If the society puts the power to make laws in the hands of one man, then it is a monarchy. A mixed government combines forms of any of the described governments.
4. According to Locke, what is the 'social contract'?
The social contract refers to the idea that people in a state of nature will willingly come together to form a state. People form a state to provide a neutral magistrate that can protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people of the state. Moreover, the power of the legislators are limited in the social contract, because their laws are only legitimate if they achieve a common good.
1. Read Federalist Papers #10, 51, and 78. Prepare a short summary of what they said.
Federalist paper #10 addressed the issue of faction. In it, Madison (the assumed author) suggested two ways to limit faction: removing the causes of faction or controlling its…...
The courts, therefore, plays a significant role in ensuring that there is uniformity in the decision on abortion in all states. It has been argued that this is undemocratic since the decision is made by justices who are not elected officials. In the situation where the ruling was to be overturned, the authority to legalize abortion would fall back to the states. This would reflect the majority opinion since the state legislators are elected through a democratic voting process. However, it would mean that there will be significant differences in the laws in conservative and prochoice states. This would mean that the women desiring to seek an abortion would simply need to cross state lines to obtain one which would have no effect on illegalizing abortion. States should not have their own say in the abortion laws as a result of this. Therefore, the courts play a huge role…...
American Government
How does a bill become a law? Please explain where bills originate and how they go through the process. Also include information about the role of interest groups and political parties in bill formation.
Before a piece of legislation can become a law, the initial proposal, called a bill, must go through a process of debate and approval by both houses of the United States Congress. The initial step is for the individual who comes up with the idea for a new law must present his or her suggestion to their colleagues (Egan 6). This person becomes the sponsor for that law as he or she was the initial supporter of that idea. More than one person can become the sponsor of a bill, showing their additional support of that bill. The proposed bill is then placed in the hopper. Once the bill is read and officially proposed in the…...
mlaWorks Cited:
Camarota, Steven A. "The High Cost of Cheap Labor: Illegal Immigration and the Federal
Budget." 2004. Print.
Egan, Tracie (2004). How a Bill Becomes a Law. Rosen: New York, NY.
Ehrenberg, Steven (2011). "What's a Primary Election?" Scholastic.
" Then there are the "...5 million employees of the federal bureaucracy and the military" at his disposal.
Also, the president runs the executive branch of government; Cummings writes that he is "chief of state" - the "ceremonial and symbolic head of state as well as head of government" (391) - as well as being "chief executive" of the government. He has the power to "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States" (394), he has the power to declare war, and as Franklin Roosevelt showed during II (397), the president can "exercise extraordinary power over food rationing and the economy, only partly with congressional authorization." The president is the "Chief Diplomat" (Cummings, 398), the president has "sole power to negotiate and sign treaties" (399), the president "has the sole power to recognize or not recognize foreign governments" (400), and both the "arrows and the olive branch depicted in…...
mlaWorks Cited
Burns, James MacGregor, & Peltason, Jack Walter. (1963). Government by the People: The Dynamics of American National, State, and Local Government. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.:
Prentice-Hall.
CNN.com (2005). Report details FBI's missed opportunities before 9/11. Retrieved June 19, 2005 at http://www.cnn.com .
Cummings, Milton C. Jr., & Wise, David. (1985). Democracy Under Pressure: An Introduction
" (Judith Evans 1996)
Policy has also been defined as being: "A set of interrelated decisions taken by a political actor or group of actors concerning the selection of goals and means of achieving them within a specified situation where those decisions should, in principle, be within the power of these actors to achieve." (Jenkins, 199)
Policymaking, or the formation of policies is stated to have two dimensions, which are:
Dimension One: It is carried out by a specific set of actors; and Dimension Two: It is according to some specific type of process.
The term "Ex-Ante V. Post-Hoc Policy" is definitive of the fact that policy is sometimes created in expectation that it will be a force that drives decisions and in fact preceding decisions and affecting the method and manner in which decisions are made. This view is in contrast with the view of policy as being the 'codification of experience'. The…...
mla3. Theory of Multiple Elitism: This theory of power was acknowledge in the 1970's, which is centered on the work of Theodore Lowi, Jr. And Mancur Olson, Jr. that stressed the special interest rule problem.
