U.S. Constitution and Democracy: Representation, Electoral Systems, and Institutional Power

What is Robert Dahl's view on the U.S. Constitution's design for democratic representation?

Dahl argues that the Constitution is not well designed for democratic representation as it was created through historical compromises rather than democratic theory.

What were the Framers' primary goals in creating the U.S. Constitution?

The Framers aimed to balance power among large and small states, protect against tyranny, and preserve stability, rather than achieve political equality.

How does the Senate distort representation according to Dahl?

The Senate provides each state two seats regardless of population, giving citizens in small states disproportionately more representational weight.

What is the impact of the Electoral College on presidential elections?

The Electoral College allows candidates to win the presidency without winning the national popular vote, contradicting democratic values of equality and responsiveness.

What role does judicial review play in democratic representation?

Judicial review can introduce counter-majoritarian elements that may undermine or support democratic purposes depending on how justices interpret the Constitution.

What does legitimate governance require according to the Good Governance chapter?

Legitimate governance requires institutions that reflect citizen identities, interests, and collective needs.

How does federalism affect representation in the U.S.?

Federalism creates wide policy variation across states, leading to uneven expression of the 'will of the people' based on geography.

What is Senate malapportionment?

Senate malapportionment occurs when states with vastly different populations receive equal representation, such as California with 39 million people having the same number of Senate seats as Wyoming with 600,000.

What was the significance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims (1964)?

Reynolds v. Sims established the principle of 'one person, one vote,' reinforcing the need for equal representation in legislative districts.

What does Duverger's Law explain about the U.S. party system?

Duverger's Law states that in single-member districts with plurality elections, voters tend to converge on two major parties, making it difficult for third parties to succeed.

What institutional factors make third parties unviable in the U.S.?

Factors include single-member districts, winner-take-all rules for presidential elections, ballot access restrictions, and debate rules that disadvantage small parties.

How does Breyer justify judicial review in relation to democracy?

Breyer argues that when judicial review is used pragmatically, it can strengthen democracy by safeguarding active liberty and promoting meaningful citizen participation.

What is the effect of activated social identities on political preferences?

Activated social identities lead individuals to view political choices through a group-based lens, reinforcing loyalty to existing parties and making defection costly.

What is the significance of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact allows states to allocate their electoral votes based on the national popular vote, potentially circumventing the Electoral College.

What was the outcome of the 2000 presidential election regarding the popular vote?

In the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush won the presidency through the Electoral College.

What does the term 'gerrymandering' refer to?

Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another, often resulting in unequal representation.

How does the Electoral Systems chapter describe the impact of plurality systems?

Plurality systems can translate small vote margins into significant disparities in election outcomes, often disadvantaging third-party candidates.

What historical compromise led to the creation of the Electoral College?

The Electoral College was created as a compromise between large and small states and between those who preferred Congress to choose the president versus direct popular vote.

How does federalism contribute to the two-party system in the U.S.?

Federalism amplifies the two-party system by allowing states to control ballot access, party primaries, and voting rules, making it difficult for new parties to emerge.

What is the role of the courts in relation to electoral system design?

Courts typically defer to state legislatures on electoral system design unless there is a violation of fundamental rights.

What does Breyer argue about the role of courts in electoral matters?

Breyer argues that courts should not intervene in electoral matters unless there is a clear violation of fundamental rights, as the Constitution grants states the power to design their own electoral systems.

Can the Electoral College be replaced without a constitutional amendment?

Yes, through the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which allows states to allocate electors as they choose.

Why is winner-take-all allocation considered undemocratic?

It makes millions of votes irrelevant in 'safe' states, while proportional systems waste fewer votes.

What factors shape political opportunities according to the Good Governance chapter?

Political power is influenced by social identity, status, and structural advantage, with wealth providing resources and networks.

What does Dahl argue about political equality in the U.S. system?

He states that political equality is unattainable when wealth shapes influence and the Constitution lacks mechanisms for equalizing resources.

How does federalism affect campaign finance?

