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The Study of American Government
Chapter 1
Political Power Ability to get others to act
in accordance with desires/intentions
Power as it affects government Government takes private
matters public Rightful power = authority
Legitimacy of authority Historical controversies
Democracy Variable Interpretations
Represents ‘true interests’ of the people Rule of the many
Direct Indirect
Representative democracy Leadership competition Referred to in Constitution as a Republic Founder’s distrust of direct democracy Impracticalities Fleeting passions of the people; persuasion by demagogues
Distribution of Powers Majoritarian Politics
Elected officials as delegates of the people
Issues are sufficiently important to command attention of citizens
Elite Politics View Marxist theory; capitalists Power elite; corporate leaders,
military officers, key politicians Bureaucrats
Pluralists Position, access to mass media,
etc
Political Change Continual adaptation and
change in political system – reflect changing beliefs
Reflection of changing economic theories and situations
Changing Political Preferences Preferences result in political
action/legislation Importance of issues
Fundamental Democratic Values
Popular sovereignty Respect for the
individual Liberty equality
Fundamental Democratic Processes Free and fair elections Majority rule with
minority rights Freedom of expression Right to assemble and
protest
Fundamental Processes Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and balances Constitutionalism
The Constitution
Chapter 2
The Problem of Liberty
Colonists wanted continued rights of Englishmen
Independence as a way to protect liberties
The Problem of Liberty, cont.
“higher law” embodying natural rights
Real revolution was the radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people – John Adams
Articles of Confederation
League of Friendship John Hancock, and
president, never showed up
Lack of focus, national power, judicial system
Many leaders had a desire for a stronger national government Ex: Shay’s Rebellion,
January 1787
Constitutional Convention, May 1787 Philadelphia
Participants ‘well read, well bred, well fed, well wed’ Madison: Father of the Constitution;
strong leader; detailed notes of convention
Washington: presiding officer; highly respected
Franklin: elder statesman Morris: largely responsible for final
working Hamilton: most forceful advocate of a
strong central government
Constitutional Convention, 1787 Delegates looked to historical documents and
political institutions Wanted
Limited power of government 3 branches of government National legislature to have supreme power over
states One house elected by the people
Constitutional Convention, 1787 Change in task – scrap Articles, and create a
new Constitution Small states fearful
New Jersey Plan Equal representation
Virginia Plan Representation by population
The Great Compromise
Connecticut Compromise House of Representatives
Based on population Elected by the people
Senate 2 senators from each state Appointed by state
legislatures
Other Components of the Constitution
Electoral College Protection of Property
Rights Selection of the Supreme
Court Nominated by President Approved by Senate
August 6, 1787 – 1st draft of the Constitution presented – approved September 17
The Constitution and Democracy Framers afraid of results if
people had too much say in government Temporary popular passions Insecurity of minority rights
A Republic Principle of majority rule Judicial review: limiting powers
of popular majorities Amendments – difficult to pass
Key Principles of the Constitution Separation of powers Federalism
Government and Human Nature Restrictions to unlimited powers Checks and balances/ separation of powers New government had to be ratified by the
state legislatures – would they give up their sovereignty to a federal government? Framers wanted to bypass the legislatures Constitution only had to be approved by 9
legislatures Resistance of the Anti-Federalists Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights
Constitution ratified with promise of Bill of Rights
Washington took office and government implemented
All 13 states had ratified by spring 1790
Went into effect 1791 ** Limited federal
government, not state
The Constitution and Slavery Slavery wasn’t directly dealt with Betrayal of the Declaration of
Independence Compromise to ensure passage
of the Constitution Side Issues
3/5 Compromise New government could not prohibit
slavery before 1808 Property belongs to whomever
owns it Failure to deal with slavery – Civil
War
Motives of the Framers
Economic Interests of States
Continual debates over motives of framers
Ratification
Federalists Property owners Creditors Merchants Elites most fit to govern Strong central
government Hamilton, Madison,
Washington, Jay
Anti-Federalists Small-farmers Frontiersman Debtors Shopkeepers Believed government
should be closer to the people
Feared strong Central government – favor strong state
Henry, Mason, Gerry
Federalist Advantages
Better represented in state legislators
Controlled the press Organized The Federalist Papers Constitution ratified,
1789
Principles of the Constitution Limited Government Bill of Rights as a Safeguard Separation of Powers
3 branches (influence of Montesquieu) Checks and balances
Judicial Review Power of courts to strike down laws or government action Marbury v. Madison, 1803
Changing the Constitution Informally Acts of Congress (Judiciary Acts, 1789) Judicial Rulings (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954) Presidential Actions Customs and Traditions
Formal Changes Amendment Process: Proposal – 2/3 vote from both House and Senate
OR 2/3 of states request Constitutional Convention Ratification – ¾ of legislatures or ratifying convention in ¾ of states Time limit for ratification: 7 years
