American Government Introduction, Components, Themes, Social Science & What Political Scientists Do
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Overview
As an academic field, American government encompasses not only the study of the systems, institutions, and policies of the United States government but also the political ideals and beliefs of the American people. The field falls within the broader discipline of political science, the study of government and power. Students and scholars of American government try to answer questions concerning the political culture, the distribution of power, decision-making processes, government policies, and laws, among other issues and behaviors. American government and political science often overlap with other social sciences, including economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
Components of American Government
The United States is a constitutional democracy, a type of government characterized by limitations on government power spelled out in a written constitution. Written in 1787, the U.S. Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written constitution in the world. It serves as the supreme law of the United States.
The Constitution outlines a federal government with three separate branches: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (the presidency), and the judicial branch (the courts). Over time, however, other key elements of government have developed and become just as important, such as the federal bureaucracy, political parties, interest groups, the media, and electoral campaigns. We will cover these components in detail in upcoming chapters.
The Legislative Branch
Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and is responsible for creating laws. Congress consists of two chambers, an upper chamber called the Senate and a lower chamber called the House of Representatives. Congress has the sole authority to make laws, levy taxes, declare war, and print money, among other powers. Congress also controls the federal budget.
The Executive Branch
The presidency is the executive branch of the federal government. The president is elected every four years and is responsible for enforcing the laws that Congress makes. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has the power to conduct foreign relations.
The Judicial Branch
The federal courts make up the judicial branch of the federal government, which consists of regional circuit courts, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest legal authority in the country and has assumed the power of judicial review to decide the legality of the laws Congress makes.
The Bureaucracy
The term bureaucracy refers to the various departments and agencies of the executive branch that help the president carry out his or her duties. There are fifteen departments within the executive bureaucratic branch, including the Department of State, the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Education. Each of these departments is also responsible for a number of small government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Political Parties
A political party is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government. Political parties work to win as many offices in the government as they can so that they can put the party’s policies into effect. Like most presidential democracies, the United States has only two powerful political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans.
Interest Groups
An interest group is an organization of people who share a specific common interest and work together to promote that interest through government via lobbying or grassroots activism. Interest groups give voice to the people outside of elections, but can sometimes skew government policy.
The Media
The media refers to the private organizations that keep the public informed about politics and current events through newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and the Internet. The media also keep the government in check and can even influence the government agenda by deciding what to cover.
Campaigns and Elections
Because the United States is a democracy, the president, vice president, members of Congress, state governors, and many state, county, and city office holders must campaign for their positions in an election.
Themes in American Political History
Americans tend to view their history as a success story and as a victory for democracy. A number of themes recur in how Americans think about their history, including the mythical founding of the United States, the struggle against tyranny and injustice, and the sense of history as progress. Popular culture, especially movies and television shows, constantly reinforces these themes and this view of American history.
Mythical Founding
Most Americans re-imagine the founding of the United States in mythical terms, as the triumph of wisdom over tyrannical ignorance and as the creation of something new and important in the world. Likewise, many American citizens tend to revere the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers are seen as paragons of virtue and political acumen. The iconic image of George Washington on the one-dollar bill or the statue of Abraham Lincoln inside the Lincoln Memorial fits in with this heroic vision of the founders.
Struggle Against Tyranny and Injustice
Most Americans often think of their country as the champion of democracy and justice. Many events in American history are therefore seen as part of this struggle. Americans tend to think of the Civil War, for example, as the battle to end slavery, World War II as the defeat of evil tyrants, and the Cold War as a triumph of democratic values over communism and totalitarianism. Today, many Americans see the fight against terrorism as the latest example of the United States standing up for what is right in the world.
History as Progress
Although the United States is not a perfect democracy, many Americans interpret its history as progress toward a better democracy. In this view, America has improved from century to century, getting better and more democratic over time. The expansion of the right to vote is the best example. At the start of the republic, the right to vote was restricted in most places to older, wealthy, white landowners. Over time, however, all citizens won the right to vote, including the middle classes, the poor, people of other races, women, and younger people. American democracy has thus grown as more people have been allowed to participate.
The Other Social Sciences
Social sciences study how people interact with and relate to one another. The study of American government, with its emphasis on political systems and the distribution of power, falls into this larger academic category. Like other disciplines within political science, the study of American government draws from some other social sciences, including sociology, economics, psychology, and anthropology.
Sociology
Sociology studies social life and human interactions, from how groups form to how large organizations run to how people interact with one another. In their analyses of American government, scholars make use of sociological studies and methods when examining, for example, how small group dynamics affect the decision-making process, how people acquire and maintain power, and how political culture shapes our attitudes.
Economics
Politics and economics often intersect. Studying government without also studying economics, especially in free-market societies such as the United States, is not possible. Scholars in this field examine such economic issues as the effects government policy has on the economy, the role money plays in campaigns, and how nations arrive at trade agreements.
Psychology
Psychology studies the way the human mind works, helping us to understand why people behave the way that they do. The insights of psychology are sometimes used to analyze a president’s or voter’s behavior or to explain why some people are more prone to supporting certain governments and ideologies.
Anthropology
Anthropology examines cultures within a society and theorizes about how those cultures affect society. Anthropologists also explore how people acquire cultural values. Because culture often has a strong effect on behavior, scholars rely on anthropological studies and methods to draw conclusions about American political culture and behavior.
What Political Scientists Do
Scholars of American government are known as political scientists. A background in political science generally and American government specifically is useful in many different fields.
Public Policy
Government policy affects nearly everything that we do, so public policy experts can work in a variety of areas:
- Issue advocate
- Government official
- Activist
- City planner
- Legislative analyst
Campaigns
Many political science majors spend time working on campaigns, which can lead to one of several careers in politics:
- Pollster
- Event organizer
- Public opinion analyst
- Communications director
Law and Law Enforcement
Many students of political science go on to choose one of the following careers in law and law enforcement:
- Attorney
- Judge
- Police officer
- Parole officer
- FBI or CIA agent
- Prison administrator
Business
Although political science does not deal directly with business matters, it does teach the analytical and data interpretation skills needed for many careers in the private sector. Political scientists interested in working in business might take the following kinds of jobs:
- Bank executive
- Career counselor
- Corporate economist
- Government relations manager
- Management analyst
- Systems analyst
Education
Many political scientists earn a PhD and do specialized research and scholarship at a “think tank.” Still others may choose one of the following jobs :
- Professor
- High school teacher
- Educational curriculum developer
- Journal editor
This list covers just a few of the careers open to students of political science majors. As you will see in your studies of political science, the discipline teaches many skills, including critical thinking and analytical reasoning, which can be applied in many fields.