It creates 50 different campaign finance environments, many allowing substantial private funding.

What Supreme Court case treats campaign spending as speech?

Buckley v. Valeo, which established that spending money to influence elections is a form of protected speech.

What is the impact of candidate-centered elections in plurality systems?

They require strong name recognition and fundraising capacity, favoring wealthy candidates.

What does Dahl say about the relationship between public interest and political outputs?

He emphasizes that American political institutions have multiple veto points, making it difficult for majority preferences to translate into policy.

What role do activated social identities play in policymaking?

They shape how people interpret issues, leading to polarization that prevents compromise even when there is broad agreement.

How does federalism fragment policymaking authority?

It allows states to resist national policy, leading to inconsistent implementation of laws like climate and health care.

What effect do courts have on legislative action according to Breyer?

Courts can facilitate or hinder legislative action, as seen in cases like Shelby County v. Holder, which limited voting protections.

What is the significance of the filibuster in the Senate?

It enables a minority of senators to block legislation supported by majorities, creating a supermajority requirement.

Why do political identities affect policymaking?

Once activated, partisan identities lead legislators to respond more to their constituencies than to broader public opinion.

What are the principles of equity, participation, and accountability in public financing?

These principles suggest that publicly financed elections could broaden access, though implementation varies widely.

What does Dahl argue about anti-majoritarian institutions?

He believes they distort democratic equality by allowing a minority to block legislation favored by the majority.

What is the relationship between the filibuster and accountability?

The filibuster obscures responsibility, making it difficult for voters to determine the cause of legislative inaction.

What does Breyer suggest about evaluating the filibuster?

He argues it should be assessed based on its practical consequences for democratic participation.

What is the impact of high campaign costs on elections?

They create barriers for candidates, with House races costing $2-5 million and Senate races exceeding $10 million.

What example illustrates the impact of the filibuster on legislation?

The For the People Act (2021) was blocked by the filibuster despite broad support.

How does the Electoral Systems chapter describe candidate-centered elections?

They reward familiarity and name recognition, making fame and wealth valuable political assets.

What does the Good Governance chapter emphasize about policy failures?

It highlights that governance fails when institutions cannot align with public interests.

What is the significance of Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?

It allowed unlimited outside spending in elections, further entrenching the influence of wealth in politics.

What does Dahl argue about the Senate's malapportionment?

It empowers minorities over majorities, making it harder for majority-supported legislation to pass.

What is the effect of the filibuster on civil rights legislation?

It can block important legislation, as seen in the Civil Rights Act (1964) which survived a lengthy filibuster.

What significant legislation survived a 60-day filibuster in 1964?

The Civil Rights Act

What legislation was blocked in 2021?

The For the People Act

What process is used to bypass the filibuster for budget-related legislation?

Budget reconciliation

What argument do supporters of the filibuster make regarding minority rights?

They argue it protects minority rights, but critics note that political minorities already have significant constitutional protections.

What does Dahl argue about the stability of democracies without supermajority requirements?

He notes that other democracies function stably without them.

What reform do many scholars support to address concerns about the filibuster?

The 'talking filibuster,' which requires continuous debate.

What has caused the presidency to accumulate more power than originally intended?

Changes in party politics, national crises, and global responsibilities.

What does Dahl say about the role of the president in American politics?

The president has become the central actor due to the evolution of political parties and media.

What happens to authority during national crises according to the National Power chapter?

Authority centralizes in the executive branch.

What does Breyer argue about the need for executive agencies?

They need flexibility to implement complex regulatory systems.

What is the concern regarding presidential unilateral actions?

They reduce opportunities for collective decision-making.

What constitutional features contribute to the growth of presidential power?

Ambiguities in the Take Care Clause, Commander-in-Chief Clause, and delegation of powers to agencies.

How does the administrative state affect presidential power?

Bureaucratic agencies answer to the president, giving them indirect policy-making power.

What is Breyer's perspective on constitutional interpretation?

