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Covers Federalist 10, Federalist 51, Brutus 1 and the first three chapters of American Government Institutions & Politics by James Q. Wilson, John J. Dilulio Jr., Meena Bose, and Matthew Levendusky.
What was the main idea of Brutus No. 1?
It argued against the Constitution out of fear that a strong government would threaten states’ rights and individual freedoms. Brutus believed the Constitution would make the federal government tyrannical and thus argued for smaller republics.
What was the main idea of the federalist papers?
They argued for the ratification of the Constitution and tried to get the American population to support its ratification.
What was the nature of government under the Articles of Confederation?
It was a type of confederation where the states had the most power and the central government was weak.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
It allows Congress to make laws necessary for executing its enumerated powers.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
It establishes that federal laws have greater authority than state laws.
What is Montesquieu's view on the size of a republic?
Montesquieu suggested that it is natural for a republic to have only a small territory.
What is the main idea of Federalist 51?
Madison argues for a system of checks and balances AND separation of powers within the government. He wants each branch to have independent powers with the ability to check other branches to prevent one from becoming too powerful.
Why do we need government according to James Madison?
Government is necessary to protect the liberty of the people due to the flawed nature of humanity.
How does Madison address the power of the legislative branch?
He says it must be divided to prevent it from becoming too powerful.
Give an example of how the legislative branch can check the executive branch.
By exercising its power to impeach and remove the president from office.
What is the main idea of Federalist 10?
Madison argues that a large republic can best control FACTIONS and prevent one group from becoming too powerful. Madison explains that a large republic with diverse interests will make it harder for one group from becoming too powerful.
Why is it problematic to remove the causes of factions?
Removing the causes would eliminate individual freedoms, which are necessary for a healthy political system.
What type of democracy did the Constitution's framers oppose?
The framers were against pure democracy, where the majority rules without limits.
Explain how politics drives democracy…
People often debate the governments spending and taxation.
EX: The Budget Control Act of 2011 wanted to call for a long term deficit reduction, but the White House and Congress could not reach a verdict.
What is an issue?
A conflict between the interests, beliefs, or ideas of different citizens.
What is the raw material of politics?
Any sort of issue.
Define politics…
The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled.
Define power…
The ability to manipulate another person to agree with your intentions.
EX: president tells Air Force that it cannot build a new bomber.
Define authority…
The right to use power.
EX: we accept decisions without question if made by powerful people.
Define legitimacy…
Political authority represented by law/state/national constitution.
EX: Constitution of the United States of America.
Define democracy…
The rule of the many.
What are the two most popular types of democracy?
Representative Democray and Direct/Participatory Democracy.
What is a Direct/Participatory Democracy?
A government where all or most citizens participate directly.
What is a Representative Democracy?
A government where leaders make decisiosn by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.
What is an elite?
People who share of some valued resource, such as money, prestige, or expertise. (in government it is usually political power)
What are the main five views about how political power is distributed in America?
Class view, power elite view, bureaucratic view, pluralist view, and creedal passion view.
What is the class view?
Inspired by Marxism, it is a a view that the government is dominated by capitalists.
What is the power elite view?
Derived from sociologist C. Wright Mills, it is a view that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government (EX: a group of businesses, military, labor union).
What is the bureaucratic view?
Derived from Max Weber, it is a view that the government is dominated by appointed officials.
What is the pluralist view?
Inspired by David B. Truman, it is a view that competition among affected interests shapes public policy.
What is the creedal passion view?
Articulated by Samuel Huntington, it is a view that morally impassioned elites drive politics
What is the definition of the political agenda?
Issues that people believe require governmental action.
What four things always affect the political agenda?
Shared political values, customs and traditions, importance of events (EX: terrorist attacks), and debates.
What prompts the government add issues to the political agenda when the public little demands it?
Groups, Government Institutions, the Media, and Action by the States.
How do groups affect what the government adds to the political agenda?
It is when groups (e.g., corporations or unions) band together and violently express its dissatisfaction with what they believe are intolerable conditions.
