US politics midterm

How is the U.S. Organized

Around Popular rule. Governments are only legit if the consent comes from those governed

What are the 4 theories in American Politics

Pluralist theory, Elite theory, Bureaucratic theory, and Social movement theory

Pluralist Theory

People influence the government through interest groups, voting, writing letters, etc.

Elite Theory

The few elite hold the power on laws and rules

Bureaucratic Theory

People who carry out the day-to-day operations of the government have control

Social Movement Theory

Citizens can have power once they organize, rise up, and protest

The four “I’s” on how collective decisions are made

Ideas, Institutions, Interest, and individuals

Ideas

Eight essential Ideas, liberty, democracy (or self-rule), individualism, limited government, the American dream, equality, faith in God, and diversity

Institutions

the organizations, norms, and rules that structure political action. Behaviors can inform and influence institutions and vice versa.

Interests

Political action flows from individuals, groups, and nations pursuing their own self-interests. Interest groups; push to influence politics, individuals; maximize own self-interest, and public interest; shared by everyone in society. Rational Choice Theory, when individuals aim to maximize their own self-interests.

Individuals

How ordinary people influence politics and change their world

Functions of the government

Establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. Without the government, these rights aren't protected, and it would be hard to handle disputes.

Who are we as a nation?

Nation of immigrants and where people come to reinvent themselves. We retain parts of other people's histories in our cultures. Because of this the United States is always changing

American Exceptionalism

Idea that the U.S. is uniquely characterized by a distinct set of ideas. The 8 big ideas.

Limited Government

Americans distrust the government and seek to limit its power. Experiences taught Americans to see the central government as a threat to their life, liberty, and happiness, not as a potential source for rights.

Conservatives

support the expansion of government and traditional values

Liberals

support expanding government for things like programs for the needy. Reject the idea that public officials should meddle in people's private lives

Libertarians

break with both liberals and conservatives. Encourage negative liberty.

Populists

Believe the rich and powerful are unfairly in charge of the government, economy, and society

Individualism

Individuals, not society, are responsible for their well-being.

Social Democracies

the idea that government policy should ensure that all are comfortably cared for within the context of a capitalist economy

Social Conflict

There are very big differences in society. The country is too big and diverse to develop solidarity

The American Dream

The idea that if you work hard and are talented, you can achieve your dreams

Spreading the American Dream

The legacy of the Revolutionary War was the spread of the American Dream to all classes. Enabling the dream is important in politics.

Concerns of the American Dream

Questions of whether the system is tilted toward the wealthy. The wealthy have too much control and resources, and the gap between the rich and the poor widens. Also, questions if the American Dream promotes the wrong values. It promotes individualist ideas and questions the chase of wealth.

Equality

Every citizen enjoys the same privileges, status, and rights

Social Equality

Everyone should have the same status

Political Equality

all people have the same political rights and opportunities

Economic equality

there should only be a small difference in wealth between people

Equal Opportunity

Every American has the same chance to influence politics and achieve economic success. The U.S. aims for equal opportunity, but people are concerned that the wealth gap is so big that it destroys equal opportunity

Religion

We are a religious country. Religion plays a role in politics and Americans maintain high levels of religion despite wealth. The government cannot participate in policymaking that will support one religion over another. The constitution appears to put up a wall between the church and the state

Diversity

The U.S. has always been diverse (melting pot). We are a national mosaic, meaning that every group retains its identity while adding to America as a whole. The two sides to diversity are to either embrace it or fear it

The long debate

There is a big debate about birthright citizenship, which grants every child born in the U.S. citizenship

Political culture

The orientation of citizens toward politics. Culture changes based on history and experience and shapes the way people think about politics and government

The Constitution

Helps to create guidelines for the relations between citizens and governments

Compacts/covenants

Mutual agreements between settlers. The first compact was the Mayflower Compact in 1620

Freedom of religion

Colonists came to the New World to practice religion freely. It was a revolutionary Idea to have freedom of religion without government interference

Insecure borders

Wars between native Americans and settlers made borders violent. France claimed the north and west, and the Spanish claimed the south and east. Colonialists fought with each other for land and borders, and pushed for a stronger government

Why did the colonist revolt?

They had no representation. Redcoat occupation enforced British borders. They were taxed without colonial assemblies' approval, and they wanted a say when things were done on their behalf.

Delegate Representative

Do what the voters want (American view)

Trustee Representative

Do what is best for voters (British view)

Quartering Act (1765)

required colonial assemblies to house British troops. Made it feel like an occupying army

Mercantilism

British enforced this this to restrain imports and promote exports to maintain national power

The stamp tax

Common way to raise money in England, but imposing on the colonies made them upset. Ignored the advice of colonial assemblies, made colonist angry and they revolted (which is the first hint of them working together)

Townshend act

worsens the conflict by paying a new colonial authority and board of customs to collect taxes. It was impractical because bureaucracy denied colonist self-rule

Boston Massacre(March 1770)

Boston angry about taxes and loss of legislation. This shows British is willing to attack their own people and colonists are willing to fight against the British

Boston tea party (1773)

British took away all taxes except for tea and tried to enforce a tea monopoly on the new world. Colonist thought all taxes weren’t legit, so they protested against this one too by dumping the tea into the Boston Harbor

Revolution

The British leaders punished Massachusetts to show other what will happen if they revolted. They closed Boston harbor, abolished town meetings, quartered troops in homes and put the state under military control.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Americans refuse to submit and send delegates to petition the end of the British actions and boycott British goods. They asserted colonial rights to “life, liberty and property”

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Before delegates started, American minutemen and British redcoats cause open military conflict. The Delegates goals were to declare independence, mobilize the army, organize government, and rally the 13 colonies to one goal/cause.

