Poli 2051

a formally established way of making and carrying out political decisions

because government can do things for us. Life without government would be worse. Without government, we would have to exist in a state called the "state of nature"

the competitionto shape government's impact on society's problems and goal

it is not a written contract, but rather, a general agreement between the people and their government

the way things should be

the way things actually are

to protect the natural laws

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

protect life, rights and liberties, provide public goods, promoting equalitiy (contravesal)

a coherent set of beliefs about how policies affect society and which policies are desirable.

• *liberals
• *conservatives
• *populists
• *libertarians
• communist
• socialist

people (interest, concerns, problems),linkage processes (elections, polls, lobbying), linkage institution (political parties, interest groups, media, and government agendas),government (congress, president, courts) policies (expenditures, regulations, taxes, non-decision)

popular sovereignty, political equality, political liberty

people are the ultimate source of all public authority

each person carries the same weight in voting and other political decision making

freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, etc. are essential for democracy to work

• government polices reflect the wishes of the people
• government leaders are elected
• elections are free and fair
• people participate in the political process
• high-quality information is available
• the majority rules

do what the people want (democratic ideal)

do what they thinkis best (republicanism)

a definition : document that specifies the basic structure of government

• republicanism
• federalism
• separation of powers
• check and balances

a form or government in which power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives

the division of sovereignty(power), and hence power, among two or more government

britain war w/ france-- france repelled(1763) britian broke.... tax colonist (stamp act, writs of assistance, tea)

• an example of social contract theory
• it did not toutline the structure of our new government
• gave them propaganda for the war

• they were a failure
• none of the important powers could be exercised unless 9 states agreed, even when a decision was reached; there was no method of enforcing those decisions

• Initially the plan was to revise the Articles of Confederation
• had the effect of writing a whole new charter of government

• create a powerful national government
• prevent an excess of democracy
• acquire popular consent

• purpose of the constitution is to "break or control the violence
• remove its causes
• control its effects

• how to prevent the possibity of tyranny from other sources, from w/in the gov't/
• ambition must be made to counteract ambition
• distribute the power among three branches
• give each branch some ability to counteract the others
• federalism helps too

because the constitution did not contain a list of rights and liberties to protect people from a powerful central government

def. at least two separte governments share responsibility for the governing the same people and territory

confederal--> fedeal-->unitary

coining money, building post offices, roads, railroads, protecting inventions with patents

to define and maintain public order through laws and regulations

civil rights-what the government must do ... (have nots