How do Government Institutions affect what the government adds to its politcal agenda?
Institutions like the courts, bureaucracy, and the Senate constantly voice their opinions on certain matters.
EX: Supreme Court has the final say in certain laws (like Roe v. Wade; a decision that caused the public to go nuts).
How does the media affect what the government adds to its politcal agenda?
It is because the national press can publicize matters on the agenda.
How do actions by the states affect what the government adds to its politcal agenda?
Certain states that pass laws may be adopted by the national government.
What is a cost?
A burden that people believe they must bear if a policy is adopted (EX: the taxes it intails)
What is a benefit?
A satisfaction that people believe they will enjoy if a policy is adopted.
What are some examples of a widely distributed cost?
Income tax, Social Security Tax, or a high rate of crime. (something people generally don’t like)
What are some examples of a widely distributed benefit?
Retirement benefits for all citizens, clean air, national security.
What are some examples of a narrowly concentrated cost?
A factory’s expenditures to reduce its pollution, government regulations imposed on doctors and hostpitals regarding Medicare.
What are some examples of a narrowly concentrated benefit?
Enlarged freedom of speech/protest, subsidies to farmers or merchant ship companies.
What are the four types of politics?
Majoritarian Politics, Interest group Politics, Client Politics, and Entrepreneurial Politics.
What are majoritarian politics?
A policy where almost everybody benefits and almost everybody pays.
What are interest group politics?
A policy where one small group benefits and another small group pays.
EX: When Congress passed a bill requiring companies to give a 60 day notice of a plant closing or a large scale laoff, labor unions backed the bill, and businesses opposed it.
What are client politics?
A policy where one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.
EX: Farmers benefit from agricultural price supports, but food consumers have to pay the prices in taxes of these price supports.
What is pork-barrel legistlation?
Legislation that gives benefits to people in many districts/states to win their votes in return.
What is log-rolling?
When a legislature supports a proposal someone else in return for their support.
What are entrepreneurial politics?
A policy where almost everybody benefits and a small group pays.
EX: The antipollution and safety requirements of automobiles improved almost everyone’s health and well-being, but it was at the expense of automobile companies.
What are policy entrepreneuers?
Activists (in or out of government) who pull together a political majority on behalf of unorganized interests.
EX: People, like Ralph Nader who have the ability to dramatize an issue in a convincing matter.
Recall Figure 1.1 on Page 13. Majoritarian Politics are…
Distributed Perceived Costs and Benefits
Recall Figure 1.1 on Page 13. Entrepreneurial Politics are…
Concentrated Perceived Costs, but Distributed Benefits
Recall Figure 1.1 on Page 13. Client Politics are…
Distributed Perceived Costs, but Concentrated Benefits
Recall Figure 1.1 on Page 13. Interest Group Politics are…
Concentrated Perceived Costs and Concentrated Benefits.
Recall Figure 1.1 on Page 13. Try and create that on paper 🙂
You should have two column labled “Distributed Perceived Costs” and “Concentrated Perceived Costs” and then two rows labled "Distributed Perceived Benefits” and “Concentrated Perceived Benefits”
After, you should have Majoritarian and Client politics under the column “Distributed Perceived Costs” and Entrepreneurial and Interest Group Politics under the column “Concentrated Perceived Costs”
What was the 3/5th Compromise?
A compromise made during the Constitutional Convention where slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for districting in the House of Representatives
Amending the Constitution Process
Way #1: 2/3 vote by the House and Senate, followed by 3/4 vote of State Legislatures (38 states). Way #2: Constitutional Convention called by 2/3 state legislature, followed by 3/4 vote of State Legislatures
What is an amendment?
A new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by states
Anti-Federalists
Those who favor a weaker national government
What were the Articles of Confederation?
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
What does it mean for something to be bicameral?
Two house legislative body
Bill of Attainder
A law that declares a person without a trial, to be guilty of a crime
Bill of Rights
Created by James Madison, it included the first ten amendments of the Constitution that guarenteed basic human rights.
