1. What is the purpose of government? The purpose of government is to protect the people and the rights of those people. It is also there to enforce laws on the people and keep order within the country. It promotes equality and establish justice.
2. What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic? The founders believed the purpose of government was to provide security for the country and the people. They believed the role of citizens is to elect the government and have a say in the government.
3. Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium? Yes I believe that those views are still relevant because it is still the people's choice of who can govern the country.
4. How does the constitution underpin U.S. government? The Constitution underpins the US government by giving limited power to the government and giving some to the states that the government can't touch. The 3 branches of government get an equal but limited amount of power.
5. Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today? In the 18th century it was a novel idea because the colonists were worried about the balance of power due to what Britain did to the colonies and the Revolutionary War.
6. How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers? Montesquieu's theory was used for a monarch. Madison used the checks and balances theory for a Republican government and added the 3 branches of government.
7. Define the following concepts: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory.
-democratic theory: a system of government in which the people rule in some way
-republicanism: a type of government in which the power is in the people and is expressed through the elected officials of the people
-pluralist theory: a type of democratic government were the people use competing interest groups to apply to government.
-majoritarianism: The government is ran by the majority
- elitist theory: a small group of people make the big decisions
8. Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system? The Anti-Federalists feared an new government system because they were scared it would create a monarch. They were also scared it would take away the liberties of the people.
9. Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not? The new federal system strengthens the concept of separation of powers because it believes in equality and not letting one group of people gain to much control.
10. What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution? In the era of New Federalism the powers of state and local governments are to control certain laws that are within their states. The power to states has been restored in this era.
11. What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment? The federal government should have little influence on state issues because our government gave power to states so that they could deal with the issues on their own.
2. What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic? The founders believed the purpose of government was to provide security for the country and the people. They believed the role of citizens is to elect the government and have a say in the government.
3. Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium? Yes I believe that those views are still relevant because it is still the people's choice of who can govern the country.
4. How does the constitution underpin U.S. government? The Constitution underpins the US government by giving limited power to the government and giving some to the states that the government can't touch. The 3 branches of government get an equal but limited amount of power.
5. Why was the concept of “checks and balances” a novel idea in the 18th century versus today? In the 18th century it was a novel idea because the colonists were worried about the balance of power due to what Britain did to the colonies and the Revolutionary War.
6. How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers? Montesquieu's theory was used for a monarch. Madison used the checks and balances theory for a Republican government and added the 3 branches of government.
7. Define the following concepts: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory.
-democratic theory: a system of government in which the people rule in some way
-republicanism: a type of government in which the power is in the people and is expressed through the elected officials of the people
-pluralist theory: a type of democratic government were the people use competing interest groups to apply to government.
-majoritarianism: The government is ran by the majority
- elitist theory: a small group of people make the big decisions
8. Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the new governmental system? The Anti-Federalists feared an new government system because they were scared it would create a monarch. They were also scared it would take away the liberties of the people.
9. Does this new federal system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not? The new federal system strengthens the concept of separation of powers because it believes in equality and not letting one group of people gain to much control.
10. What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution? In the era of New Federalism the powers of state and local governments are to control certain laws that are within their states. The power to states has been restored in this era.
11. What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment? The federal government should have little influence on state issues because our government gave power to states so that they could deal with the issues on their own.