The Study of American Government

Chapter 1

Political Power Ability to get others to act

in accordance with desires/intentions

Power as it affects government Government takes private

matters public Rightful power = authority

Legitimacy of authority Historical controversies

Democracy Variable Interpretations

Represents ‘true interests’ of the people Rule of the many

Direct Indirect

Representative democracy Leadership competition Referred to in Constitution as a Republic Founder’s distrust of direct democracy Impracticalities Fleeting passions of the people; persuasion by demagogues

Distribution of Powers Majoritarian Politics

Elected officials as delegates of the people

Issues are sufficiently important to command attention of citizens

Elite Politics View Marxist theory; capitalists Power elite; corporate leaders,

military officers, key politicians Bureaucrats

Pluralists Position, access to mass media,

etc

Political Change Continual adaptation and

change in political system – reflect changing beliefs

Reflection of changing economic theories and situations

Changing Political Preferences Preferences result in political

action/legislation Importance of issues

Fundamental Democratic Values

Popular sovereignty Respect for the

individual Liberty equality

Fundamental Democratic Processes Free and fair elections Majority rule with

minority rights Freedom of expression Right to assemble and

protest

Fundamental Processes Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and balances Constitutionalism

The Constitution

Chapter 2

The Problem of Liberty

Colonists wanted continued rights of Englishmen

Independence as a way to protect liberties

The Problem of Liberty, cont.

“higher law” embodying natural rights

Real revolution was the radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people – John Adams

Articles of Confederation

League of Friendship John Hancock, and

president, never showed up

Lack of focus, national power, judicial system

Many leaders had a desire for a stronger national government Ex: Shay’s Rebellion,

January 1787

Constitutional Convention, May 1787 Philadelphia

Participants ‘well read, well bred, well fed, well wed’ Madison: Father of the Constitution;

strong leader; detailed notes of convention

Washington: presiding officer; highly respected

Franklin: elder statesman Morris: largely responsible for final

working Hamilton: most forceful advocate of a

strong central government

Constitutional Convention, 1787 Delegates looked to historical documents and

political institutions Wanted

Limited power of government 3 branches of government National legislature to have supreme power over

states One house elected by the people

Constitutional Convention, 1787 Change in task – scrap Articles, and create a

new Constitution Small states fearful

New Jersey Plan Equal representation

Virginia Plan Representation by population

The Great Compromise

Connecticut Compromise House of Representatives

Based on population Elected by the people

Senate 2 senators from each state Appointed by state

legislatures

Other Components of the Constitution

Electoral College Protection of Property

Rights Selection of the Supreme

Court Nominated by President Approved by Senate

August 6, 1787 – 1st draft of the Constitution presented – approved September 17

The Constitution and Democracy Framers afraid of results if

people had too much say in government Temporary popular passions Insecurity of minority rights

A Republic Principle of majority rule Judicial review: limiting powers

of popular majorities Amendments – difficult to pass

Key Principles of the Constitution Separation of powers Federalism

Government and Human Nature Restrictions to unlimited powers Checks and balances/ separation of powers New government had to be ratified by the

state legislatures – would they give up their sovereignty to a federal government? Framers wanted to bypass the legislatures Constitution only had to be approved by 9

legislatures Resistance of the Anti-Federalists Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights

Constitution ratified with promise of Bill of Rights

Washington took office and government implemented

All 13 states had ratified by spring 1790

Went into effect 1791 ** Limited federal

government, not state

The Constitution and Slavery Slavery wasn’t directly dealt with Betrayal of the Declaration of

Independence Compromise to ensure passage

of the Constitution Side Issues

3/5 Compromise New government could not prohibit

slavery before 1808 Property belongs to whomever

owns it Failure to deal with slavery – Civil

War

Motives of the Framers

Economic Interests of States

Continual debates over motives of framers

Ratification

Federalists Property owners Creditors Merchants Elites most fit to govern Strong central

government Hamilton, Madison,

Washington, Jay

Anti-Federalists Small-farmers Frontiersman Debtors Shopkeepers Believed government

should be closer to the people

Feared strong Central government – favor strong state

Henry, Mason, Gerry

Federalist Advantages

Better represented in state legislators

Controlled the press Organized The Federalist Papers Constitution ratified,

1789

Principles of the Constitution Limited Government Bill of Rights as a Safeguard Separation of Powers

3 branches (influence of Montesquieu) Checks and balances

Judicial Review Power of courts to strike down laws or government action Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Changing the Constitution Informally Acts of Congress (Judiciary Acts, 1789) Judicial Rulings (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954) Presidential Actions Customs and Traditions

Formal Changes Amendment Process: Proposal – 2/3 vote from both House and Senate

OR 2/3 of states request Constitutional Convention Ratification – ¾ of legislatures or ratifying convention in ¾ of states Time limit for ratification: 7 years