4. Neo-Pluralism: The Neo-pluralist theory of the 1980's "which saw possibilities for effective representation for a widely share interests without assuming an equilibrium of democratic and fair representation.
Critics of interest group argue that some groups are easier organized than are others and argued further that smaller groups of corporation and economic
Every year, several thousand actions are referred to committees. Only a small percentage is selected for consideration, and those not addressed often receive no further action. Committees determine the fate of most proposed laws. According to some experts the committee system is the natural form of division of labor in such a large and complex body as the Congress (Overview: The Committee System in the U.S. Congress, 2009).
Presently there are about 19 standing committees in the House, and 16 in the Senate. Standing committees work with specific bills, and most operate with subcommittees that handle a committee's work in certain areas. Select and joint committees are used for in between categories and housekeeping tasks. There are several joint committees which are made up of members of both houses of Congress. Each committee deals with specific issues. There are committees in the House that deal with education, science, national security,…...
mlaReferences
Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2009, from Web site: http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/congress.htm
Overview: The Committee System in the U.S. Congress. (2009). Retrieved November 13, 2009,
from PBS Web site:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/@capitol/committees/committees_overview.html
American Government
In theoretical discussions on representation, frequently a distinction is made between two roles of a representative i.e. between a role of a delegate or a trustee. The first refers to the representative role primarily being to transfer the desires of the constituents into the decision-making system.
The idea is to some extent instrumentalist in the sense that the representative is in the first place a mean for the represented and the better the representation reflects the variety of preferences among the constituents the better the representative quality. Among the advantages with this conceptualisation is its invitation to continuous public participation. As the delegate holds the duty to vote for, and in other ways reflect the will of the constituents, this obligation is most likely to be best fulfilled when the constituency actively expresses its preferences.
Actually in its extreme form, the representative in this conception is unable of acting in her…...
mlaBibliography
Dennis F. Tompson (1987) Political Ethics and Public Office, Cambridge University Press: 99-102
Katherine Tate Black Faces in the Mirror:
African-Americans and Their Representatives in the U.S. Congress
his was the first time America had entered into colonialism, and they still have power over Guam and Puerto Rico today. It gave the country new respect in the world, and it created the need to create guidelines for governing and watching out for these colonies. his also shapes our policy today because we still have influence over these areas, and that indicates our power to other nations of the world.
World War I changed Europe forever, and the United States, too. Woodrow Wilson tried to stay out of the war, but public opinion, and growing German influence around the world made Wilson declare war in 1917. After the war ended, President Wilson worked to promote the League of Nations, which was formed in 1919. he League of Nations would eventually evolve into the United Nations, and it hoped to prevent war through negotiation and arbitration. hey created many treaties…...
mlaThree key events that helped shape modern U.S. foreign policy were the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. The Spanish American War was between Spain and America in 1898. Cubans were revolting against their Spanish rule, and Americans heard reports of Spanish "atrocities" which were blown out of proportion by the newspapers. The American battleship "Maine" mysteriously sunk in Havana's harbor, and President William McKinley reluctantly declared war. America won the war in ten weeks, and they gained control of Cuba and indefinite colonial power over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This was the first time America had entered into colonialism, and they still have power over Guam and Puerto Rico today. It gave the country new respect in the world, and it created the need to create guidelines for governing and watching out for these colonies. This also shapes our policy today because we still have influence over these areas, and that indicates our power to other nations of the world.
World War I changed Europe forever, and the United States, too. Woodrow Wilson tried to stay out of the war, but public opinion, and growing German influence around the world made Wilson declare war in 1917. After the war ended, President Wilson worked to promote the League of Nations, which was formed in 1919. The League of Nations would eventually evolve into the United Nations, and it hoped to prevent war through negotiation and arbitration. They created many treaties that dealt with social consequences and protection of people, and it helped show how influential the United States was in world affairs after the war. It helped increase our power and prestige, because we helped create the League, and it showed that the U.S. was interested in fostering a better world, especially in war-torn Europe. It shaped our future policy by establishing that we were interested in helping the world, and that we cared about peace and social consequences.
World War II established that the United States was a formidable opponent, and that we could dominate the world if we chose. It also showed the world again that we were compassionate and wanted peace, when we helped rebuild Europe and even flew in supplies during the Berlin Airlift. Our foreign policy toughened after this war, when the Soviet Union challenged us and our nuclear abilities, and it became clear to the world that we would not step down, we would hold our ground and defend ourselves, even as we grew far more influential and involved in foreign policy around the world.
