unit 1: foundations of American democracy

government

means by which society organized its self and how it allocates authority in order to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that society needed

• balance between liberty and order

the state

body of people living in a defined territory with a government

4 parts of the state

population, territory, sovereignty, government

politics

process of gaining and exercising control within a government for purpose of setting and achieving goals

functions of the government

national defense, public goods / services, preserve order, socialize the young, collect taxes

orgins of the state

evolution theory, force theory, divine right, social contract

enlightenment influences on the governemnt

thomas hobbes, john locke, charles montesquieu, jean-jacques rausseau

thomas hobbes

1588-1676 → contemporary of locke

leviathan (1651)

• state of nature (naturally equal, life is hard but short)

• government needed to impose order

• defends absolute power

john locke

1632-1740 → contemporary of hobbes

2 treatises of government (1690)

• state of nature (inalienable rights, good and reasonable)

• government a social contract

charles montesquieu

1689-1755

spirit of the laws (1748)

• state of nature (avoid conflict, timid societies)

• gov purpose = maintain law/order, political liberty property

• separation of powers

jean-jacques rausseau

1712-1778

social contract (1762)

• state of nature (men are naturally good but turn evil (cause = property, rich stole land, social contract = not a willing agreement)

• government purpose = never give up natural rights, people remain free, direct democracy

individualsim

loose regulations on business and industry / to cut taxes

egalitarianism

equal treatment for all and the destruction of socioeconomic inequalities

democracy

governemnt in which political power rests in the hands of the people

representative democracy

citizens do not govern directly but elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf

• america

direct democarcy

people participate directly in making government decisions

• ancient Greece (all male citizens)

monacrchy

on ruler (normally hereditary) holds power

oligarchy

handful of elite members of society, often those who belong to a particular part, hold political power

totalitarianism

government is more important than the citizens and it controls all aspects of citizens lives

elite theory of government

a set of elite citizens is really in charge of government in the US and that others have no influence

• wealthy use their power to control economy

pluralist theory of government 

political power rests with competing interest groups who share influence in government

• different groups hold power

capitalism

consumers have needs met by business who reap porfit

• gov is limited

socialism

factories, large farms, and banks, are owned by the gov

• gov gets money and redistributes it to citizens in the form of social programs

communism

economy entirely controlled by gov

private goods

goods / services provided by for profit private businesses

• those in poverty cannot always afford 

public goods

goods / services that are available to all without charge provided by the gov

toll goods

are available but only to those who can pay the price

• middle ground between public and private goods

common goods

goods used free of charge of limited supply

• ex. fish in the sea / clean drinking water

declaration of independence

july 4, 1776

• official document stating independence of colonies from Britain and reasoning for separation

• (heavily influenced by John Locke)

annapolis convention

september 1786

• VA delegation calls meeting to discuss trade and commerce difficulties (only 5 delegations show up)

shays rebellion

1786-1787

• uprising in MA demanding insuance of paper money, lighter taxes, suspension of property takeovers

• creates the fear of mobocracy amoung propertied classes

constitiutional convention

meeting of 55 delegates from 12 states

• wanted to revise / strengthen the articles of confederation

• republicanism

• those no there: (Jefferson, John Adams, thomas Paine (Europe)), (Sam Adams, John Hancock (not selected)), patrick Henry (smelled a rat)

virginia plan

authored by madison

• larges state plan

• 3 branch government, bi- cameral, both based on population

• gives larger states more power in national gov

new jersey plan

• unicarmeral legislature, all states equal, smaller states remain in power

the great compormise

by Richard Sherman of connecticut

• creates legislative branch of gov under contitiution: house of rep = population, senate = equal

• taxes start in the house

statement of intent by Madison + founders

to form a more perfect union, establish justice, domestic tranquility, provide common defense, general welfare, blessings of liberty 

house of representatives

based on population of state

• 2 year terms

• requirements = 25 years, citizen for 7 years, live in state

• only branch directly elected by the people

senate

2 per state

• 6 year terms

• initially chose by state legislatures

• requirements = 30 years, citizen for 9 years, live in state

article 2

executive

• 4 year term

• requirements = 35 years old, natural citizen, lived in the use for 14 years

• comander-in-chief, treaties, appoints some jobs

article 3

supreme court = highest court in the lad

• 9 justices appointed for life

article 4

relations between the states

article 5

amending the constitiution

• step 1: pass vote in the house + senate by 2/3 majority, hold national convention 2/3 states (never used)

• step 2: ¾ state legislatures pass. ¾ states in special state conventions (only used once for 21st amendment)

once an amendment is put in, it can only be changed by another

article 6

constitution is supreme law of the land

article 7

ratification process

federalist

led by Madison, Hamilton, Washington, Franklin

• wealthier, more educated, organized

• controll the press

• argued that checks and balances would safeguard personal liberties

• no bill of rights

anti-federalist

led by Sam Adams, Patrick henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Adams

• farmers, state-right advocates, poorer classes

• no annual elections for Congress, individual freedoms were in jeopardy

• against standing army. new federal city, omission of references to God

• won bill of rights during MA convention

look at checks and balances

on the slides

federalist papers

written by Hamilton, Madison, John Jay

• republican form of gov, NY ratifies, 

look at federalsim and systems of government

on the slides

federalism + constitution

as a madisonian device - limits federal authority

way to divide power between 2 sovereign governments, stronger central gov, state powers, federal powers

• look at slides for examples

powers denied by constitution

look at powerpoint

strengthening of federal power

nullification (1798), civil war, new deal, civil rights movement

constitutional strengthening of federal power

implied powers, commerce power

• these two powers are the basis for most laws today

states’ obligations to each other

full faith and credit, extradition, privileges and immunities

dual federalism

19th centruy view → layer cake

• separate spheres of authority

• interpret federal power narrowly

cooperative federalsim

20th century view → marble cake

• shared costs

• federal guidelines

• shared administration (schools, highway system)

devolution

regan’s new federalism

• advantages = put powers closer to people, innovation, efficiency, traditional interpretation

• disadvantages = fiscal responsibility of Congress, oversight, irresponsibility of states, national goals

fiscal federalism

categorical grants, block grants, revenue sharing, unfunded mandates

federalism + democracy

decentralizes politics, disputes resolved lower levels of gov, majorities can be heard at state level, more opportunities for participation, losing elections less painful

brutus 1

constitution will lead to the destruction of state authority

• country is too large for centralized gov

• regional differences / priorities will be lost

federalist 10

groups will naturally divide themselves into factions that represent common interests / political goals

• factions will be tempted to protect there own interests and will abuse others

• this abuse is majorities surpressing minorities

federalists 51

checks and balances →centralized gov must have powers to function

• branches of gov must have independed powers 

• difined and limited duties

• check the other powers of branches

federalist 70

executive → congress creates a strong executive that was missing from the articles

• executive is the counter-balance to the legislative powers

• proposals of plural executive leaders cannot fucntion

federalist 78

judiciary → federal judiciary is necessary to solve national disputes

• national judges are critical to the protections of liberties and ways to set review of limits of the constitiution