Unit 1: American Political Foundations
Completing this unit should take you approximately 6 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- distinguish the distribution and use of power within different forms of government;
- explain the fundamental principles in the Declaration of Independence;
- analyze the flaws in the Articles of Confederation;
- identify the plans the Constitutional Convention delegates promoted regarding representation and slavery;
- compare the Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the Constitution's ratification process;
- explain the importance of minority rights in a democracy;
- describe the principles of the Constitution, including separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism;
- differentiate various types of federalism that define power-sharing between national and state governments; and
- describe how amendment and interpretation have changed the Constitution since its ratification.
1.1: The Challenge of Democracy and the American Political System
The political scientist Harold Laswell defined politics as "who gets what, when, and how." Every society answers these questions through its system of government. As a democracy, the United States responds by balancing majority rule and minority rights. In this section, we examine fundamental concepts of politics, power, and authority and the ongoing challenge of democracy.
Read this text. Politics is essentially the distribution and use of power within a society. Understanding the various types of authority (traditional, legal or rational, and charismatic) provides insight into how governments use power. This reading offers a foundation for understanding authority and the use of power in the democratic form of government practiced in the United States.
Read this text. While majority rule is democracy's most popularly understood principle, it cannot be the only expression of supreme power in this form of government. The majority would too easily tyrannize the minority. The Founding Fathers understood this and worked to fashion a government that would balance majority rule with the need to avoid tyranny.
1.2: The Constitution
The road from 13 separate colonies with their own histories, cultures, and political values to a unified nation of states under a single constitution was difficult. Over time and from the perspective of being part of that unified nation, we may have lost an appreciation for how different the culture and life of people in South Carolina were from those in New York. In this section, we explore the steps early Americans took from colony to confederation to a federal system. Along the way, consider the aspirations the early Americans expressed in the Declaration of Independence and evaluate their struggle to put their ideals into practice through the Constitution and its amendments.
Read this text on the political ideas and events that lead to the push for independence by the 13 colonies and the formation of a new American democracy. Do you think the concept of the social contract still plays an important role in American culture?
Read this text on the first form of government created in the United States. Pay attention to why the Articles of Confederation were weak and led to the need for a new system of government.
Read the Preamble to the Constitution and the associated annotations.
- Read this text on the major issues of debate surrounding the development of the U.S. Constitution. Pay attention to the Three-fifths Compromise and the Great Compromise. How do they compare with the aspirational language of the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?
Read Federalist 10 (published in 1787) and Federalist 51 (published in 1788), two of the most famous Federalist Papers written by James Madison. These are among the most highly regarded of all American political writings. For Federalist 10, identify why Madison believes that the Constitution provides for a form of government that will control factionalism and fulfill the will of the people. Federalist 51 addresses how democracies can form appropriate checks and balances and advocates for a separation of powers within the national government. One of its most important ideas is the oft-quoted phrase, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition".
Read this section on the challenges of ratifying the Constitution. What role did the fear of authoritarian rule play in this process? Do fears about a strong national government remain in today's American culture?
Read this annotated list of the Amendments to the Constitution. Which Amendment was the most impactful?
Read this short excerpt from the Federalist Papers. It explains how advocates of ratification tried to convince the public to support the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, which were 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, outlined the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government and served (and continue to serve) as a primary source for interpretation of the Constitution. This excerpt provides background information on the Federalist Papers and should serve as a reference point when you read Federalists 10 and 51.
Read this text on the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Which Amendments have been most important for minority rights?
Read this short excerpt on how Americans have interpreted the Constitution over time. Since the framers realized they could not possibly plan for every circumstance or situation, they provided an amendment process so government leaders could modify the Constitution and its laws as society grew and changed.
Read this short excerpt that discusses the idea that the U.S. Constitution is a "living" document. This implies its interpretation must evolve to meet the needs of contemporary society.
1.3: Federalism
Federalism is the American political system's arrangement of powers and responsibilities between the national and state governments. While the Constitution specifies exclusive and concurrent powers for national and state governments, other powers are implied. This distribution of powers creates an inherent tension between the national and state governments. In this section, we explore the evolution of federalism, focusing on the strategies national and state governments used to assert or expand their power.
Read this text that defines federalism and contrasts it with unitary government systems. Pay attention to the division of powers between the national and state governments.
As you read this text, pay attention to the shifting relationship between the national and state governments across time. Note the terms political scientists use to describe the different periods of tension between national and state governments. Which government has increased or diminished its power in relation to the other? Is American federalism a story of balance and struggle or one of increased power for one layer of government at the expense of the other?
Read this text on how the distribution of funds has influenced the relationship between the national and state governments. Do you think unfunded mandates are necessary or a form of national government overreach?
Read this text on our contemporary phase of federalism. Is this period similar or different from previous stages?
Read this text on the advantages and disadvantages of the American federal system. Do you think the benefits outweigh the negative aspects it describes?
Watch this presentation on cooperative and fiscal federalism. While fiscal federalism has generated federal monies for states in various areas – agricultural, transportation, and research – some states are concerned about burdensome regulations and requirements. In recent years, we have seen a push to return power to the states (devolution), placing the burden of a wide range of domestic programs on state governments so they can design programs in a way that suits their residents.
The Democratic and Republican parties have different principles about federalism. Democrats prefer to have policies set by the national government. They opt for national standards for consistency across states and localities, often by attaching stringent conditions to the use of national funds. Most Republicans decry such centralization. They endorse giving powers to the states and reducing funding for the national government. These differences reveal divergent political ideologies on the "proper" role of government.Read this report. The authors identify several significant periods and events in the evolution of American federalism. Is the story of American Federalism about balance and struggle or about increased power for one layer of government at the expense of the other?
Unit 1 Assessment
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Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
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