US Government and Politics: A Comprehensive Guide
Government: Foundation of Formal Institutions and Processes
Government refers to the formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people. It encompasses the structures, rules, and procedures that govern a society.
Power: Authority and Ability to Get Things Done
Power represents the authority and ability to influence and control actions and decisions. It is essential for governments to possess power to enforce laws, maintain order, and provide public services.
Policy: Government Decisions for Goal Pursuit
Policy refers to any decision made by the government to achieve a specific goal. It involves the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of plans to address societal issues and challenges.
State: Political Unit with Law-Making Authority
A state is a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory. It possesses sovereignty, meaning it has the ultimate authority within its borders.
Politics: The Process of Government Decision-Making
Politics encompasses the process by which governments make and carry out decisions. It involves the interaction of individuals, groups, and institutions in the pursuit of power and influence.
Legitimacy: Responsible and Just Governance
A government that carries out laws responsibly, fairly, and in the best interests of its people is considered legitimate. Legitimacy is based on the perception that the government’s actions are morally and legally justified.
Theories of Government Formation
Divine Right of Kings Theory
This theory posits that states were founded by a god, and the ruler has a divine right to lead. It justifies the ruler’s authority as being granted by God.
Social Contract Theory
This theory suggests that states are formed through a contract between individuals, where they surrender some power to an authority in exchange for security and protection.
Three Main Components of Government
The three main components of government are:
- People: The citizens who are governed.
- Power: The authority to make and enforce decisions.
- Policies: The decisions made by the government to address societal issues.
Forms of Government
Monarchy
A government ruled by a king or queen, often with hereditary succession.
Dictatorship
A government controlled by one person, who holds absolute sovereignty and power.
Oligarchy
A government ruled by a small group of people, typically the military or economic elite.
Direct Democracy
A government in which citizens directly vote on laws and select officials.
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Systems of Government
Unitary System
A system of government in which all power is invested in a central government, and regional governments derive their authority from the central government.
Federal System
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state governments.
Confederal System
A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having sovereign powers. The central government has limited powers over the states.
Executive Branch Structures
Presidential System
A form of government headed by a president elected by the people for a fixed term. The president’s powers are balanced by an elected legislature.
Parliamentary System
A government in which members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch and are subject to the legislature’s direct control.
Legislative Branch Structures
Bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses.
Historical Documents and Events
Magna Carta
One of the earliest English efforts toward limited government, signed in 1215 by King John, which placed limits on the king’s power and established certain rights for nobles.
Petition of Right
Signed by Charles I in 1628, this document asserted the rights of Parliament and individuals, including protection from arbitrary imprisonment and taxation without consent.
English Bill of Rights
This document, passed in 1689, further limited the power of the monarchy and established fundamental rights for citizens, such as freedom of speech and protection from cruel punishment.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The first constitution of colonial America, adopted in 1639, which limited government power and gave people the right to choose judges.
Types of Colonies
- Proprietary Colony: A colony granted by England to a proprietor or group of people who funded its establishment.
- Royal Colony: A colony ruled by a governor appointed by the king or queen.
- Charter Colony: A colony established by settlers who had been granted a charter allowing them to settle.
Colonial Alliances and Conflicts
- New England Confederation: An alliance formed by New England colonists in 1643 for defense against Native American tribes and Dutch encroachment.
- Iroquois Confederation: A league of Native American tribes in the Northeast that fought with the English in the French and Indian War and supported the Loyalists in the American Revolution.
- Albany Plan of Union: Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, this plan aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes. It was rejected by both the colonies and the Crown.
The Road to Revolution
- The Stamp Act: The British government’s first tax on the colonies, which imposed a tax on paper goods and legal documents.
- First Continental Congress: Held in 1774, this gathering of colonial delegates protested the Intolerable Acts, endorsed a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III.
- Second Continental Congress: This congress, convened in 1775, organized the Continental Army, selected George Washington as its leader, and ultimately declared the colonies independent from England.
- Virginia Declaration of Rights: Issued by the Virginia Convention in 1776, this declaration outlined the fundamental rights of citizens.
Key Terms and Concepts
- Impel: To force or drive forward.
- Usurpations: Wrongful uses of authority.
- Evinces: Reveals or shows.
- Despotism: A system of government where the ruler has unlimited power.
- Tyranny: Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
- Candid: Completely honest and straightforward.
The Formation of the United States Constitution
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1781, created a weak central government. It faced challenges with trade, including different currencies in each state and tariffs on goods traded between states.
Shays’s Rebellion
A rebellion by Massachusetts farmers in 1786-1787, protesting economic hardship and the prospect of losing their land. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.
Constitutional Convention
Virginia Plan
Also known as the Big State Plan, it proposed proportional representation in Congress based on population.
New Jersey Plan
This plan proposed equal representation for each state in a unicameral Congress.
Great Compromise
A compromise that combined elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and a Senate (with equal representation for each state).
Three-Fifths Compromise
A compromise that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in Congress and taxation.
Ratification Debates
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Antifederalists
Opponents of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.