Journal
Political science (American government)
Representative government
Balancing needs • People need to be able to express themselves • Fear of rash behavior by the public. • Tyranny of the majority: people acting as an irrational mob trampling on the rights of minorities. Historical record of pure democracies was bad at this time. • Federalist No. 10
Democracy v. Republic • While we think of democracies and republics as being the same now, they were not that way in the 18th century o Democracy: the public is directly involved in policymaking perhaps. Majority will is absolute. o Republic: public elects representatives. Institutions are responsive to majority but not fully dependent on it.
Institutions in American republic-reduces tyranny of majority potential
Types of institutions • President: Electoral College (electors; up to individual states how to select), 4-year term. Direct elections rejected twice. • Senate: originally picked by state legislatures; 6-year terms (staggered elections) • House: Elected by the people in districts; 2-year terms (all at once) • Federal judge: Nominated by president and confirmed by majority of senate; serve indefinitely (subject to “good behavior”)
Issues
• Do the people really have much of a say in this government? Is it responsive enough? o How could we make government more responsive? o Is it TOO responsive?
Changes to the Original system • Jackson administration (1828) o Start of “constitutional revolution” o Most states switch electoral votes to a popular vote system. Whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state gets that state’s electoral votes. o If you win the popular vote nationally, you USUALLY win elections. ▪ Exceptions: Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), George W. Bush (2000) • Progressive era (1900-1920) o Initiative and
Representative government
Balancing needs • People need to be able to express themselves • Fear of rash behavior by the public. • Tyranny of the majority: people acting as an irrational mob trampling on the rights of minorities. Historical record of pure democracies was bad at this time. • Federalist No. 10
Democracy v. Republic • While we think of democracies and republics as being the same now, they were not that way in the 18th century o Democracy: the public is directly involved in policymaking perhaps. Majority will is absolute. o Republic: public elects representatives. Institutions are responsive to majority but not fully dependent on it.
Institutions in American republic-reduces tyranny of majority potential
Types of institutions • President: Electoral College (electors; up to individual states how to select), 4-year term. Direct elections rejected twice. • Senate: originally picked by state legislatures; 6-year terms (staggered elections) • House: Elected by the people in districts; 2-year terms (all at once) • Federal judge: Nominated by president and confirmed by majority of senate; serve indefinitely (subject to “good behavior”)
Issues
• Do the people really have much of a say in this government? Is it responsive enough? o How could we make government more responsive? o Is it TOO responsive?
Changes to the Original system • Jackson administration (1828) o Start of “constitutional revolution” o Most states switch electoral votes to a popular vote system. Whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state gets that state’s electoral votes. o If you win the popular vote nationally, you USUALLY win elections. ▪ Exceptions: Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), George W. Bush (2000) • Progressive era (1900-1920) o Initiative and