Since 1869, eight associate justices have complemented the Chief Justice, though this number is not set in stone. Congress has the right to manipulate the organization of the Supreme Court, and has over the years varied the number of associate justices from as few as six to as many as ten. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court has been originally applied to cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers, or any case in which a State is a party. Congress has also given the Supreme Court the authority to review any decision made in the lower federal courts and the highest courts of the States (Chambers 54).
There are other courts in the federal system besides the Supreme Court. The 94 District Courts are the trial courts in which the majority of federal cases are first tried and decided. Each state in the Union, plus each territory like the District of Columbia…...
mlaWorks Cited
Bully Pulpit." C-SPAN Congressional Glossary. 23 Nov. 2007 http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/bullypul.htm .
Chambers, Ann B. Our American Government. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1993.
U.S. Civics: How the U.S. Government Works." History Central. 2000. 23 Nov. 2007 http://www.historycentral.com/Civics/index.html .
It is to encourage less consumption: that is all. Remember that during wartime, eggs, butter, sugar, coffee, and other products were rationed as well.
ill the beef industry suffer? Of course -- but the sad truth is that if we continue as we are, Americans in the future will suffer far worse. Additionally, people in other agricultural-related industries will benefit from the ban because of increased consumption of other products.
Another benefit may be in terms of human health. During wartime rationing, it was noted that "one surprising effect...was that the health of the nation actually improved as people ate a more balanced diet, less meat and fat and had more exercise (artime rationing, Body Soul and Spirit, 2008). High amounts of meat consumption have been linked to a number of cancers, including colorectal cancers, and just as the nation have striven to discourage consumption of other unhealthy carcinogenic substances, like…...
mlaWorks Cited
Eisnen, Marc Michael Pollan Interview. The Progressive. November 2008. March 4, 2009. http://www.progressive.org/mag/intv1108
Jowit, Juliette. "UN says eat less meat to curb global warming." The Guardian.
September 7, 2007. March 4, 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink
Wartime rationing." Body Soul and Spirit. January 8, 2008. March 4, 2009. http://bodysoulandspirit.blogspot.com/2008/01/war-time-rationing.html
Suppose I was asked to donate money to "Citizens for Better Schools," what would I need to find out about the group first? The first thing would be find out if they are a bona fide public charity -- a 501 C3 -- and if they were, I would examine their bylaws and mission statement. Secondly, I would locate board members and examine public statements they have made and projects they have injected themselves into. Something with a vague title like this one has could actually be a protest group trying to remove certain board members from the school board or they might be advocating to have the science textbooks changed so evolution isn't taught. I would also look through newspaper reports to find what the group has been advocating in its public pronouncements.
Should journalists have the right to protect their sources? The answer is yes. One example relates to…...
mlaWorks Cited
Department of Homeland Security. (2003). "Executive Order (EO-13284): Amendment of Executive Orders, and Other Actions, in Connection with the Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security." Retrieved March 11, 2012, from http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0072.shtm.
Executive Order 9066. "The President Authorizes Japanese Relocation." Retrieved March 12,
2012, from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5154 .
FindLaw. "Williams v. State of North Carolina, 317 U.S. 287 (1942)." Retrieved March 12,
American Government Response
Summarizing the Readings:
In his article "Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power," Peter oll discusses the administrative branch of the government and the various departments who are in control of the funds which keep federal and state governments working. The bureaucracy is a highly influential part of the government and has a degree of control over both the President and Congress with far fewer legal checks to their actions than either of these bodies has to deal with. It has proven difficult to find ways to limit the influence of the bureaucracy when the constitution does not clearly state an opinion on the matter; a serious problem since the constitution is the basis for all legislation in the country. And additional issue has been in trying to determine which branch should deal with administration. Alexander Hamilton believed this was the job of the president and the Executive branch of the…...
mlaWorks Cited:
"The Executive Branch." 204-28.
Wilson, James Q. "The Rise of the Bureaucratic State." The Bureaucracy. 298-302.
Woll, Peter. "Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power." The Bureaucracy. 302-310.
