” and “to what ends?” are fundamental questions in American
politics.
LO 1-4: Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues.
,COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
Chapter PPT slide Activity/Assessment Duration Texas Standards for
Objective GOVT 2305
1-1 MindTap: Why Does 10 min 2. Demonstrate
Government Matter to Me? knowledge of the federal
system.
1-1 MindTap Case Study: What 30 min 2. Demonstrate
is Government For? knowledge of the federal
system.
1-2 8–9 Small Group Discussion: 8–10 min 8. Analyze issues and
Define Politics and Power. policies in U.S. politics.
1-3 10–13 Large Group Discussion: 15 min 8. Analyze issues and
Make Your Own Political policies in U.S. politics.
Agenda
1-3 MindTap Learn It: The 15 min 2. Demonstrate
Purpose of Politics and knowledge of the federal
Government system.
1-4 7 Small Group: How Should 10 min 8. Analyze issues and
the Federal Government policies in U.S. politics.
Act? Should the federal
government do more to
ensure protests are peaceful?
Should the federal
government take on more
responsibility to prevent
public health crises, such as
the COVID-19 pandemic?
1-4 MindTap Reconsider the 10 min 8. Analyze issues and
Issue: The Government policies in U.S. politics.
1-1 through MindTap: What Would You 15 min 8. Analyze issues and
1-4 Do: Will You Favor or policies in U.S. politics.
Oppose the Ban on
Initiatives?
[return to top]
, KEY TERMS
Benefit: A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
Bureaucratic view: View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
Class view: View that the government is dominated by capitalists.
Client politics: A policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.
Cost: A burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is adopted.
Creedal passion view: View that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes
Democracy: The rule of the many.
Direct or Participatory democracy: A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
Elite: Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, such as money, prestige, or
expertise.
Entrepreneurial politics: A policy in which almost everybody benefits, and a small group pays.
Interest group politics: A policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays.
Issue: A conflict, real or apparent, between the interests, ideas, or beliefs of different citizens.
Legitimacy: Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.
Log-rolling: A legislator supports a proposal favored by a colleague with reciprocal support for a
proposal endorsed by the legislator.
Majoritarian politics: A policy in which almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.
Pluralist view: View that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
Policy entrepreneurs: Activists in or out of government who pull together a political majority on behalf
of unorganized interests.
Political agenda: Issues that people believe require governmental action.
Politics: The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled
Pork-barrel legislation: Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or
states in the hope of winning their votes in return.
Power elite view: View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside
of government.
Power: The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s
intentions.
Representative democracy: A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive
struggle for the popular vote.
[return to top]
