Essential Questions
1) What is the purpose of government?
Government exists in order to organize cities, states, and the nation. It is necessary in order to implement laws so that everything isn't chaotic. Government ensures that it's citizens rights are protected and equal.
2) What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic?
The founders' believed that government was enforced in order to ensure that the Declaration of Independence was being followed and that its citizens rights remained protected. John Locke said himself that citizens should have "life, liberty, and property." This ensures that everyone is being granted their natural born rights. The founders believed that government would be a form of security of the country and that it would regulate their problems. They believed it is the American citizens role to follow the Constitution and elect their own government.
3) Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium?
For the most part these views are still relevant. However, some things have changed. Throughout time many forms of government have changed from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. The main concept is still the same though. Government is still around in order to protect the rights of the citizens and to enforce laws. The ways of enforcing may have improved due to new technologies and better forces but government will always be about protecting the countries rights and the rights of others.
4) How does the constitution underpin U.S. government?
the Constitution strengthens U.S. government because it gives it a set of laws to rule by. It also enhances it by its many systems. For instance, separation of powers which divides the government up into three branches judicial, legislative, and executive branch so that all power is not given to one branch. It also has checks and balances which ensures that one branch can restraint another branch. The Constitution helps enhance the laws that the government already enforce. It gives it a basis to go by and is a reference for everything that gives on in government.
5) Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today?
Back then they didn't have checks and balances because of the rule of a monarch so all power went straight to one person and it was unnecessary. Today power is separated into three branches so we divide up the power and allow the branches to overlook each other in order to ensure one brach doesn't receive total power.
6) How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers?
Checks and balances challenges separation of powers because it ensures that the branches are codependent so they work together. With checks and balances the branches are allowed to overlook each other so the can keep each other in check. With separation of powers the branches are more independent and work only on the work of their specific branch.
7) Define the following concepts: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory.
Democratic theory: The ideas in which most democrats follow. The Democrats believe in the rule of the people in which they create their own laws, promote equality, and express their opinions.
Republicanism: The ideas in which republicans follow. It consists of the people electing their representatives and follows popular sovereignty.
Pluralist theory: Heavily believe in the distribution of power in interest groups and usually has one dominant group.
Majoritarianism: Decisions decided upon majority rule which is 50% plus 1
Elitist theory: Idea that society should be ruled by the elite which consists of a group of wealthy people with the same privileged background.
8) Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system?
Anti-Fedarlist feared the new government style because they didn't want to give too much power to the central government and would result to becoming a monarchy like the British. They also disapproved of the amount of people in the house of representatives and the lack of bill of Rights.
9) Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not?
It weakens it because now the central government has most of the power and they run everything so now the states can't have as much power as they used to. It limits separation of powers because each individual branch doesn't have as much authority as it once did.
10) What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution?
Under new federalism state and local government had more power and it decentralized national policies. Money was granted back to the states and it had to be used for special programs through things like grants.
11) What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment?
Not much influence unless it conflicts with a federal matter. Federalism allows for the states and federal government to be separate so the state can make decisions for themselves. As long as the states actions don't interfere with federal matters or they're not breaking any major laws then they can make decisions as seen fit.
Government exists in order to organize cities, states, and the nation. It is necessary in order to implement laws so that everything isn't chaotic. Government ensures that it's citizens rights are protected and equal.
2) What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic?
The founders' believed that government was enforced in order to ensure that the Declaration of Independence was being followed and that its citizens rights remained protected. John Locke said himself that citizens should have "life, liberty, and property." This ensures that everyone is being granted their natural born rights. The founders believed that government would be a form of security of the country and that it would regulate their problems. They believed it is the American citizens role to follow the Constitution and elect their own government.
3) Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium?
For the most part these views are still relevant. However, some things have changed. Throughout time many forms of government have changed from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. The main concept is still the same though. Government is still around in order to protect the rights of the citizens and to enforce laws. The ways of enforcing may have improved due to new technologies and better forces but government will always be about protecting the countries rights and the rights of others.
4) How does the constitution underpin U.S. government?
the Constitution strengthens U.S. government because it gives it a set of laws to rule by. It also enhances it by its many systems. For instance, separation of powers which divides the government up into three branches judicial, legislative, and executive branch so that all power is not given to one branch. It also has checks and balances which ensures that one branch can restraint another branch. The Constitution helps enhance the laws that the government already enforce. It gives it a basis to go by and is a reference for everything that gives on in government.
5) Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today?
Back then they didn't have checks and balances because of the rule of a monarch so all power went straight to one person and it was unnecessary. Today power is separated into three branches so we divide up the power and allow the branches to overlook each other in order to ensure one brach doesn't receive total power.
6) How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers?
Checks and balances challenges separation of powers because it ensures that the branches are codependent so they work together. With checks and balances the branches are allowed to overlook each other so the can keep each other in check. With separation of powers the branches are more independent and work only on the work of their specific branch.
7) Define the following concepts: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory.
Democratic theory: The ideas in which most democrats follow. The Democrats believe in the rule of the people in which they create their own laws, promote equality, and express their opinions.
Republicanism: The ideas in which republicans follow. It consists of the people electing their representatives and follows popular sovereignty.
Pluralist theory: Heavily believe in the distribution of power in interest groups and usually has one dominant group.
Majoritarianism: Decisions decided upon majority rule which is 50% plus 1
Elitist theory: Idea that society should be ruled by the elite which consists of a group of wealthy people with the same privileged background.
8) Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system?
Anti-Fedarlist feared the new government style because they didn't want to give too much power to the central government and would result to becoming a monarchy like the British. They also disapproved of the amount of people in the house of representatives and the lack of bill of Rights.
9) Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not?
It weakens it because now the central government has most of the power and they run everything so now the states can't have as much power as they used to. It limits separation of powers because each individual branch doesn't have as much authority as it once did.
10) What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution?
Under new federalism state and local government had more power and it decentralized national policies. Money was granted back to the states and it had to be used for special programs through things like grants.
11) What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment?
Not much influence unless it conflicts with a federal matter. Federalism allows for the states and federal government to be separate so the state can make decisions for themselves. As long as the states actions don't interfere with federal matters or they're not breaking any major laws then they can make decisions as seen fit.