1. What is power?2. What is the most powerful form of power:
government, military, political, economic, etc?
3. In what ways does one exercise power?4. Who is the most powerful person in:
The world? This country? The City of Cleveland? Shaker Heights High School?
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy Absolute Monarchy
Republics: Democracy Restricted Democratic Practice Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign: Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire
Source: Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm Adapted from FreedomHouse.org
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy Absolute Monarchy
Republics: Democracy Restricted Democratic Practice Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign: Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire
Source: Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm Adapted from FreedomHouse.org
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy Absolute Monarchy
Republics: Democracy Restricted Democratic Practice Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign: Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire
Source: Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm Adapted from FreedomHouse.org
How is Political Power Distributed?• What is a representative democracy?
• Any system of government in which leaders are authorized to make decisions by winning the popular vote
Four schools of thought on how decisions are made:Elitist View: Government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government
Pluralist View: Competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.
Marxist View: Government is dominated by capitalists.
Bureaucratic View: Government is dominated by appointed officials.
Look for examples of each view in the creation of the U.S. Constitution…
In Your Judgment:
How much of the national government is out of the DIRECT control of a majority of people? Is that good?
Would it be better if we were able to: directly vote on Constitutional amendments? override Supreme Court decision by popular vote? vote on proposed national legislation? take a public vote to remove a public official from
office?
Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes John Locke
What was life like in the State of Nature?
•“Life is…nasty, brutish, and short”•Ends justify the means•Paranoid/Violent
•Life is relatively pleasant.•There are a few bad apples.
What type of sovereign (ruler ) is needed?
•Strong•Able to dictate the law
•One of us…•Must follow the will of the people.
What type of power does the sovereign have?
•Absolute•His is above the law•Not bound by the contract
•Has limited power•Not above the law•Bound by the contract
Government under the Articles of Confederation
Loose joining of 13 independent states.
Structure: One house Congress – unicameral Each state received ONE VOTE Required 9 of 13 states to approve legislations (2/3
majority) All 13 states must approve an Amendment to change
the structure of the government No executive position No federal judiciary
Powers under the Articles of Confederation
Congress can engage in:Diplomatic relationsMake treatiesDeclare war/make peaceRaise an army on a
voluntary basis (request quota from the states)
Regulate weights and measures
Borrow moneyCoin money
Powers not granted:No power to impose
or collect taxesNo power to regulate
commerce (trade)No executiveNo federal judiciaryNo military power
At what level was most of the power concentrated? Federal or State?
Principal Description Constitutional Example
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Federalism
Separation of
Powers
Checks and
Balances
Judicial Review
Popular Soverignty Limited Government
All political power resides with the people
A government may do only what the people give it the power to do
Six Principals of the U.S. Constitution
FederalismFederalism in the Constitution
Power is shared between national and state governments
What do you think is the best balance?
Enumerated Powers (National)
Reserved Powers (State)Concurrent Powers
(Both)Full Faith and Credit
ClausePrivileges and
ImmunitiesExtradition
Six Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Examples of Federalism
States pass their own laws regarding…
Gay Marriage, Abortion, Affirmative Action, Bilingual Education, Death Penalty, K-12 Education, Speed Limit, Drinking Age, Gambling, Marijuana, Assisted Suicide
State Laws in California State Laws in Florida
Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship
It is a misdemeanor to shoot any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale
If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle
Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal
It is illegal to sing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit
Examples of Federalism
Separation of Powers Checks and Balances
Power is divided between three branches of government: Legislative Executive Judicial
Each branch of government is checked by the other two branches
Six Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Judicial Review
The courts have the power to determine constitutionality of laws made by other branches of government
Six Principles of the U.S. Constitution
The Purpose of Government
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
-Preamble to the Constitution
In a republican government, which branch is the strongest?
1. Dividing Congress2. Giving two houses of Congress different means of
election.3. Fortifying the executive, e.g., with a veto
Amendments that Failed…
1893: The nation shall hereafter be known as the United States of the Earth.
1912: Marriage between certain of the races shall be prohibited.
1876: The Senate shall be abolished.
1876: Religious leaders are forbidden to occupy government office and are denied all federal funding.’
1916: All acts of war shall be put to a national vote. All those affirming [voting “yes”] shall be registered as a volunteer for service in the United States Armed Forces.
Informal Amendments
Basic Legislation – laws made by the legislative branch (Congress) – Example?
Actions taken by the President – Sending of military troops or an Executive Order – Example?
Key Decisions of the Supreme Court – Example?
Political Party Practices – any type of political party change – Example?
Customs – traditions that have evolved over time – Example?
The Constitution: Review
What are the most important underlying ideas behind the United States Constitution?
What do you think is the Constitution’s key to success?
How does the Constitution relate to knowledge issues we have discussed in TOK?