Checks and Balances
Authority shared by three branches of government
Coalition
An alliance of faction
What are Concurrent Powers?
Powers that are shared between the national and state governments.
EX: Collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money.
Constitution
A nation's basic law
Constitutional Convention
Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 by delegates from each state that produced a new constitution instead of the Articles of Confederation.
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence
What are Enumerated Powers?
Powers given to only the national government.
EX: Power to declare war, make treaties, conduct foreign affairs.
Ex Post Facto Law
A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed
What is a faction
A group with a distinct political interests
What is federaism?
It is government authority shared by national and state governments.
What are the federalist papers?
A series of essays written to urge New York to ratify the Constitution
Federalists
Those who favor a stronger national government
What was the Great Compromise?
It was a combination of the Virginia and New Jersey plan that would have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate with two members for each state.
What is Habeas Corpus?
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to declare laws, act and actions unconstitutional
Limited Government
A government that has a written plan that constrains the misuse and abuse of power
Line Item-Veto
An executive's power to reject a specific part of a bill approved by the legislature.
What is mercantilism?
An economic idea to ncrease a nation's wealth via commerical industries and trade.
What are Natural Rights?
Rights inherited in human beings, not dependent on governments which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher, John Locke's theories about government, and was widely accepted among America's Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson echoed Locke's language in drafter the Declaration of Independence
What was the New Jersey Plan?
Created by New Jersey, it was a proposal to create a weak national government that was proposed to amend, not replace, the Articles. Similar to the Articles, the states would still have one vote.
What does it mean for something to receive ratification?
It means that it had formal approval.
What is a Republic?
A government in which elected representatives make the decisions
What are Reserved Powers?
Powers given to only to the state governments.
EX: Issue licenses, regulate commercy within a state.
What is Separation of Power?
Constitutional authority is share by three different branches of government
What was Shay's Rebellion?
A rebellion in 1787 where ex-Revolutionary War soldiers tried to keep their farms open despite having it foreclosed because of high taxes in Massachusetts.
What does unalienable mean?
A human right based on nature or God
What does unicameral mean?
A legislative body with one house or chamber
What is the Virginia Plan? List bullet points of what it had…
Proposal to create a strong national government instead of fixing the Articles of Confederation.
It set up three branches of government (leg, jud, exe),
Two houses (one elected by the people, other chosen by the first house).
National legislature would have supreme powers on all matters (besides what the states would have)
At least one house of the legislature would be elected directly by the people.
What is Marbury vs Madison 1803?
Chief Justice Marshall established "judicial review" as a power of the SC. After the defeat of the 1800 election, president Adams appoints many federalists to the federalist courts, but the commissions were not delivered because new Secretary of State, James Madison refused to deliver them and Marbury sued SC. The Court declared the Court's power to find acts of Congress unconstitutional.
What liberties did the colonists want?
Right to bring legal cases before independent judges, no quartering of British troops, eneage in trade without extensive tariffs, and to pay no taxes levied by the British.
After the first paragraph talking about unalienable rights, what did Jefferson include in the other 27 paragrahs?
He talked about how King George III violated all of the colonists rights and was responsible for continuing the slave trade and making those slaves rebel against their masters.
What were some issues with the Articles of Confederation?
It needed 9 out of 13 states to enact new legistlation
Congress could not tax the states (had to rely on the states to give it money)
Congress did not have much power over people or economics.
How did the delegates go about fixing the Articles of Confederation? What did James Madison do?
They spent over 4 months trying to find a system that would fix the issues. In 1786, Madison studied a lot of books sent by Jefferson and concluded, in the Federalist Papers, that they were essentially on their own (as other nations who did this failed).
What two constitutions contributed to a new United States Constitution?
The Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Constitution.
What was the Pennsylvania Constitution?
All power was given to a one-house legistlature
Members of the house served one-year terms
No legislature could serve more than 4 years.
Executive Counsil would have few powers (no president)
Note 
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