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)
Government
Public policy
Democracy
Direct democracy
Representative democracy
Traditional democratic theory
Pluralist theory
Elite theory
Bureaucratic theory
Hyperpluralism
Social contract
Natural rights
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Federal system
Connecticut (great) compromise
Three-fifths compromise
Commerce & slave trade compromise
ratification
VOCAB words
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Federalist Papers
Constitution
Limited government
Popular sovereignty
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Federalism
Amendments
Bill of Rights
Judicial review
Marbury v Madison
Virginia 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
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*This is essentially
the purpose of US
government…
Union / sovereignty
Justice
Rule of law
National defense
Econ health
Individual
freedoms
The
late…
Forms of Govt
• Anarchy = lack
• Autocracy = absolute
monarchy, constitutional
monarchy, dictatorship
• Oligarchy =
aristocracy, theocracy
• Democracy = direct
& REPRESENTATIVE
Theories of dem govt
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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
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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
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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
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Great Compromise (CT)
Federal system
VA/NJ Plan?
3/5 Compromise
Commerce & Slave trade
Ratification
Federalists / Anti-Feds
Federalist Papers (85)
Bill of Rights