Studied by 1 person
What are the key functions of government?
preserve order, maintain national defense, provide public goods & services, socialize the young, and collect taxes
What does it mean to socialize the young?
Youth are taught to be proficient members of a society.
why is it mandatory to say the pledge?
to socialize the youth
What is one function seen in all types of governments?
collect taxes
what are collective goods?
public goods/services that cannot be denied to a person
What is an effect of political knowledge?
political tolerance
what is political tolerance?
to be more accepting of different people's views
what does lack of political knowledge cause?
less political tolerance, more partisanship, less political participation (ex: voting)
What is a consequence of Americans' lack of political knowledge?
it undermines popular control of government
Why don't young people vote?
lack of political knowledge
policymaking institutions
the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues (AKA the gov ITSELF)
linkage institutions
The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda.
Examples of linkage institutions
elections, political parties, interest groups, media, campaigns
What is the policymaking process?
1. a problem is called to the attention of the government through linkage institutions
2. the problem is placed on the policy agenda
3. policymaking institutions create a policy
4. the policy affects people
hyperpluralism
A state in which many groups are so strong that a government is unable to function.
participatory democracy
broad participation in politics and civil society (AKA when people make the policy)
how to citizens make policies in a participatory democracy?
initiative pensions and referindums
initiative petitions
a citizen creates a petition, ppl sign, then ppl vote on it, if it passes, it is now a law (NO gov involved)
referindums
when a member of state congress comes up with an idea, puts it on a ballot, and the people vote on it
suffrage
right to vote
components of traditional/liberal democratic theory
equality in voting, effective participation, free press and speech, citizen control of the political agenda, inclusion
pluralist theory
competition among groups trying to get their preferred policies due to open access to politicians; public interest will prevail thru compromise (more choice in politicians = more compromise btwn parties)
elite and class theory
upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.
why were the colonists upset about british rule?
no suffrage/representation, taxes, quartering soldiers
1st continental congress
formed by colonial leaders to address abuses of the english crown
2nd continental congress
signed DOI, which was a polemic, but also provided the foundation for popular sovereignty
polemic
political argument
popular sovereignty
A government in which the people rule by their own consent.
the constitution - english heritage
natural rights, consent of the governed, revolt, consent makes you legit - not divine right, limited gov
Limited Government
certain restrictions should be put on gov to protect natural rights of citizens
the constitution - american political culture
patriotism, merit, egalitarianism, liberty, individualism, laissez-faire, populism, social contract
populism
support for the concerns of ordinary people
social contract
people give up some rights for the greater good of others
challenges to democracy in america
low political participation, increased technical expertise is required, escalating campaign costs, diverse political interest (policy gridlock/hyperpluralism)
policy gridlock
when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people
why is increased technical expertise required in government?
complicated laws are required for a modern society, where people implement more technology in their lives
preamble
tells us the purpose of government and how a government prioritizes
What are the purposes of government?
justice, domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, liberty
why did it take so long for the AOC to be ratified?
unanimous consent
why did the AOC fail?
each state had one vote, no national court, weak executive, congress could maintainn an army but had no money for it, no power to tax, asked states for money instead, congress couldn't regulate commerce
post revolution changes in the states
liberalized voting laws, expanding middle class counterbalanced the elite, postwar depression left farmers unable to pay debts, state legislatures sympathetic to farmers passed laws that favored debtors and creditors
protection of individual rights from the government
liberal
no inactive government
liberal
no foreign aid
conservative
Equality of oppurtunities
liberal
US should only participate in international organizations that benefit the US
conservative
oppose abortion
conservative
republican
conservative
sex before marriage = sin
conservative
community activism
liberal
what is community activism?
people and gov work to create a safe, poverty-free family environment for kids
government should not be religious
liberal
no big government
conservative
laissez faire
conservative
no wealth extremes
liberals
pro military spending
conservative
increase taxing for the wealthy
liberal
environmental concerns
liberal
traditional values and customs
conservative
distrust big businesses
liberals
what do liberals do to protect themselves from big businesses?
they support environment protection, unions, work safety, consumer protection laws
no homosexuals
conservatives
christian coalition
conservative
what is the christian coalition?
A group that encouraged religious conservatives to vote, run for public office, and support only those candidates who shared the organization's views.
oppose discrimination
liberal
rich will take care of themselves
liberal
not concerned about the environment
conservative
remedial programs
liberal
what kind of programs do liberals support?
remedial programs, free medical service, social welfare programs to help poor/minority
what are remedial programs?
special education programs to help people gain the basic skills they need to succeed in the job market
devolution revolution
conservative
what is the devolution revolution?
The effort of slowing the growth of the federal government
increased penality for crimes
conservative
improve public education
liberal
patriotic
conservative
government must protect poor from rich
liberal
the wealthy is too influential on the government
liberal
communism = evil
conservative
what were the framers tasked with doing?
revising the AOC
what did the framers do instead of what they were tasked to do?
instead of revising, they scrapped the AOC and created a new document, the Constitution
what were the focuses of the Philadelphia Convention?
hobbes vs locke, political conflict (over wealth) leads to factions, objectives of government (preserve and protect property), good gov = one that sets power against power (AKA checks and balances)
what did framers believe were the objectives of the government?
preserve and protect property
what did the framers believe cause factions?
political conflict over wealth
New Jersey Plan
equal representation in states, weak President controlled by legislature
which compromise created a bicameral congress?
Connecticut Compromise
how did the connecticut compromise benefit smaller states?
originally, the smallest states could only sent 1 person to Congress, but now they could send at LEAST 3 people (2 from senate, 1 from house)
the equality issues
Equality and representation of the states, slavery, and equality in voting.
which 3 plans were proposed in response to the issue of representation of the states?
New Jersey Plan, Virginia Plan, Connecticut Compromise
what compromise was proposed in response to the issue of slavery?
3/5 compromise
3/5 compromise
each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes
Larger vs smaller states over slavery
larger states wanted more advantage; said slaves should count in their votes, smaller states opposed because that would put them at a disadvantage; came up with 3/5 compromise
Congress's powers
lay and collect taxes; pay debts and borrow money; regulate commerce; coin money; establish post offices; protect patents and copyrights; establish lower courts; declare war; and raise and support an Army and Navy, create necessary and proper laws
limitations on congress
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. no direct taxes. taxing US exports, cannot create laws which restrict people's rights, no suspending habeas corpus
Bill of Attainder
a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
ex post facto law
a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
powers of the state
the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
prohibitions of state power
lay any Duty of Tonnage without Congress's consent, keep troops or ships in time of peace, enter into any agreements with another state/foreign power, engage in war unless actually invaded or in danger
Duty of Tonnage
money charged to freight ships for entering, using, leaving a port
The individual rights issues
state constitutions already provided individual rights, and framers felt this was enough
habeas corpus
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.
