THE CONSTITUTION & a super speedy US History review…

• Government is an institution that creates public policy!!!!• Roots = Greco-Roman to Enlightenment• Key docs = Constitution & Dec of Ind• Docs define American democracy• US Const is a FLEXIBLE document• You can CHANGE IT!!!!• Federalism• Separation of Powers• System of Checks & Balances• Supreme Ct - Marbury v Madison (1803)

VOCAB wordsGovernmentPublic policyDemocracyDirect democracyRepresentative democracyTraditional democratic theoryPluralist theoryElite theoryBureaucratic theoryHyperpluralismSocial contractNatural rightsDeclaration of IndependenceArticles of ConfederationFederal systemConnecticut (great) compromiseThree-fifths compromiseCommerce & slave trade compromiseratification

FederalistsAnti-FederalistsFederalist PapersConstitutionLimited governmentPopular sovereigntySeparation of powersChecks and balancesFederalismAmendmentsBill of RightsJudicial reviewMarbury v MadisonVirginia Plan

What is Government? HAROLD LASWELL….“who gets what, when, and how”

Govt = formal and informal institutions, people, & processes used to create and conduct public policy

Public Policy = exercise of govt power to maintain legitimate authority & control over society

Preamble = goals of public policy

• Union / sovereignty• Justice• Rule of law• National defense• Econ health• Individual

freedoms*This is essentially the purpose of US government…

Forms of Govt

• Anarchy = lack• Autocracy = absolute

monarchy, constitutional monarchy, dictatorship

• Oligarchy = aristocracy, theocracy

• Democracy = direct & REPRESENTATIVE

The late…The

late…

Theories of dem govt

• Traditional democratic theory = consent of the governed• Pluralist theory = Dahl & IGs• Elite theory = upper class & self-interest• Bureaucratic theory = Weber & hold power w/ public policy• Hyperpluralism = gridlock & ineffectiveness

2 MOST IMPORTANT EARLY TRADITIONS

• LIMITED GOVERNMENT

• REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

Influences• Greeks & Romans• Magna Carta 1215• Parliament• Petition of Rights 1628• English Bill of Rights

1689• Enlightenment

Philosophy = social contracts & natural rights

• Eventually = Dec of Ind

2 IMPORTANT PHILOSOPHERS

• JOHN LOCKE (social contract & natural rights, LL&P)

• MONTESQUIEU (Branches of Govt)

• Tricks….

Colonial Stuff• Colonial Charters• House of Burgesses 1619• Mayflower Compact 1620• Yuck…the British• Continental Congress 1774• Second Cont Congress 1775• Continental Army• Declaration of Ind• Articles of Confederation• Dec of Ind: social contract &

natural rights / list of grievances / colonial unity

• ART OF CONFED = • “league of friendship”• a weak central govt, no exec/judicial• Had limited power over the states•Unicameral Congress (ec state = 1 vote) that could NOT tax or regulate trade• 9 of 13 states for legislation• Unanimous 13 votes to amend• Led to Shay’s Rebellion

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation…

How the Constitution fixed those weaknesses…

“league of friendship” between the states Created a federal system between the national and state level

Congress could NOT tax; it could only request contributions from the states

Nat’l govt given the power to tax (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!!!)

Congress could NOT regulate interstate trade or foreign commerce

Congress was given the power to regulate commerce b/t states and foreign

No separate executive to enforce the acts of Congress

Article II created an executive office to enforce the laws of Congress (bureaucracy)

No national judiciary to handle state disputes

Article III created a nat’l judiciary w/ a Supreme Court and lower courts

States and the nat’l govt had the authority to coin money

ONLY the nat’l govt has the authority to coin money

Each state had ONE vote, regardless of size or population

Population in the House, equality in the Senate

9/13 states required to pass legislation Bills need a simple majority in both houses of Congress

Unanimous consent to amend 2/3 of Congress and ¾ of the states are necessary to amend

Problems/Fights

• Great Compromise (CT)• Federal system• VA/NJ Plan?• 3/5 Compromise• Commerce & Slave trade• Ratification• Federalists / Anti-Feds• Federalist Papers (85)• Bill of Rights