S. Constitution. The court ruled, "Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the statutes and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California" (Dolan, 2012). Hence, the will of the people can become law through popular initiatives, but on the other hand, the argument can be made that if citizens object to the constitutional amendments enacted in any given state -- for any political or social issue -- they have the power of the judiciary to address grievances and sue to reverse the decision.
But should citizens have the power to make public policy through initiatives and state constitutional amendments? Is direct democracy the answer for citizens that feel their elected officials are out of touch? This paper believes that passing propositions and altering state constitutions is indeed a way to bring the voter "…in closer touch with great affairs" and allow the voter to…...
mlaWorks Cited
Dolan, Mura. "Prop. 8: Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional, Court Rules." Los Angeles Times.
Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com .
Levin, Daniel Lessard. Representing Popular Sovereignty: The Constitution in American
Political Culture. Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 1999.
American Government and Politics
The Impact of Politics on People, Communities, and the World
I have not personally been affected by American politics in ways that I can think of, possibly because I am not an American citizen. However, I understand that, in principle, political decisions can have extremely important affects on individuals. For example, if the Republicans win the presidential election and win back control of the enate and retain control of the House of Representatives, they could actually succeed in outlawing abortion and even many common forms of birth control. Politics also affects local and national communities because the decisions made in Washington determine what federal money is available to states for crucial functions such as education and health care programs. Because the United tates is the most influential nation in the world, political decisions in this country can affect all of the other nations in the world in terms…...
mlaSources Consulted
Edwards, G., Wattenberg, M., and Lineberry, R. (2007). Government in America: People,
Politics, and Policy. New York: Longman.
Grunwald, M. "The Party of No." Time, Vol. 180, No. 10 (2012): 42 -- 46.
Government and Elections
Should foreign interest groups be banned from attempting to influence the course of American government? Are foreign interest groups always opposed to the interests of U.S. companies and citizens?
It is reported in the work of Benen 2010) that a speech delivered by President Obama warned of "corporate takeover of our democracy" in the form of "shadowy groups raising millions in secret to help buy elections for Republicans. Benen notes the publication of 'ThinkProgress' which states that the trade association "organized as a 501c)6)…the U.S. Chamber of Commerce…that can raise and spend unlimited funds without ever disclosing any of its donors…has promised to spend…" the amount of $75 million to defeat specific candidates including such as "Jack Conway, Sen. Barbara Boxer D-CA), Jerry Brown, Rep. Joe Sestak D-PA), and Rep. Tom Perriello D-VA). As of Sept. 15th, the Chamber had aired more than 8,000 ads on behalf of GOP…...
mla(4) authorize an agency to exercise a function not expressly authorized by law;
(5) increase the term of an office beyond the period authorized by law; (6) deal with more than one logically consistent subject matter; or (7) abolish enforcement functions or programs established by statues. (FAO, 2010)
These are only some of the actions that the President and government cannot take. The Constitution places limits on what government can do to protect the American public. This is because the forefathers understood that government should remain small rather than become the large bureaucratic machine that it presently is today. The present administration has sought to bypass Congress on many of its moves on restructuring the U.S. Government however as reported by the FAO (2010) "Congressional deliberative processes serve the vital function of both gaining input from a variety of clientele and stakeholders affected by any changes and providing an important constitutional check and counterbalance to the executive branch." Bypassing these governmental processes can results in too much power being vested in the President and his discretion. The Constitution provides for a system of checks and balances that serve to ensure that the Constitutional rights of the American people are not violated by the government in any of its actions or rulings.
The President of the United States
The winner of the 2024 presidential election will hold the title of President of the United States. This is the highest office in the federal government of the United States and is responsible for leading the executive branch of the government. The President is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has the power to veto legislation passed by Congress.
The President is elected by the Electoral College, which is composed of electors chosen by the voters in each state. The candidate who receives the majority of electoral votes wins the presidency. If no candidate....
Ideological Differences between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were two opposing political factions that emerged during the debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution. Their distinct ideologies shaped the contours of the American constitution.
Federalists
Strong National Government: Federalists believed in a robust central government with ample authority to regulate interstate commerce, raise taxes, and defend the nation.
Checks and Balances: They supported a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Limited Popular Sovereignty: While Federalists acknowledged the importance of popular representation, they also feared....
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