Transcript Constitutional Underpinnings - Home

Weeks 1-2
Chps 1,2 & 3
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings
of the U.S. Government
(CR 1: 5-15% of course/exam)
Unit #1 comprises the following: origin of
democracy, natural rights of American colonists,
origins of the American Republic, Principles of the
US Constitution, Separation of Powers, Limited
Government, the Principle of Judicial Review, origin
and structure of Federalism. In this unit, students will
address the underpinnings of the Constitution. The six
principles of government will direct the discussions
on both historic and current events. The ideas of the
Framers will be analyzed and ideas found within will
be applied to current issues.
• Textbook Readings:
– Wilson Chapter 1 – The Study of American Government Chapter 2 – The
Constitution & Chapter 3 – Federalism
• Supplemental Readings (CR 8):
– Excerpts from: Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Machiavelli
(Summer reading assignment).
– Woll Reader: Federalist No. 10 and 51, Roche, Beard, Grodzins, US v
Morrison
– Handout Excerpts from Magleby & Janda
• Primary Documents: (CR 8):
– The Articles of Confederation, the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence,
The US Constitution (examining questions from Summer reading assignment)
• Interpretation of Data (CR 7):
– A variety of charts, political maps, graphs, political cartoons, video clips,
internet sites (such as PEW Research Site), newspapers, pollster data and other
media for analysis and interpretation
Chp 1: The Study of
American Government
Constitutional Underpinnings
What is politics?
Word Association
• What words come to mind when you hear
the word “politics”?
• Does the word have a more positive or
negative connotation?
Machiavelli
• Machiavelli’s name is synonymous with
tough and dirty politics
• Author of The Prince. One of history’s first
political scientists.
Machiavelli Quotes
• “The ends justify the means.”
• “It is better to be feared than loved.”
• “By no means can a prudent ruler keep his
word. Because all men are bad and do not
keep promises to you, you likewise do not
have to keep your promises to them.”
Can we be hopeful about
politics?
Yes We Can
“straight talk” campaign
A neutral view of
politics
Harold D. Lasswell
• Who gets what, when, and how. (and
where)?
• All of us are political, we’re just not used to
calling it that. You don’t have to take a
class to get politics. Aristotle was correct
when he wrote, “Man is by nature a
political animal.”
Thomas Hobbes
“…during the time men live without a
common power to keep them all in awe,
they are in that condition which is called
war; and such a war as is of every man
against every man" (Leviathan, ch. XIII).
Essentially…without government chaos
ensues
Bill the Bulwark
From your summer reading
assignment, what was Hobbes
plan to remedy the “state of nature”?
Thomas Hobbes’
Leviathan
The State of Nature
Game
Goal: To get as much money possible
Rules:
(1) No leaving the room
(2) No physical contact or threats
(3) Everyone must maintain the assigned
role
State of Nature game
• Why were teams successful? Was it
strategy or an unfair advantage?
• How would the outcome be different if
teams were not allowed to attack, only
invest?
Roles in the Game
• Educated—develop ways to acquire as much $$$
as you can from the other players—can use the
strong or uneducated as your enforcers
• Educated/strong—develop ways to acquire as
much $$$ as you can from the other players—can
use the strong or uneducated as your enforcers or
you can do it yourself
• Strong—earn money by executing the plans of
others—maybe a percentage of the $$ collected?
• Uneducated—you can only do the bidding of others
and must accept whatever payment is offered—or
band together and take over by force
Was Hobbes right???????
Social Contract Theory
• “The only valid government is one based
on the consent of the governed.” - Locke
• Rulers and citizens enter into an
agreement, or a social contract
• Government by the people, masses
Locke’s influence on
the US
• “A state also of equality, wherein all the
power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one
having more than another… - John Locke,
of Civil Government
• “We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal.”
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of
Independence
What is the purpose of
government?
Get together in groups 4 and discuss the
purpose of government. You have 5
minutes to create a list of the things that
government should provide for the people.
