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Solution Manual For American Government Institutions and Policies, 15th Edition Chapter 1-20
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Solution Manual For American Government Institutions and Policies, 15th Edition Chapter 1-20
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CHAPTER 1The Study of American Government
¨ LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Explain how politics drives democracy.
2. Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
3. Explain why “who governs” and “to what ends” are fundamental questions in American
politics.
4. Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues.
¨ SUMMARY OVERVIEW
Politics is a complicated topic and there are many factors to keep in mind when discussing
the government, forming opinions, and making voting decisions. This text aims to provide
the background information to assist you in developing your political beliefs.
Issues are the raw materials of politics. In order to understand politics we must understand
the issues, how all parties see the issues, and the different forms issues come in. We must
also understand what we mean when we talk about politics; i.e., the activity by which an
issue is agitated or settled.
The American government has formal authority; i.e., the right to exercise power is vested in
a governmental office. American politicians and the American government have legitimacy
because their power is conferred by a law or by a state or national constitution.
How do Americans view democracy? How is democracy defined in America? Democracy
has two meanings: Aristotle’s definition (participatory democracy) and representative
democracy (how democracy operates in most nations). To understand the Constitution and
American politics we must first understand the intent of the Founding Fathers.
Distribution of Power. Representative democracy is viewed by scholars in five
different ways:
• Class View (Karl Marx). This view has been condensed to its current interpretation that
government is dominated by capitalists.
• Power Elite View (C. Wright Mills). This view holds that government is dominated by a
few top leaders, most of whom are outside government.
• Bureaucratic View (Max Weber). This view states that government is dominated by
appointed officials.
• Pluralist View (David B. Truman). This is the view that competition among all or most
affected interests shapes policy.
© 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
,2 Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
• Creedal Passion View (Samuel P. Huntington). This view argues that morally
impassioned elites drive important political changes.
Who governs and to what ends? Knowing who governs, and what they stand for, provides
insight into political decisions (what will be done to and for us). Knowing to what ends gives
us an idea of how government affects our lives.
Politics consists of addressing the many issues our country faces on a daily basis; this is
known as the political agenda.
The political agenda is affected by:
• shared political values,
• the weight of custom and tradition,
• the impact of events, and
• changes in the way political elites think and talk about politics.
The political agenda is impacted by:
• the behavior of groups,
• the workings of institutions,
• the media,
• and the action of state governments.
We can attempt to understand how the government handles a given issue by examining the
costs and benefits of the proposed policy. Costs and benefits can be reviewed based on the
perception of costs and benefits that affect politics and whether or not it is legitimate for that
group to benefit. This cost and benefit analysis toward government policies provides us with
a “simple theory of politics.”
Another aspect of government is the four different types of politics:
• Majoritarian. Almost everyone benefits and almost everyone pays.
• Interest group. One small group benefits and another small group pays.
• Client. One small group benefits and almost everyone pays.
• Entrepreneurial. Almost everyone benefits and a small group pays the cost.
These types of politics provide us with some perspective as to how the cost benefit analysis
of a governmental policy is interpreted by different schools of thought.
All of the items discussed in the text aim to give us insight into how preferences are formed,
which helps us understand why those who wield power are able to do so; simply put, why we
elect who we do.
We should take into account that a well-educated opinion of our government’s institutions
and interests can only be formed after examining the behavior of elected officials toward a
variety of issues. In order to form this educated opinion we must not only look at the current
behavior of our government, but also history, tradition, and belief.
© 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved..
, Chapter 1: The Study of American Government 3
¨ CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Politics and Democracy
A. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
B. Defining Democracy
II. Political Power in America: Five Views
III. Who Governs? To What Ends?
A. Expanding the Political Agenda
1. Groups
2. Government Institutions
3. Media
4. Action by the States
IV. The Politics of Different Issues
A. Four Types of Politics
1. Majoritarian Politics: Distributed Benefits, Distributed Costs
2. Interest Group Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Concentrated
Costs
3. Client Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Distributed Costs
4. Entrepreneurial Politics: Distributed Benefits, Concentrated
Costs
5. Policy Dynamics: Inside/Outside the Box
V. Understanding Politics
¨ TEACHING TOOLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE 1: EXPLAIN HOW POLITICS DRIVES DEMOCRACY.
Critical Thinking Question
Which is more effective, direct or representative democracy? Why?
In-Class Activity
Divide class into teams. Select one current budgetary issue (such as education v. defense
spending) and debate.
© 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
, 4 Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
Lecture Launcher
Should corporations be run as democracies? Why or why not? How would politics affect
decisions?
LEARNING OBJECTIVE 2: DISCUSS FIVE VIEWS OF HOW POLITICAL POWER
IS DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED STATES.
Critical Thinking Question
How has social media ‘leveled the playing field’ in American politics?
In-Class Activity
Divide class into four groups. Each group creates a grassroots organization that will assert
political power in America. Explain how your group will attain power.
Lecture Launcher
How much does financial spend influence politician ability to achieve higher levels of power in
America? Defend your answer.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE 3: EXPLAIN WHY “WHO GOVERNS?” AND “TO WHAT
ENDS?” ARE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
Critical Thinking Question
What government policies have been enacted in your lifetime? Select one and explain how it has
impacted your life.
In-Class Activity
Divide class into 2 groups, compare and contrast the Ferguson riots with the 1992 Los Angeles
riots. How did the stewardship of Obama change the political agenda?
Lecture Launcher
What do you think has been the biggest political shift in focus due to a specific leader? Explain.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE 4: SUMMARIZE THE KEY CONCEPTS FOR
CLASSIFYING THE POLITICS OF DIFFERENT POLICY ISSUES.
Critical Thinking Question
What would a majoritarian structure give to you?
In-Class Activity
Divide class into 4 groups, majoritarian, interest, client, and entrepreneurial. Which approach is
most effective and advantageous in the U.S.? Debate why.
© 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved..
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