Chapter 1 National Government
Introducing Government in America
Objective(s):
1. Students will be able to distinguish among the fundamental concepts of government, politics, and public policy.
2. Students will understand how government, politics, and public policy are interrelated.
3. Students will be able to ascertain how people can influence the government's policy agenda.
4. Students will be able to describe the basic concept of the policymaking system.
5. Students will be able to determine the essential principles of traditional democratic theory.
6. Students will examine the three contemporary theories of American democracy: pluralism, elite and class theory, and hyperpluralism.
7. Students will be able to discuss and analyze the challenges to democracy presented in the text.
8. Students will be able to address the issue of the scope of government and explain how the scope of government is relevant to an understanding of democracy.
9. Students will be able to describe how liberals and conservatives differ in their positions concerning the appropriate role and scope of government.
10. Students will be able to understand the importance of individualism in limiting the scope of American government.
11. Students will begin to assess the two questions that are central to governing and that serve as themes for this textbook: How should we be governed? and What should government do?
Outline:
I. Two Central Questions for Governing
A. this chapter will introduce three important concepts: government, politics, and public policy
B. two fundamental questions about governing that will serve as themes throughout this book: 1. How should we govern?
a. this book will examine the workings of democratic government, evaluate the way that American government actually works compared to the standards of an "ideal" democracy, and continually ask the question "Who holds the power and who influences the policies adopted by government?" 2. What should government do?
Objective(s):
1. Students will be able to distinguish among the fundamental concepts of government, politics, and public policy.
2. Students will understand how government, politics, and public policy are interrelated.
3. Students will be able to ascertain how people can influence the government's policy agenda.
4. Students will be able to describe the basic concept of the policymaking system.
5. Students will be able to determine the essential principles of traditional democratic theory.
6. Students will examine the three contemporary theories of American democracy: pluralism, elite and class theory, and hyperpluralism.
7. Students will be able to discuss and analyze the challenges to democracy presented in the text.
8. Students will be able to address the issue of the scope of government and explain how the scope of government is relevant to an understanding of democracy.
9. Students will be able to describe how liberals and conservatives differ in their positions concerning the appropriate role and scope of government.
10. Students will be able to understand the importance of individualism in limiting the scope of American government.
11. Students will begin to assess the two questions that are central to governing and that serve as themes for this textbook: How should we be governed? and What should government do?
Outline:
I. Two Central Questions for Governing
A. this chapter will introduce three important concepts: government, politics, and public policy
B. two fundamental questions about governing that will serve as themes throughout this book: 1. How should we govern?
a. this book will examine the workings of democratic government, evaluate the way that American government actually works compared to the standards of an "ideal" democracy, and continually ask the question "Who holds the power and who influences the policies adopted by government?" 2. What should government do?