Government: Creates and conducts Public Policy

Public Policy: The Government power to maintain legitimate authority and control over society

Purpose of the Government: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Find Six Purposes

Forms of Government Anarchy Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy Rule by a few Rule by the people Rule by one Lack of Government

Who has the Power in Public Policy decisions Traditional Democratic Theory – Depends on the consent of the governed (representatives) Pluralistic Theory - Interest Groups compete to promote policies Elite Theory - Powerful elitists that rule for its own self interest Bureaucratic Theory - Bureaucrats carry out the day-to-day workings of the Government Hyper pluralism – To many groups have power and gridlock takes place as well as ineffectiveness

The weaknesses evident in the Articles of Confederation allowed the states to focus on their own powers. With no central government to control them, the states taxed each other, printed their own money,, made treaties with foreign governments and often refused to uphold the laws of the Confederation government.

Federalists Vs Anti Federalists Favored Constitution Opposed Constitution Stressed the weaknesses of the Articles Wanted strong State Governments Checks and Balances would protect against abuses The Strong Executive was similar to a Monarchy Protection of property rights To much popular participation State Constitutions already had protections in the bill of rights Wanted the bill of rights to protect citizens from the government.

Differences between the sides in the Great Compromise Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Legislation - Representation Executive Judges

Basic Principles of the Constitution Limited Government – Government has only the powers given to it. Popular Sovereignty- People are the source of government authority Separation of Powers – Government is separated into three branches with each branch having its own duties independent of the others Checks and Balances – Each branch is constrained by the other two Federalism – division of powers between the states and nation governments.

Informal Amendment Process Do you know these four processes? Legislative actions Executive actions Judicial interpretation/judicial review Custom and usage – Senatorial Courtesy (I help you here)

Know your Amendments