He advocates for a pragmatic, purpose-driven interpretation that focuses on democratic values.

What does Dahl emphasize about the Constitution's design?

It was not designed to be timeless or perfectly democratic, requiring evolving interpretation.

What does Good Governance suggest about effective governance?

It must reflect evolving identities, interests, and social norms.

What is the significance of Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)?

It established a right to privacy.

What does Breyer argue is the biggest weakness of originalism?

It assumes historical meaning is clear and unchanging, which does not account for modern realities.

How does technology affect political participation?

It expands access and mobilizes engagement but complicates governance and can spread misinformation.

What role does social media play in political participation?

It accelerates identity activation and enhances participation within groups but deepens polarization across them.

What does Dahl identify as essential for democracy?

Enlightened understanding, which is undermined by the spread of misinformation.

What is the impact of plurality elections on political polarization?

They intensify polarization, and technology amplifies this by rewarding emotionally charged content.

What does Breyer emphasize regarding democratic institutions and technology?

They must adapt to new communication realities to maintain effective governance.

What is the challenge of federalism in the context of technology governance?

States develop different policies on issues like data privacy, leading to inconsistent protections.

What is Good Governance in relation to technology?

Technology strengthens activation of collective identities, leading to higher engagement and polarization.

According to Dahl, what does democracy depend on?

Democracy depends on informed understanding; misinformation threatens democratic equality.

How do plurality elections affect political messaging?

Plurality elections reward polarized messaging, which is amplified by social media.

What must constitutional interpretation do to preserve democratic participation, according to Breyer?

It must respond to technological change.

What was a significant example of social media and mass mobilization?

The Arab Spring.

What were the 2016 misinformation campaigns an example of?

The impact of misinformation on democratic processes.

What do hashtag movements like #BLM and #MeToo illustrate?

The power of social media in mobilizing collective action.

How has online voter registration impacted participation?

It facilitates easier access to the voting process.

Does technology increase overall participation in democracy?

Yes, it lowers barriers, enables wider access, and facilitates organization, but requires informed understanding.

How does identity shape online political behavior?

Activated social identities lead to strong group-based mobilization, accelerated by online platforms favoring identity-affirming content.

Why are current institutions inadequate in regulating digital misinformation?

There is fragmented federal-state authority, and courts must interpret laws to reflect modern threats.

What is the best definition of democracy according to Dahl?

The United States is best understood as a polyarchy, which includes elected officials, inclusive suffrage, and free elections.

What are the key components of polyarchy?

Elected officials, inclusive suffrage, free and fair elections, freedom of expression, alternative information, and associational autonomy.

What is a major barrier to full democracy in the U.S.?

Political inequality rooted in the Constitution's design.

What electoral system issue does Dahl highlight?

Plurality elections distort proportionality and reduce representational fairness.

What does Good Governance emphasize regarding governance quality?

It depends on aligning institutions with citizen identities and interests.

What reform could improve American democracy significantly?

Adopting proportional representation (PR) or multi-member districts with ranked-choice voting (RCV).

What are the consequences of plurality, single-member districts?

They produce wasted votes, two-party dominance, polarization, and underrepresentation of minorities.

How does Breyer's emphasis on 'active liberty' relate to democracy?

Democratic legitimacy requires citizens' meaningful ability to participate.

What does National Power suggest about federalism?

It reflects historical compromises rather than normative democratic goals.

What is the current dominant value in the U.S. political system?

Stability, as it resists major change due to institutional design.

What are some examples of how the U.S. system prioritizes liberty and stability over equality?

Senate structure, Electoral College, and judicial review.

What does Dahl argue is necessary for equality to become the dominant value?

Major institutional reforms, which are difficult under current amendment rules.

What impact did Shelby County v. Holder (2013) have on equality?

It was a setback for equality in voting rights.

How do campaign finance rulings affect political inequality?

They reinforce inequality by giving disproportionate influence to wealth.

What is the relationship between electoral systems and representation?

Electoral systems that favor plurality rules exacerbate disproportionality and inequality.