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Chapter 1: American Political Culture
What Government Does and Why It Matters

To understand why it is important to study U.S. government, you need to see how government affects your everyday life. On page 6 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 or fill in the fields below 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 the municipal water supply or taken a medication controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. After making your list, answer the questions below.

Download the document and answer the questions:
1. Were you surprised at the number of government actions surrounding your life today? Explain.
2. What was the purpose of these government actions? Do you think that the private sector could perform some of these actions more efficiently? Explain.
3. Are there some government actions that you think are unnecessary? Which ones? Why should government get out of those areas?
4. 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.
5. Do you think most Americans understand the importance of government in their lives? Explain.

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