National Politics: Governmental Actors

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National Politics Governmental Actors

• Introduction to Politics and Political Analysis
• Braunwarth

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Key Questions

• How do governmental actors function in the
  struggle for power that is politics?
• How voluntary, humane, and peaceful are the
  patterns they work out?
• Can this cooperation among political elites
  contribute to security, liberty, justice, and the
  welfare of the nation?

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Legislatures

• What are their primary functions?
• Representative
• Deliberative
• Legislative
• Supervisory

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How a Bill Becomes Law
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Executives

• What are their primary functions?
• Plan public policy
• Initiate public policy
• Implement public policy

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U.S. Presidents Multiple Roles

• Chief executive and administrator
• Commander in chief
• Party chief
• Chief legislative brain truster
• Chief national spokesperson
• Chief diplomat
• Chief popular leader
• Ceremonial chief of state

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Bureaucracies

• What are their primary functions?
• Carrying out public policy
• Ensuring governmental stability and continuity
• Dealing with massive numbers of clients in an
  impersonal and professional manner

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Courts

• What are their primary functions?
• Safeguarding rights and liberties
• Upholding valid law and administration
• Adjudicating disputes under the law

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Criteria for Assessing Patterns of Governance

• Agreement on constitutional fundamentals
• Meaningful opportunities for expression of needs,
  interests, and desires
• Sound mechanisms for the selection of priorities
• Acceptable ways for legitimating public policy
  choices (why do people agree to follow laws)
• Effective governance
• Regular and effective controls on government