Declaration of Independence

Statement to the world of American principles and grievances. The principle

Articles of Confederation

An alliance of independent states. They extended the right to vote. Some built benches to let the public watch the representative action. Brought out a powerful egalitarian urge (all states are equal)

National Government

Was weak. Had no chief executive (no monarch or king). All power is given to congress under articles of confederation. No ability to tax or raise army. Any changes to the Articles of Confederation required agreement by all 13 states

The Successes of the articles of confederation

the military was able to defeat Great Britain. Power remained close to the people. Americans see themselves as both democratic and prosperous. Overcame the most powerful military force in the world and created the Northwest Ordinance.

The Northwest Ordinance

outlawed slavery and established a process by which individuals could buy western lands

The problems of the Articles of Confederation

Limited powers- no executive judiciary. Couldn’t raise taxes and had no money of their own. State governments dominate policy making process, which means no checks and balances. Couldn’t stand up to foreign powers because of weak national government.

Shays Rebellion

Captain Daneil Shays led a protest in western Massachusetts in August 1786 and it spread across the states. Thousands of farmers protesting high taxes and interest rates. The militia refused to join the protest. The national government was too weak to provide things we expect and state governments were too weak to protect us too (protected institutions and private property)

Filtration/indirect elections

The public will vote for public officials. Delegates wanted the public was less involved in government. The public only votes for the House of representatives. This eventually expanded to more offices and included more groups for the public

Federalism

Power divided between national and state governments

Ratification

Two groups emerge – Federalists, who are in favor of the Constitution and Anti-federalists who opposed the constitution.

Anti federalist

Disagreed with the Constitution. Rooted in classical liberalism and believed that the government should protect individual rights

Four main points opposing the constitution

Giving so much power to the central government can lead to taking away power from citizens. The president looked too much like a king. Large military was a threat to peace and liberty. The Bill of rights was missing.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments. Summarizes the rights and liberties and the protections from government guaranteed to all Americans. Originally only applied to federal government. Freedom of speech cant be restricted without due process.

The 17th amendments

4 categories. Extend rights, adjust election rules, change government operations, and affect government power over individuals.

The constitution today

Americans disagree on interpretation of the Constitution

Originalism

The literal meaning of the Constitution. The meaning doesn’t change over time

Pragmatism

The view that the Constitution evolves over time and is a living, breathing document

Federalism is not

A unitary government (National polity governed as a single unit, with the central government exercising all or most political authority)

Confederation

A group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a central government

Federal system

power is divided and shared between national and state governments. Constitution gives some decisions to the national government and other decisions to states. Many decisions are made at both levels

Big question in federalism

Who should have authority?

Advantages of state policy

States more responsible to citizen needs and desires. States can offer more protection for individual rights. Federalism allows political innovations.

Diffusion

Spreading of one policy ideas from one state or city to another

Delegated powers

National government powers listed explicitly in constitution

Commerce clause

Gives congress power to regulate commerce

Necessary and proper clause

allows congress to exercise necessary and proper powers to carry out designated functions

Implied powers

implied but not specifically stated in constitution

Supremacy clause

Article 6. Constitution is supreme law of the land

Inherent powers

3rd set of power not explicitly named or implied in constitution. Logical extensions of power granted to president or congress.

Reserved powers

Constitutional guarantee that states retain government authority not explicitly guaranteed to national government. Includes police, prisons, and local courts.

Concurrent powers

governmental authority shared by national government and state government

Full faith and credit clause

constitutional requirement that each state recognize and uphold laws passed by other states. Ex

Dual Federalism (1789-1933) (layer cake)

state and national governments had clear responsibilities and state governments wielded at least as mush authority as the federal government.

Cooperative Federalism (1933-1981) (marble cake)

involved both federal and state governments working together with the federal government providing most of the funds and writing the rules

Contested Federalism (1981-2025) (super swirl cake)

system of mingled governing authority marked by high partisan conflict in which both parties try to influence policy by shifting functions among national, state, and local governments.

Issues in federalism

Climate change, Healthcare, and reducing size of national government

Climate change

Nations and states working to either address or not address it. Some states like California, are willing to create laws around it.

Healthcare

Variation in quality and amount of healthcare among states. National government can step in for health care (Ex

Size of national government

the desire to reduce the size and scope of national government

Devolution

transfer of authority from national government to state or local government level

Unfunded mandate

obligation imposed on state or local government officials by federal legislation without sufficient federal funding support to cover cost

Preemption

the invalidation of U.S. state law that conflicts with federal law

Two faces of nationalism

on one hand a strong sense of national identity fosters support and loyalty. On the other hand, ardent nationalist like to draw stricter boundaries.

Civic voluntarism

Citizens participate in public life without government incentives or coercion

Four major changes mark the evolution of media issue campaigns across 60 years

Information cascades faster, Many more voices and formats, permits the public to much more active, and enable viral spread of misinformation

Media provides 3 functions in democratic systems

providing information, the ability to watch officials, and shapes policy agendas

Loud signal

widely reported media stories with an unambiguous (one singular interpretation) message

Public watchdog

media coverage that alerts the public when a problem arises in politics/society

Policy agenda

issues media covers, the public considers important and politics address

Priming

Affecting public perceptions of politicians or issues by reporting on topics to enhance/diminish support