American goverment mid term worksheet 1

Question 1

The most important message in this course is

Answer 1

Politics & government matter to me

Question 2

Voter turnout for people under 25 has fallen from——- % in 1972 to—% in 2010 which means that when it comes to goverment inthe US, the most apathetic group of americans are: the elderly, the educated, the wealty , or the under 25 youth?

Answer 2

50 % to 20%

The under 25 youth

Question 3

why is youth in America apathetic about government?

Answer 3

They think they can’t make a difference. The political system is corrupt, or they just don’t care.

Question 4

Government is

Answer 4

The instittutions that make public policy decision for a society

Question 5

The functions of goverment are:

Answer 5

1- maintain a national defense

      2- provide public goods and services

3- preserve order

4- socialize the youth

5-collect taxes

Question 6

Politics is

Answer 6

who gets what, when, and how

who we select as goverment leaders and what policy they persue

Question 7

The steps in the circular policy making system are:

Answer 7

1- people

2. Linkage institution

3-Policy agenda

4-Policy making instition

5-Policy

Question 8

List some linkage institions:

Answer 8

Parties, interest groups, elections , the media

Question 9

List some policy making institions

Answer 9

Congress, the presidency, and the courts

Question 10

Translating people’s desires into public policy is crucial to the workings of

Answer 10

Democracy

Question 11

A political isssue is when

Answer 11

People disagreeing about a problem, or about the public policy needed to fix

Question 12

“Democracy” means

Answer 12

a system of selecting policy makers and of organizing govermment so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preference

Question 13

An ideal democratic process should satisfy the following 5 criteria:

Answer 13

1- Equality in voting

2-Effective participation

3-Englightened understanding

4-Citizen control of the agenda

5- inclusion

Question 14

What is “majority rule”

Answer 14

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. requires that the majority’s desire be represented. 51% is th emajority

Question 15

Representation is the relationship between

Answer 15

leaders and their constituants

Question 16

Ideal democracy requires a connection between

Answer 16

Leaders(elected officials) and citizens(constituants)

Question 17

What are the three theories of democracy?

Answer 17

Pluralism

elitism

Hyperpluriasm

Question 18

Describe plurialism

Answer 18

A theory of American democracy emphesizing that the policmaking process is very open to the participation of all all groups with shared interests

Question 19

Describe hyperplurialism

Answer 19

A theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government , which gives into the many different groups is thereby weakened

Question 20

what is the class elite theory

Answer 20

An upper-class elite rules, regardless of governmental organization.
. Wealth is the basis of class power a few powerful Americans are the policymakers.

Question 21

what are the main challenge to democracy?

Answer 21

limited participation

diverse political interest

escalating campaign cost

increase complexity of issues

policy gridlock

Question 22

what is individualism?

Answer 22

belief individuals can get along on their own

Question 23

explain policy gridlock

Answer 23

politicians try to satisfy too many groups which results

and confused and block policymakers