Federalism
Chapter 3
Governmental Structure Local and Federal Units of government
National Delegated Powers (expressed, enumerated) Elastic Clause (implied powers) States have reserved powers (education, elections) Concurrent powers (borrow $, tax, law enforcement) Obligations of each:
National: Guarantee republican governments in each state; protect each state; granting new states same rights
State: fulfill faith and credit clause; privileges and immunity clause; extradition
Controversy Surrounding Federalism States can block
federal programs; state’s rights advocates
Federalism provides for the unique political heritage of the U.S.; suits a heterogeneous population
Allows flexibility for states to experiment with different ‘groups’ attaining power at the different levels
Mobilization of Political Activity Because of various
governmental opportunities, citizens feel they can make a difference Increased participation Lower organizational
costs
Founding of Federalism Government receives
its power from the people
Both state and federal government have independent authority
Supreme Court interprets where and when federal government can intervene in state issues
Elastic Clauses Founders unable to make
exact / exhaustive list of federal government power Hamilton felt national
government supreme Jefferson felt ‘the people’
were ultimate sovereigns Madison limited national
government and saw state governments as having expansive powers
Debate on Federalism Civil War as final showdown between states’
rights and national supremacy Supreme Court as interpreter of
Constitutional intent Early Supreme Court supports Nationalists McCulloch v. Maryland
Expanded power of Congress Confirmed supremacy of the federal government in the
exercise of those powers Doctrine of nullification
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Southern use in defense of slavery
… debate on Federalism… Dual Federalism
National government supreme in its sphere; state governments supreme in theirs Interstate commerce
(Congress) Intrastate commerce
(State) Whose control is it
under? Currently, Congress can
basically pass any laws it wants; dual federalism has disappeared
Federal – State Relations Grants –in –Aid
Federal funds for state projects National Needs
Less money for state projects, more for national interests – crime, healthcare, etc. (1960s)
Intergovernmental Lobby Want more money with less strings
Categorical Grants vs. Revenue Sharing Categorical grant: specific purpose defined by federal law Block grant: grant for an entire field (community
development); less restrictive Revenue Sharing: money available to be shared
Give more money to poor states
… federal – state relations Slowdown in Moneys
Rivalry between states Changing demographics Changing economic base
Federal Aid and Federal Control Fear the federal government will
start running the programs they’re funding – conditions of aid
Mandates to state governments If a state takes federal money, they
have to do what feds say (Civil Rights)
Administrative nightmare Judges may enforce federal
standards
States Response Some loosening in
requirements for action Welfare education
Continuing debate over who should control what ($, admin)
Ongoing problem of interpreting the Constitution for division of responsibilities (10th Amendment)
Federalism and Public Policy State and local governments still have huge
amounts of authority/control Congress may seem to impede those governments
but are trying to deal with their constituencies See selves as representative to Washington, not
necessarily as representatives from Washington Ties to localities have loosened
May not understand local concerns/priorities Special interest groups vs. all voters Social diversity
Congress can correct state abuse of citizen (ie. Voting rights)
Devolution
Chapter 4
American Political Culture
Political Culture
Distinctive, patterned way of thinking about politics/economics How things should be carried out
Distinction between political and economic equality Politically equal, not economically equal
American Views on Political System Liberty: preoccupation with
rights Equality: equal vote and
equal chance Democracy: government
officials are accountable to the people
Civic Duty: community affairs are important
Individual Responsibility : responsible for own actions and well being
Factors related to political culture Why so much inconsistent behavior? Why so much historical political conflict?
Economic View
Free Enterprise Don’t see inequalities Equality of opportunity,
not of results Support government
intervention when people’s interests are at stake
Equality of opportunity ‘symbolic racism’
Comparative Systems
Political Differences Less personal
involvement Different customs/laws
Economic Differences Economic quality Freedom
U.S. has a focus on rights that other countries may not have – influence of religion
Sources of Political Culture Origins of opposition,
thought, and culture Need to trust people if
live in a democracy Federalists Democrats- Republicans
Differing religions and cultural backgrounds reflected in politics
Class consciousness Most see selves as the
‘middle class’
Mistrust of Government Turmoil can lead to
mistrust Political efficacy:
government less concerned about citizen understanding and influence
Internal efficacy: a person’s competence in understanding politics – remained constant
External efficacy: belief that one can have a political impact – sharp drop
Political Tolerance
Need to be reasonably tolerant of others Agreement with basic right for all
Disagreement regarding who is covered under rights
Increased tolerance for others but not universal Pragmatism – Americans tend to be less
ideological than others Continued need to realize that political liberty
is fragile Can’t take liberty for granted
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