Teaching Ideas for Chapter 1:
Introducing Government in America
Today, large proportions of Americans believe that most or all politicians are corrupt, that government serves the interest of the few, and that government is dominated by the wealthy and powerful. Ask your students to evaluate these statements.
Debate over the role and size of government is central to contemporary American politics, and it is a theme that is examined in each chapter of Government in America. The authors ask: is the scope of government too broad, too narrow, or just about right? Ask students to discuss, using contemporary examples, what is meant by government being "too big". Do students disagree as to what "too big" is? Why? Ask students to develop a set of criteria, or values, with which they could evaluate what is "too big" about government today.
Discuss the importance of interest groups in politics today. Do students identify with any groups? Are they members of any groups? Are they represented by any groups, whether they are members or not?
Have students use the Internet to visit some web sites of civic groups devoted to encouraging political participation or providing election information. Discuss in class what students learned from these sites. Ask students if they think that the Internet can improve the quality of democracy in the U.S. Why?