Constitutional underpinnings
• What is the purpose of government?
The government has brought two main purposes: maintaining order in society and giving public goods, recently promoting equality. According to the preamble of the United States Constitution government is also to form a perfect union, establish justice, provide for the common defense, secure liberty, promote general welfare, and insure domestic tranquility.
• What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic?
According to the preamble of the United States Constitution government is also to form a perfect union, establish justice, provide for the common defense, secure liberty, promote general welfare, and insure domestic tranquility. They also wanted to provide for security of the country. Citizens would elect the the people that made up the government. John Locke wrote in treatises on government that the protection of life, liberty, and property are the basic objective of government.
• Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium?
Yes, they hope for a country full of prosperity, justice, and everyone to be full of joy with the government.
• How does the constitution underpin U.S. government?
Between the federal government and the states the constitution specifies that the new federal government would be, how it functions and what is its relation to the states.
• Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today?
The concept of checks and balances is that every branch of government (legislative, executive, judicial) has powers over one another. This concept was put in place that way not one branch would have too much power. James Madison didn't originate the idea of checks and balances for limiting the government power he insisted checks and balances could help protect liberty in a large republic.
• How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers?
Montesquieu described the separation of political power among a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. Montesquieu's approach was to present and defend a form of government which was not excessively centralized in all its powers to a single monarch or similar ruler.
• Define the following concepts:
democratic theory: a view as democracy as being embodied in a decision making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness.
republicanism: is eliminating a king and creating a system of government where people are involved. Republicanism meant there would be more equality. The views of all the different classes of people would be incorporated into the government. People had to sacrifice their self interests to work for the good of the community
pluralist theory: a theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
majoritarianism: the philosophy or practice according to which decisions of an organized group should be made by a numerical majority of its members.
the elitist theory:The theoretical view held by many social scientists which holds that American politics is best understood through the generalization that nearly all political power is held by a relatively small and wealthy group of people sharing similar values and interests and mostly coming from relatively similar privileged backgrounds
• Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system?
The anti-federalist fears the new governmental system because they didn't want what we now have which is a behemoth, out-of-control, unmanageable, corrupt federal government with too much power and influence over citizens' lives. The anti-federalists wanted government to stay out of the citizens lives as much as possible, unlike what we have today.
• Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not?
The American federal system is an extremely complex pattern of interrelated processes simultaneously at work, a blend of independence and interdependence. The system may fail at times for example the bureaucracy but it has kept the United States running.
• What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution?
State and local governments took it upon themselves the power to regulate commerce, manufacturing and labor relations.
• What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment?
What ever the program with federal funding the federal government have the right and influential to that programs.
The government has brought two main purposes: maintaining order in society and giving public goods, recently promoting equality. According to the preamble of the United States Constitution government is also to form a perfect union, establish justice, provide for the common defense, secure liberty, promote general welfare, and insure domestic tranquility.
• What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic?
According to the preamble of the United States Constitution government is also to form a perfect union, establish justice, provide for the common defense, secure liberty, promote general welfare, and insure domestic tranquility. They also wanted to provide for security of the country. Citizens would elect the the people that made up the government. John Locke wrote in treatises on government that the protection of life, liberty, and property are the basic objective of government.
• Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium?
Yes, they hope for a country full of prosperity, justice, and everyone to be full of joy with the government.
• How does the constitution underpin U.S. government?
Between the federal government and the states the constitution specifies that the new federal government would be, how it functions and what is its relation to the states.
• Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today?
The concept of checks and balances is that every branch of government (legislative, executive, judicial) has powers over one another. This concept was put in place that way not one branch would have too much power. James Madison didn't originate the idea of checks and balances for limiting the government power he insisted checks and balances could help protect liberty in a large republic.
• How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers?
Montesquieu described the separation of political power among a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. Montesquieu's approach was to present and defend a form of government which was not excessively centralized in all its powers to a single monarch or similar ruler.
• Define the following concepts:
democratic theory: a view as democracy as being embodied in a decision making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness.
republicanism: is eliminating a king and creating a system of government where people are involved. Republicanism meant there would be more equality. The views of all the different classes of people would be incorporated into the government. People had to sacrifice their self interests to work for the good of the community
pluralist theory: a theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
majoritarianism: the philosophy or practice according to which decisions of an organized group should be made by a numerical majority of its members.
the elitist theory:The theoretical view held by many social scientists which holds that American politics is best understood through the generalization that nearly all political power is held by a relatively small and wealthy group of people sharing similar values and interests and mostly coming from relatively similar privileged backgrounds
• Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system?
The anti-federalist fears the new governmental system because they didn't want what we now have which is a behemoth, out-of-control, unmanageable, corrupt federal government with too much power and influence over citizens' lives. The anti-federalists wanted government to stay out of the citizens lives as much as possible, unlike what we have today.
• Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not?
The American federal system is an extremely complex pattern of interrelated processes simultaneously at work, a blend of independence and interdependence. The system may fail at times for example the bureaucracy but it has kept the United States running.
• What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution?
State and local governments took it upon themselves the power to regulate commerce, manufacturing and labor relations.
• What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment?
What ever the program with federal funding the federal government have the right and influential to that programs.