🍔American Society Unit 4 – Political Systems and Processes

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Democracy: A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise their authority directly or through elected representatives
• Republic: A form of government in which the people elect representatives to govern on their behalf and uphold the rule of law
• Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority (federal government) and constituent political units (states)
• Separation of Powers: The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another
• Checks and Balances: A system in which each branch of government has the power to limit or check the actions of the other branches, maintaining a balance of power
• Constitutionalism: The idea that government authority is derived from and limited by a body of fundamental law (the Constitution)
• Rule of Law: The principle that all people and institutions, including the government itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated
• Pluralism: The theory that political power is distributed among a variety of groups and interests, preventing any single group from dominating the political process

Historical Context

• Colonial Period: The 13 colonies were established under British rule, each with its own local government and representative assembly
• American Revolution: Colonists revolted against British rule due to grievances such as taxation without representation, culminating in the Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Articles of Confederation: The first governing document of the United States (1777-1789), which created a weak central government and granted most power to the states
• Constitutional Convention: Delegates met in Philadelphia (1787) to revise the Articles of Confederation, ultimately drafting the U.S. Constitution
• Ratification: The Constitution was ratified by nine out of thirteen states (1788), officially establishing the federal government
• Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect individual rights and limit government power
• Civil War and Reconstruction: The war between the Union and the Confederacy (1861-1865) led to the abolition of slavery and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which expanded civil rights and federal power
• Progressive Era: A period of social activism and political reform (1890s-1920s) that led to the expansion of democracy and government regulation of the economy

Types of Political Systems

• Autocracy: A system of government in which a single person or party holds absolute power, without democratic representation or accountability
• Oligarchy: A form of government in which power is held by a small, elite group, often based on wealth, military power, or social status
• Theocracy: A system of government in which religious authorities rule in the name of a deity or divine laws
• Monarchy: A form of government in which a single person (a monarch) holds hereditary or lifetime rule, often with limited or no democratic representation
• Dictatorship: A form of government in which a single person or party holds absolute power, often through force or suppression of opposition
• Totalitarianism: A system of government that seeks to subordinate all aspects of society to the authority of the state, often through surveillance, repression, and control of information
• Authoritarianism: A form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms, often with a single leader or party in control
• Anarchy: The absence of government or a state of disorder due to lack of governmental control

Structure of the US Government

• Legislative Branch: Consists of the bicameral Congress (House of Representatives and Senate), responsible for creating laws
  • House of Representatives: 435 members apportioned by state population, elected every two years
  • Senate: 100 members (two per state), elected every six years
• Executive Branch: Headed by the President, responsible for enforcing laws and conducting foreign policy
  • President: Elected every four years, limited to two terms
  • Vice President: Elected with the President, assumes the presidency if the President is unable to serve
  • Cabinet: Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, heads various executive departments
• Judicial Branch: Consists of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring constitutionality
  • Supreme Court: Highest court in the nation, composed of nine justices appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving lifetime terms
• State Governments: Each state has its own constitution, government, and laws, which operate in conjunction with the federal government under the principle of federalism
  • Governors: Serve as the chief executive of each state, elected by popular vote
  • State Legislatures: Bicameral (except Nebraska), responsible for creating state laws

Political Parties and Ideologies

• Two-Party System: The United States has been dominated by two major political parties throughout most of its history
  • Democratic Party: Generally associated with liberal or progressive policies, emphasizing social welfare, government regulation, and civil rights
  • Republican Party: Generally associated with conservative policies, emphasizing limited government, free markets, and traditional values
• Third Parties: Smaller political parties that rarely win major elections but can influence the political landscape (Green Party, Libertarian Party)
• Liberalism: An ideology that emphasizes individual rights, civil liberties, and the free market, with support for government intervention to promote equality and social welfare
• Conservatism: An ideology that emphasizes traditional values, limited government, and free market capitalism, with skepticism toward rapid social change and government intervention
• Socialism: An ideology that advocates for collective ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, often with a strong role for the government in managing the economy and promoting social welfare
• Libertarianism: An ideology that emphasizes individual liberty and limited government, advocating for free markets and minimal government intervention in personal and economic affairs

Election Process and Voting

• Presidential Elections: Held every four years, with the President and Vice President elected through the Electoral College system
  • Primary Elections: Held by each party to determine their nominee for President
  • General Election: The final election between the nominees of each party, with the winner determined by the Electoral College
• Congressional Elections: Held every two years for all House seats and one-third of Senate seats
  • Midterm Elections: Congressional elections held in the middle of a President's four-year term
• State and Local Elections: Vary by state and locality, often including races for governors, state legislators, mayors, and other officials
• Voting Rights: Guaranteed by the Constitution and expanded through amendments and legislation (15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments; Voting Rights Act of 1965)
  • Voter Registration: Required in most states, with varying deadlines and procedures
  • Voter Suppression: Efforts to limit or discourage voting, often disproportionately affecting minority and low-income communities (literacy tests, poll taxes, voter ID laws)
• Electoral College: The system used to elect the President and Vice President, in which each state is allocated a number of electors based on its representation in Congress
  • Winner-Take-All: Most states award all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state
  • Criticisms: The Electoral College can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the national popular vote (2000, 2016)

Policy-Making and Implementation

• Legislative Process: The process by which a bill becomes a law
  • Bill Introduction: A bill is introduced in either the House or the Senate
  • Committee Action: The bill is referred to a committee for review, hearings, and amendments
  • Floor Action: The bill is debated and voted on in the full House or Senate
  • Conference Committee: If the House and Senate pass different versions of the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences
  • Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law or veto it (which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both chambers)
• Executive Orders: Directives issued by the President that have the force of law, often used to implement policies or regulations without Congressional approval
• Judicial Review: The power of the courts to review and invalidate laws or executive actions that are deemed unconstitutional
• Regulatory Agencies: Government bodies that oversee and enforce regulations in specific areas (Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission)
• Federalism in Policy-Making: The division of power between the federal and state governments can lead to conflicts and variations in policy implementation across states
  • Unfunded Mandates: Federal requirements for states to implement policies without providing adequate funding

Current Issues and Debates

• Polarization: The increasing ideological divide between the Democratic and Republican parties, leading to gridlock and dysfunction in government
• Money in Politics: The influence of campaign contributions, lobbying, and special interests on the political process
  • Citizens United v. FEC (2010): A Supreme Court decision that lifted restrictions on political spending by corporations and unions
• Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or group over another
• Voter Suppression: Ongoing concerns about efforts to limit or discourage voting, particularly among minority and low-income communities
• Electoral Reform: Debates over changes to the electoral system, such as abolishing the Electoral College, implementing ranked-choice voting, or establishing independent redistricting commissions
• Immigration: Controversies over border security, illegal immigration, and the treatment of undocumented immigrants (DACA, family separations)
• Healthcare: Ongoing debates over the role of government in providing healthcare, the future of the Affordable Care Act, and proposals for universal coverage
• Climate Change: Disagreements over the existence, causes, and appropriate responses to climate change, including debates over environmental regulations and renewable energy policies