Chapter One: Government (pg 1-31)
Government Overview
Why we need it
Where it came from
What makes Americans (or American Democracy) Unique?
Demographic Changes
Ideological Changes
Current views of the Government
Government to provide for
Establishing Justice
Ensure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Securing the Blessings of Liberty
Alternative Forms of Government
Monarchy, Dictatorship
Oligarchy, Plutocracy
Theocracy, Anarchy, etc.
Who rules? What scope? (Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian)
Why Governments?
Thomas Hobbes (b 1588) “nasty, brutish and short”
Government to protect us from each other
John Locke (b 1632) “natural rights and the social contract”
Government to (assist us in) enforce property rights
The Intellectual Roots of the U.S. Government
The Scottish and French Enlightenment
The Greek and Roman Examples
The British and French Examples
Questions for the early colonists
Centralized or Decentralized Power
Direct or Indirect Democracy
Characteristics of the American People
Personal Liberty (Freedom from vs. Freedom to)
Negative and Positive Rights
Equality (of outcome, or opportunity)
Popular Consent and Majority Rule (supermajorities)
Popular sovereignty and Natural Law (reason, self-evident truths)
Civil Society
Individualism
Changing Characteristics
Changing size of Population
Changing Demographics
Changed Racial and Ethnic Composition
Changing ages and families
The DINKS, Bobos, Boomers, Single moms, etc.
Ideologies
Conservatives (Right Wing) (Republicans)
Liberals (Left Wing, Progressives) (Liberals)
Libertarians
Greens
Attitudes towards Government
Government in General vs. Party in Power
Federal, State Governments
Presidency, Congress, Judiciary
Attitudes towards Politicians
Apathy, Non-Participation
Activists vs. Silent Majorities