UNIT 1 DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATIONS and FED VS STATE

direct democracy

the people directly vote on laws and policies, instead of through representatives

-citizens propose new laws and vote on existing ones

participatory democracy

-unlike direct, it ensures people are involved in all of gov and throughout

-the people influence/complement the representative gov

(example: think town halls)

representative gov

-power to govern comes from the people, but their wants are represented through elected officials (U.S FOLLOWS THIS)

Pluralist democracy

recognizes groups, not individuals (prevents tyrrany)

-gov acts as a mediator between these groups

Elite democracy

-decisions made by elected representatives, elite people

-advocated for by alexander hamilton

Majoritarianism

theory that gov must do what majority wants

Majority rule

principle that 50% + one means majority, and can make decisions for the whole

Creedal Passion View

View that elites who drive change have morals, not only motivated by money

Bureaucratic theory (also what are bureacracies usually?)

-hierachy of officials who specialize in certain fields

-BUREACRACIES ARE USUALLY DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES

-carry out laws, unlike congress who writes them and pres who signs them

red tape

excessive regulations that sometimes slow down gov processes

Iron triangle

-tight formal group between congress, beauracracy, interest groups

-unlike issue networks, iron triangles usually benefit their OWN interests

Ex: military-industrial complex- Burea is dep of defense, interest groups are like LOCKHEED, congress includes senate

Single issue networks

usually temporary, informal, looser group between interest groups, lobbyists, researchers who work on specific issues

-ex: Environmental issue network

Linkage institutions

-CONNECT CITIZENS TO GOV

-groups of MEDIA, elections, political parties, interest groups

policy making institutions (list) who has power to influence policy

congress, president, courts, state+fed bureacracy

policy making process

THREE TYPES OF POLITICS

1. MAJORITARIAN POLITICS: policy benefiting everyone and almost everyone pays (like social security and public education)

2. INTEREST GROUP POLITICS: competing interest groups that fight for a policy

3. CLIENT POLITICS: small group benefits, but larger group pays for said policy

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

-official statement for colonist and views

-breaking away from britian

THE CONSITUTION (no admendments yet, just what is it and what did it to)

Establish seperation of branches

established federalism

FEDERALISM WHAT IS IT

system of government where power is divided and shared between a central national authority and smaller regional governments, such as state

JOHN LOCKE

believed in right to life, liberty, happiness—> protected by Bill of rights

republicanism is the same thing as

a representative democracy

IMPORTANT DOC: BRUTUS 1

-ANTI-FED doc against ratifying constitution

-feared centralized gov was too powerful, argued for states to hold power instead

-feared elastic and supremacy claue

ELASTIC CLAUSE

aka nessecary and proper clause
-gives right for congress to pass any law they deem needed to fufill constitutional duties

SUPREMACY CLAUSE

-establishes fed law > state law

FEDERALIST NO 10

-written by federalist james madison

-ARGUED a large, representative republic is the best way to control the dangers of political factions

-believes that in a large republic, many factions will overlook minority interests

why did articles of confed suck doodookie

-executive and judicial branch no have
-couldnt enforce laws so it sucked

-one vote/state so populus states were underrep

-no military

-needed all votes to change stuff (no decisions made)

-states competed against each other for trading

SHAYS rebelion

uprising in massachusettes

-farmers and veterans opposed high tax, attacked gov buildings —>supressed but still forced them to lower tax, highlighted need for STRONGER NATIONAL GOV and weak article of conf

ARTICLE 5 OF CONSTITUTION OUTLINES WHAT

• process for drafting admendment

• req 2/3 vote from congress & final ratification of ¾ of the states

GREAT COMPROMISE did what and what was it

CREATED BICAMERAL LEGISLATION-house and senate

-SENATE IS EQUAL REP OF ALL STATES (2 senators/state)

-HOUSE IS REP BASED ON STATE POPULATION

FED NO 51

-written by james madison

-explains sep of powers + checks and balances will protect from tyrranical gov

legislative and executive branch interactions

CONGRESS: approves pres nominations (senate), controls fed budget (bills originate in house however), can impeach pres (house)

EXECUTIVE: can veto congress legislation (has 10 days to sign)

*note: congress can overturn a veto with 2/3 vote in both houses EXCEPT FOR POCKET VETOS from pres

executive and judicial interactions

CONGRESS: pres nominates judges

COURT: can declare presidential acts unconstitutional

judicial and legislative interactions

CONGRESS: senate can confirm president nominations for judges, can also impeach judges

COURT: can declare congress laws unconstitutional

Delegated/enumerated powers definition

consitutitional powers for fed gov

concurrent powers definition

powers shared between fed and state gov

reserved powers definition

powers reserved for state gov

SPECIFIC delegated powers

-regulate trade

-coin money

-declare war

-armed forces

SPECFIC concurrent powers

-Levy tax

-borrow money

-public welfare

-take land for public use

SPECIFIC reserved powers

-control public education

-punish criminals

-conduct elections

-make marriage laws

categorical grants

fed aid given with restrictions

block grants

-fed aid given to states (less regulated than categorical)

McCulloch v maryland

established supremacy clause and elastic-said gov was allowed to make a national bank because it was nessecary, and that states couldnt tax fed institutions

US V Lopez

limited fed gov power

-argued that guns in school was not affecting interstate commerce, and therefore fed gov could not regulate it. (COMMERCE CLAUSE)
Due to student bringing a gun to school and being charged federally instead of by state.