Political Power Definition The ability of one person

Political Power �Definition� The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions �Authority? � The right to use power- informal and formal �Legitimacy? � What makes a law or constitution a source of right � What once was “private” are now considered “public”

Democracy- “The Rule of Many” �Direct Democracy � Why mostly abandoned today? �Representative Democracy � Elitist? What did our framers think? Does it still hold true today? �How is political power distributed in a representative democracy? � Majoritarian politics vs. Non-majoritarian politics

Theories of Who Governs �Marxists � Government a reflection of economic forces �Power Elite � Power elite a mix of corporate leaders, military, and political leaders �Weber- Bureaucrats � Bureaucracies based on expertise, specialized competence �Pluralist � Power dispersed- policies are the outcome of compromise among competing groups

Declaration of Independence We hold these truths to be self evident: -All men are created equal -they are endowed with certain unalienable rights -those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -consent of the governed -when government fails, the people have the right to abolish it and institute a new government

Lawyer’s Brief- Defendant- King George Plaintiff-Colonists Complaint: 27 issues: -refused to agree to laws -refused right of representation -called legislature at places where no one can get to -dissolved representative bodies -refused to establish a judiciary (in colonies) -standing armies without consent of legislature -quartering of troops -cutting off trade with everyone except Britain -imposing taxes without consent -depriving trial by jury -constrained citizens into British navy to fight against colonists Redress- ignored by King and by the British people “declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states”

John Locke: Second Treatise of Civil Government -natural state -”state of perfect freedom” -equality -“that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” Most Important?

Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws -no book was cited more except the Bible by FF’s -Separation of powers -Federalism -Commercial Republic -checks on power -against slavery “ The aim is not to make the reader read, but to make the reader think. ” Most Important?

Thomas Hobbes Leviathan -Social Contract -because people act in their own self interest, need strong government (ruler) to keep citizens under control -absolute monarchy- old order---new order? -commonwealth must have absolute authority -”every aspect of human nature can be deduced from materialistic principals

III. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation a. could not levy taxes or regulate commerce b. Sovereignty, independence retained by states c. one vote per state in congress d. nine of thirteen votes in congress required e. delegates picked and paid by state legislatures f. little money coined by congress g. Army small, dependent on state militias h. territorial disputes between states i. no national judicial system j. All thirteen states’ consent for amendments

IV. The Challenge a. Virginia Plan -two house legislature, executive chosen by legislature, council of revision with veto power, national legislature with supreme powers, one house elected directly by the people. Representation based on population! b. New Jersey Plan -amend rather than replace articles, one vote per state, protection of small states’ interests c. The Great Compromise -House of Representatives based on population - Senate of two members per state -reconciled interests of small and large states

V. The Constitution and Democracy A. Founders did not intend to create a pure democracy -physical impossibility in large country -mistrust of popular passions -intent instead to create a republic with a system of representation B. Popular rule only one element of the new govt. -state legislators to elect senators -electors to chose president -two kinds of majorities- voters and states -judicial review another limitation -amendment process c. Key Principles -separation of powers -federalism -resulting powers enumerated- fed, reserved-state, concurrent-both -federalism enables one level of government to act as a check on the other

Federalism v. Unitary �Federalism- political system with local government units, as well as the national government, that can make final decisions regarding some governmental activities and whose existence is protected. �Unitary-all local govts. subservient to national govt. , local govts. can be altered or abolished, local govts. have no final authority over any significant govt. activities.

Why Important? • • Decentralizes Politics Decentralizes Our Policies More opportunity for participation More points of access for interests to be heard Fed Govts. - Canada, India, Germany, US Unitary Govts. - France, Britain, Italy

State or National Power? • • Declare War Coin Money Tax Regulate commerce w/ foreign nations and among states • • Conduct elections Ratify amendments Regulate Commerce w/in a state Take private property for public purposes, w/ just compensation • STATE Dual Federalism- both supreme in their own sphere. NATIONAL BOTH NATIONAL • BOTH

Establishing National Supremacy 1) Implied Powers: • Mc. Culloch v. Maryland Elastic Clause- “necessary and proper” -Could Congress charter a national bank? Yes, even though not explicitly explained in Constitution -Could states tax the federal bank? No, national powers were supreme and therefore immune to state challenge o

Establishing National Supremacy 3) Civil War: -Struggle over not just slavery but between states and national govt -Settles the “Nullification” question Do states have the right to “nullify” the Constitution”?

Establishing National Supremacy -Grants in aid- categorical, block, and revenue sharing -Mandates- Civil Rights, Environmental Protection, No Child Left Behind

Dual v Cooperative • Dual: • Cooperative: o Pre national govt. State o Share responsibilities dominance for public policy o Each remain supreme o Marble Cake Analogy w/in their own spheres o Mingled responsiblitites o Layer Cake Analogy and blurred distinctions o Powers of National Govt. o Historically starts w/ interpreted narrowly New Deal, Great Society o Involve shared costs, federal guidelines, shared administration

A Devolution Revolution? -returning power to the states? -do we cut entitlements?