Federalism

Chapter 3

Governmental Structure Local and Federal Units of government

National Delegated Powers (expressed, enumerated) Elastic Clause (implied powers) States have reserved powers (education, elections) Concurrent powers (borrow $, tax, law enforcement) Obligations of each:

National: Guarantee republican governments in each state; protect each state; granting new states same rights

State: fulfill faith and credit clause; privileges and immunity clause; extradition

Controversy Surrounding Federalism States can block

federal programs; state’s rights advocates

Federalism provides for the unique political heritage of the U.S.; suits a heterogeneous population

Allows flexibility for states to experiment with different ‘groups’ attaining power at the different levels

Mobilization of Political Activity Because of various

governmental opportunities, citizens feel they can make a difference Increased participation Lower organizational

costs

Founding of Federalism Government receives

its power from the people

Both state and federal government have independent authority

Supreme Court interprets where and when federal government can intervene in state issues

Elastic Clauses Founders unable to make

exact / exhaustive list of federal government power Hamilton felt national

government supreme Jefferson felt ‘the people’

were ultimate sovereigns Madison limited national

government and saw state governments as having expansive powers

Debate on Federalism Civil War as final showdown between states’

rights and national supremacy Supreme Court as interpreter of

Constitutional intent Early Supreme Court supports Nationalists McCulloch v. Maryland

Expanded power of Congress Confirmed supremacy of the federal government in the

exercise of those powers Doctrine of nullification

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Southern use in defense of slavery

… debate on Federalism… Dual Federalism

National government supreme in its sphere; state governments supreme in theirs Interstate commerce

(Congress) Intrastate commerce

(State) Whose control is it

under? Currently, Congress can

basically pass any laws it wants; dual federalism has disappeared

Federal – State Relations Grants –in –Aid

Federal funds for state projects National Needs

Less money for state projects, more for national interests – crime, healthcare, etc. (1960s)

Intergovernmental Lobby Want more money with less strings

Categorical Grants vs. Revenue Sharing Categorical grant: specific purpose defined by federal law Block grant: grant for an entire field (community

development); less restrictive Revenue Sharing: money available to be shared

Give more money to poor states

… federal – state relations Slowdown in Moneys

Rivalry between states Changing demographics Changing economic base

Federal Aid and Federal Control Fear the federal government will

start running the programs they’re funding – conditions of aid

Mandates to state governments If a state takes federal money, they

have to do what feds say (Civil Rights)

Administrative nightmare Judges may enforce federal

standards

States Response Some loosening in

requirements for action Welfare education

Continuing debate over who should control what ($, admin)

Ongoing problem of interpreting the Constitution for division of responsibilities (10th Amendment)

Federalism and Public Policy State and local governments still have huge

amounts of authority/control Congress may seem to impede those governments

but are trying to deal with their constituencies See selves as representative to Washington, not

necessarily as representatives from Washington Ties to localities have loosened

May not understand local concerns/priorities Special interest groups vs. all voters Social diversity

Congress can correct state abuse of citizen (ie. Voting rights)

Devolution

Chapter 4

American Political Culture

Political Culture

Distinctive, patterned way of thinking about politics/economics How things should be carried out

Distinction between political and economic equality Politically equal, not economically equal

American Views on Political System Liberty: preoccupation with

rights Equality: equal vote and

equal chance Democracy: government

officials are accountable to the people

Civic Duty: community affairs are important

Individual Responsibility : responsible for own actions and well being

Factors related to political culture Why so much inconsistent behavior? Why so much historical political conflict?

Economic View

Free Enterprise Don’t see inequalities Equality of opportunity,

not of results Support government

intervention when people’s interests are at stake

Equality of opportunity ‘symbolic racism’

Comparative Systems

Political Differences Less personal

involvement Different customs/laws

Economic Differences Economic quality Freedom

U.S. has a focus on rights that other countries may not have – influence of religion

Sources of Political Culture Origins of opposition,

thought, and culture Need to trust people if

live in a democracy Federalists Democrats- Republicans

Differing religions and cultural backgrounds reflected in politics

Class consciousness Most see selves as the

‘middle class’

Mistrust of Government Turmoil can lead to

mistrust Political efficacy:

government less concerned about citizen understanding and influence

Internal efficacy: a person’s competence in understanding politics – remained constant

External efficacy: belief that one can have a political impact – sharp drop

Political Tolerance

Need to be reasonably tolerant of others Agreement with basic right for all

Disagreement regarding who is covered under rights

Increased tolerance for others but not universal Pragmatism – Americans tend to be less

ideological than others Continued need to realize that political liberty

is fragile Can’t take liberty for granted