Political Science 206 Texas A M University Midterm Review I You should be comfortable with the following terms and concepts Keep in mind that these are just some but by no means all of the more important topics we ve covered in lecture the readings What is politics What are institutions o Resolving conflict in a peaceful way Negotiation bargaining and compromise o Harold Lasswell Politics is the struggle of who gets what when and how o Rules by which we have decided will decide who gets what when and how o Rules by which conflict is resolved o Definition of Government Collective set of political institutions How can government resolve conflict o By the institutions it has set in place o Government has coercive power If you break the law you ll go to jail Basic forms of government o Similarities and differences Direct democracy Republic Public vote on everything done o Problem is majority decides everything Elected officials by the people to carry out business of law and public matters o Idea that most of the politics and decision making are located in the framework of the government but many non governmental groups of individual use their resources to exert influence and maximize their interests o People that have the same interest and values will naturally gather together for Public public government paid projects for the better of the people Private private good bought with own money for personal use o Examples of Public roads Libraries city work bridges Private boat house car etc Core democratic values o Peoples vote Pluralism the higher goal Public vs private goods o Definitions of o Why government Collective action problems o Definitions of Problem risen from a group of individuals that all have their own personal interest and in result of that has a sub optimal situation compared to if everyone came to agreement o Examples of Multiple business mass producing a shoe makes the shoe worth less thus EVERYONE makes less money because it cant be sold for as much o A list of grievances to the King of England that declared us independent for those Declaration of Independence grievances Articles of Confederation o What were they First framework of government established after revolution until ratification of constitution in 1787 o What were its major features Una cameral congress required full 13 13 vote from each colony no president executive of judicial branch o Why did it break down Could not enforce to levy taxes or manage interstate commerce Bill of Rights o First 10 amendments to the constitutions protecting individual rights Who were the Federalists Anti Federalists o What did they stand for Federalists supporters of ratification of Constitution Anti Federalists non supports opposer s of the ratification of the Constitution Constitution o What events precipitated the Constitutional convention The inability to manage the government efficiently Shays Rebellion o Who wrote it James Madison Philadelphia convention o What were the major proposals Separated powers to control and divide the factions Federalist 10 51 o What is the main logic 10 factions are the result of people coming together we must control the impact of factions o What are factions Group of individuals with common plans or ideologies o Difference between majority minority factions o How to cure the mischiefs of faction One by removing its causes the other by controlling its effects o How to remove the causes of faction By destroying the liberty that is essential to its existence the other by giving to every citizen the same opinions the same passions and the same interests Public vote on every matter o How does it differ from a republican representative democracy Direct democracy Everyone including ill informed vote on important matters Representative democracy elected officials by the public to make informed decisions on their behalf and have the peoples best in mind Direct democracy o What is it Constitutional powers of president congress judiciary o How are these individuals selected President Electoral College Rep plurality vote in district Senator plurality vote in State Judge Chosen by President confirmed by Senate o Length of term President 4 years Rep 2 years Senator 6 years Judge Life term o Constituency President American people Rep people in district Senator people in state Judge no one Everyone o Size Rep 435 Senator 100 Judge 9 o Apportionment President 1 President One per nation Rep depending on population Senator 2 per state Judge just 9 o Powers President veto executive power Congress declare war levy taxes make laws override veto Supreme Court judiciary review declaring unconstitutional o Cumulatively what do all of these differences mean Has equally divided out some major powers bestowed upon the Parliament vs U S Congress government o How does a parliamentary system work Party strong people vote for party party decides which person from their party takes open seat Party strong in Parliament Congress anyone can claim to any party o Implications of a parliamentary system for party strength citizen information executive legislative relations accountability divided vs unified government Through this there are much more swifter decisions made because one party is in clear control Not as much gridlock Prime minister is chosen by majority Party at time House Senate similarities differences o Implications of differences House lower house slower more people 435 Senate upper house more elites and high class more established people 100 Leadership in the House and Senate o What are the major positions House Senate Speaker of the House official leader of the House of Representatives chosen among members of the majority party o Administers proceedings of the floor recognizes Members to speak appointing Members to conference committees Majority leader second in command of his own party Minority leader in charge of party which piece of legislation their party should support etc Majority and Minority Whip deputies to the party Leaders and work to ensure that party members vote the way the party leadership intends President of the Senate Vice President of the United States cannot vote except to break tie President Pro Tempore of the Senate in absence of the President of the Senate the President Pro Tempore is the official head of the Senate he represents the Senate at formal events and with the Speaker of the House presides over joint sessions of Congress He is typically the most senior member of the majority
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