American Government Final Types of Government

Democracy

Ruled by THE PEOPLE

Downside to Democracy

• More chaos/policy changes

• Tyranny of the majority

Democracy represents the:

House of representatives

VOTED IN by the PUBLIC

House of Representatives Members:

435

52 in CA

• Each House member represents the voters in their respective DISTRICTS 

  • Population size 1 from each district

• The House makes laws for the country

• Voted by the people; written into the constitution

House of Representatives Terms:

• 2 year term; NO LIMITS (extremely short for job obligations)

  • Because they are VOTED IN by the PUBLIC

Article I, Section 2, clause 1 

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every 2 years by the people of the states.

• incentivized house members to CARE for the people so they get re-elected. 

• John Dingle Jr served longest terms.

• Rushed, focused on popular opinion, “lets get what's popular done now”

• Census determines how many house members.

Oligarchy

Ruled by THE FEW

Oligarchy represents the:

Senate

The people of their respective State

Senate Members:

There are 100 senators in the U.S. Senate,

2 senators representing each of the 50 states.

Senate Term:

6 yaar term; NO LIMITS

Article I, Section 3, Clause 1

Describes the composition of the Senate. It states that the Senate is composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature of that state

17th amendment

Senators Elected by: The People (17th amendment ratified april 1913 )

• Used to be State Legislatures (State lawmaking bodies) who are voted in by the people. 

Filibuster

Spirit of unlimited debate in senate

Autocracy

Ruled by THE ONE

Represented by the President

President members

1 but (VP*)

Presidential terms:

2, 4 year terms

Article II, Section 1, Clause 2

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives

President is elected by:

Each State appoints NUMBER of electors 

Each State Government is appointed by the people.

People; to state government; state government; to electors; electors to president.

Did framers of the Constitution intended the office of the president to be separated from the public will?

• They sought to balance the power of the executive branch with checks and balances from the legislative and judicial branches, and to ensure that no single branch became too powerful. To prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.

BALANCE of power for the people:

The House holds a lot of power for the people, the Senate holds less and the Presidency hold the least; however the power given to the house is very great (ex, ware, taxes etc)

California has:

• 52 House Reps (population size)

• 2 Senators

• 54 Congress members

So 54 Electors (same amount as members in congress)

Group of people with one purpose:

College 

Group of people that get together regularly:

Congress