The Purpose of
Government
• Maintaining Order
• Providing Services
• Promoting Equality
What is Democracy?
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Origins of Democracy
Greek word
Demos = people
Kratos = authority
So…authority or government of the people
But…the Greeks and the Romans failed
and democracy became synomous with
mob rule…then dictators took over
Political Power
• Power – ability of one person to cause
another person to act in accordance
• Authority – right to use power
• Legitimacy – what makes the law or leader
a source of “right”
Bill the Bulwark
• What is significant about the
following in U.S. History?
The Revolution of 1800
The corrupt bargain of 1824
The election of 1876
The pardon of 1975
The election of 2000
What makes a
Democracy?
Principles necessary for a democracy to
exist.
1. Universal suffrage (everyone vote)
2. Political Equality (all votes counted
equally)
3. Majority Rule
4. Government responds to public opinion
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What patterns are necessary
for a democratic system to
thrive?
Educational Conditions
Economic Conditions
Social Conditions
Ideological Conditions
Different types of
Democracy
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Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Republic
Constitutional Democracy
Constitutionalism
Bill the Bulwark
• Why is direct democracy not
a feasible option for the U.S.?
Can uneducated/poor
people be trusted?
• Direct Democracy – citizens create/vote on laws
• Problems
1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise
• How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per
day on issues they no nothing about?
2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on
emotions (Hitler was elected)
• “The masses are turbulent and changing and
seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander
Hamilton
Representative
Democracy (Republic)
• Citizens elect representatives
• Gov’t MEDIATES popular views
– “Will of the people” ≠ “Common interest”
– EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights
• Reps are educated on issues at hand
• Prevents fast, sweeping change
• Minority rights more likely to be protected
Theories explaining how
democracies ACTUALLY
function
1. Majoritarian Theory
2. Pluralist Theory
= leaders are forced to follow the
wishes of the people because
majority rules
= groups compete and compromise
with each other to get the gov’t
to do what they want
3. Elite Theory
4. Bureaucratic Theory
= groups or people who possess
= appointed officials dominate the
the most more power (money or
gov’t through unelected jobs
influence) dominate gov’t
Democracy Theory Test
What theory is supported by the fact that…
1. The US holds mainly elections where the person who
receives the most votes wins.
2. Most US representatives are upper class people.
3. The President appoints hundreds of people for gov’t
jobs or judgeships, all have special powers.
4. Interest groups spend millions of dollars toward
campaigns of favored candidates.
5. Gov’t can call for referendums, or votes by the people
to pass or strike down potential laws.
6. The candidate who raises the most money for an
election almost always wins.
Pluralism
1. Modern society consists of many groups (ex.
Economic, religious, cultural, ethnic.) that
compete with each other to achieve goals
2. Groups that influence gov’t, work hard, and
have largest membership get what they want
3. Even if the average citizen does not keep up
with politics, their interests will be protected by
their group.
4. Groups must COMPROMISE to achieve goals
Arguments for and
against the Pluralist view
FOR
AGAINST
• Relatively low numbers of
• There is no unified
people join interest groups.
majority in the US that
always acts together. • Poor citizens have less
opportunity to join interest
• Gov’t leaders must
groups or contribute to
please groups to gain
them.
votes and money to be
reelected.
• One can’t assume that
group decisions are always
• Groups must compete
in the best interest of the
for gov’t services and
nation.
favorable laws.
Marxist Theory (Elite)
• Control the economic system = control
the political system.
• Politicians require massive funding to win
elections, and rely on corporations to
supply them.
A Reminder…
• These are only theories. They are
people’s perception of our democracy and
the way it functions.
• Which theory is correct???
– Pluralist – most popular today
– Majoritarian – popular pre-1950’s
– Elite – rising since the 80’s (Michael Moore)
– Bureaucratic – gov’t spending more than ever
before just to run itself
In Class Assignment
• Break up into groups of 4 and analyze the
following chart, critical thinking and graph
handouts
• Write a few sentences (per group) about
each
• Wilson p. 7
• Magleby p. 9
• Janda p.