Chapter One:
Ideas That Shape American Politics
Note: Students will click on the right arrow in the left-hand corner to advance to the next slide. Then, students will click on the icon to play the audio for that slide.
LO1 – Identify the Purposes of Government:
Government is defined as the structures or order (government agencies, departments, etc.) used to resolve conflict for the entire society.
The purposes of government are to:
Establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility (Give us justice and peace)
Provide for the common defense (Keep us safe)
Promote the general welfare (Help us)
Secure the blessings of liberty (Give us freedom)
LO2 – Define Politics:
Politics is defined as the process by which society makes collective decisions about who gets what, when and how.
LO3 – Define a Social Contract:
A social contract is defined as an agreement between citizens and government in which citizens give their consent to be governed in exchange for protection of their rights.
LO4 – Identify the View of Political Theorists John Locke and Thomas Hobbes:
Both 17th Century theorists were social contract theorists – that is, they believed that a social contract was extremely important to the commonwealth to protect the rights of the people.
See also: https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-contract
Locke’s Political Views Hobbes Political Views
Believed in limited government Believed in an all-powerful government (particularly a and that man is basically “good” monarchy or a single-ruler)
Government should preserve People must give up certain rights to the government life, liberty, and private property (or chaos will result)
People form governments People form governments (through a social contract)
(through a social contract) to protect rights
to protect rights
Governments derive their just powers Governments derive their just powers from the
from the consent of the governed consent of individuals who agree together to follow certain rules
LO5 – Define the Principles and Types of a Democracy:
Principles:
Majority Rule, Equality, Individual Rights and the dignity of the individual, and Protection of Minority Rights.
Types of Democracy:
Direct:
A direct democracy is one where each individual person represents themselves. There are no elected representatives. For example, this form of democracy is utilized on the east coast by towns. These towns hold “town hall” meetings, for example, where all persons living in a town attend the meeting and cast votes on town decisions.
Indirect:
Indirect democracy is also referred to as a representative democracy or a “republic.” In this form, persons vote for elected officials at the local, state and national government levels who represent them and make decisions for them.
LO6 – Identify the Principles of Pluralism, Elitism, and Democracy:
Pluralism: People influence government through interest groups.
Elitism: Power rests in the hands of a small number of wealthy and powerful individuals.
Democracy: People rule.
LO7 – Define Negative and Positive Liberty:
Negative Liberty: Defined as freedom from constraints or the interference of others.
Positive Liberty: Defined as the ability—and provision of basic necessities—to pursue one’s own goals.
LO8–Differentiate Among Ideological Beliefs:
Liberal: Defined as individuals who value cultural diversity, government programs for the needy, and public intervention in the economy
Conservative: Defined as individuals who believe in reduced government spending, personal responsibility, and traditional moral values
Socialist: Defined as a belief that citizens are responsible for one another’s well-being and use government policy to ensure all are comfortably cared for.
Libertarian: Defined as individuals who believe in minimal government, while defending borders, prosecuting crime, and protecting private property.
LO 8 – GOVERNMENT IDEOLOGIES
Liberals:
More Government
Less Military / Defense
Conservatives:
Less Government
More Military / Defense
To find out what ideology you might be, see the website and “take the test:”
www.politicalcompass. org
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/
If you had $100 to spend, how would a Liberal and Conservative spend that money in the areas indicated?
____________________________________________________
_____________LIBERAL_____|___CONSERVATIVE_________
MD/BUS_(Military-Defense/
Business)________?_________|_________?______________
SS_(Social
Spending)________?________|__________?______________
Ideologies:
Test Questions
If you had $100 to spend, how would a Liberal and Conservative spend that money in the areas indicated?
____________________________________________________
_____________LIBERAL_____|___CONSERVATIVE_________
MD/BUS_(Military-Defense/
Business)________$30______|_________$70_____________
SS_(Social
Spending)________$70_______|________$30______________
Ideologies:
Test Questions
Which of the following correctly represents the trends in the areas marked?
A. Liberals and Conservatives want more
B. Liberals and Conservatives want less
C. Liberals want more
Conservatives want less
D. Liberals want less
Conservatives want more
Ideologies:
Test Questions – Part One:
____________________________________________________
_____________LIBERAL_____|___CONSERVATIVE_________
MD/BUS_(Military-Defense/
Business)_____X_____|______X_____________
SS_(Social
Spending)_________________|_________________________
Ideologies:
Test Questions – Part Two:
Answer = D (Lib. Less/Consv. More
____________________________________________________
_____________LIBERAL_____|___CONSERVATIVE_________
MD/BUS_(Military-Defense/
Business)___________|______X_____________
SS_(Social
Spending)_______ X ________|________________________
Ideologies:
Test Questions – Part Two:
Answer = A (Lib. More/Consv. More
LO9 – Relate Equality to its Measurements: Opportunities, Results/Outcomes, Political, and Social
Opportunities: Removes barriers such as race so that all have an equal chance to succeed (applying for a job or financial aid).
Results/Outcomes: Equal sharing no matter the effort; proportional results to the percentage of the whole (everyone who tries gets the same prize).
Political: Means that every citizen has the same rights and opportunities. The law applies equally to all (speed limits, voting).
Social: Means that all individuals enjoy the same status in society (anyone can become president).
