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Standard and Short Edition:
1 American Political Culture
2 The Founding and the Constitution
3 Federalism
4 Civil Liberties
5 Civil Rights
6 Public Opinion
7 The Media
8 Political Participation and Voting
9 Political Parties
10 Campaigns and Elections
11 Groups and Interests
12 Congress
13 The Presidency
14 Bureaucracy In A Democracy
15 The Federal Courts
16 Government and Economy
17 Social Policy
18 Foreign Policy and Democracy
Texas Edition:
19 The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas
20 The Texas Constitution
21 Parties and Elections in Texas
22 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Lobbyists
23 The Texas Legislature
24 The Texas Executive Branch
25 The Texas Judiciary
26 Local Government in Texas
27 Public Policy in Texas

Chapter 1: American Political Culture

What Government Does and Why It Matters

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To understand why it is important to study U.S. government, you need to see how government affects your everyday life. On page 9 of the text, Figure 1.1 shows some of the ways in which government is involved in the life of a recent college graduate. But government doesn’t wait until you graduate from college to intervene in your life. Print out the attached document and make a list of at least ten items that show how your life has intersected with government (state, local, and national) today. For example, this morning you may have used a municipal water supply or taken a medication controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. After making your list, answer the questions below.


  1. Were you surprised at the number of government actions surrounding your life today? Explain.

  1. What was the purpose of these government actions? Do you think that the private sector could perform some of these actions more efficiently? Explain.

  1. Are there some government actions that you think are unnecessary? Which ones? Why should government get out of those areas?

  1. What would happen to American society if government were small and weak? Would a smaller government provide student loans and grants? Support medical research? Assemble a manned mission to Mars? Should government be doing those things? Explain.

  1. Do you think most Americans understand the importance of government in their lives? Explain.



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