Principles of Government and Federalism

Key Concepts of Government and Politics

• Definition of Government: The formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy.
• Definition of Politics: Harold Laswell's definition: 'who gets what, when, and how.'
• Public Policy: The exercise of government power necessary to maintain authority and control over society.

Purposes of Government

• The U.S. Constitution's Preamble outlines public policy goals:
  • Forming a more perfect union: Strengthening state cooperation while respecting sovereignty.
  • Establishing justice: Implementing fair and impartial law.
  • Insuring domestic tranquility: Ensuring public order.
  • Providing for the common defense: National defense.
  • Promoting the general welfare: Public services and the economic health of the nation.
  • Securing blessings of liberty: Protecting individual freedoms.

Forms of Government (Based on Aristotle's Classification)

• Anarchy: Absence of government.
• Autocracy: Rule by one (e.g., absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, dictatorship).
• Oligarchy: Rule by a few (e.g., aristocracy, theocracy).
• Democracy: Rule by the people, including:
  • Direct Democracy: Citizens directly make policy decisions.
  • Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Theories of Democratic Government

• Participatory Democratic Theory: Emphasizes the consent of the governed and active citizen involvement.
• Pluralist Theory: Competition among interest groups, leading to compromise.
• Elite Theory: Power concentrated among a small elite group.
• Bureaucratic Theory: Bureaucrats hold actual power over policy by managing day-to-day government operations.
• Hyperpluralism: Many strong groups weaken government effectiveness by pulling it in different directions.

Foundations of American Government

Influences on American Government

• The establishment of a permanent English colony at Jamestown introduced key concepts:
  • Limited Government: Restrictions on government power.
  • Representative Government: Elected officials represent the people.
  • Enlightenment Philosophers:
  • John Locke: Introduced the concept of a social contract and natural rights (life, liberty, property).
  • Montesquieu: Advocated separation of government branches.

Principles of U.S. Government

• Natural Rights: Fundamental rights not to be violated by government.
• Popular Sovereignty: Authority of government originates from the people.
• Republicanism: The use of elected representatives in governance.
• Social Contract: Agreement defining the rights and duties between the government and the governed.

Historical Context and American Colonies

• Pre-Revolution: Colonies experienced political self-development, leading to concepts of equality, liberty, and limited government.
• Tensions with Britain: Post-French and Indian War taxes (e.g., Sugar Act, Stamp Act) led to protests and revolutionary sentiment.

Continental Congresses and Declaration of Independence

• First and Second Continental Congresses: Organized colonial responses to British policies and established a national government.
• Declaration of Independence: Articulated Enlightenment principles and grievances against the British crown, formalizing the colonies' separation from Great Britain.

Articles of Confederation

• Purpose: First national constitution created a weak confederation among states.
• Weaknesses: Lacked power to tax or regulate commerce, leading to economic difficulties and Shays' Rebellion.

Constitutional Convention

• Goals: Address weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and draft a new Constitution (1787).
• Key Developments:
  • Great Compromise: Established a bicameral legislature
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.
  • Electoral College: A compromise for electing the President.

Ratification of the Constitution

• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Debates over the Constitution's strength and necessity of a Bill of Rights.
• Federalist Papers: Explained the Constitution's purpose and benefits.

Articles of the Constitution

• Preamble: Outlines governmental goals.
• Seven Articles: Cover branches of government, relationships among states, the amendment process, and supremacy of the Constitution.

Principles of the Constitution

• Limited Government: No government exceeds its powers.
• Separation of Powers: Division of government authority into branches.
• Checks and Balances: Each branch can check the powers of the others.
• Federalism: Division of authority between national and state governments.

Amendments and Their Functions

• Formal Amendment Process: Outlined in Article V, requiring both state and national approval.
• Bill of Rights: First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Key Supreme Court Cases Related to Federalism

• Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review.
• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Affirmed national supremacy.
• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Defined interstate commerce.
• U.S. v. Lopez (1995): Set limits on Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

Evolution of Federalism

• Dual Federalism: National and state governments operate in separate spheres.
• Cooperative Federalism: National and state governments collaborate on policy.
• Fiscal Federalism: National government influences states through funding and mandates.