American Government and Politics (POLS 122) Professor Jonathan Day

Outline 1. Attendance sheet 2. Class Project – Let’s Create a Game 3. Politics is Conflictual 4. Political Process Matters 5. Politics is Everywhere

The Founding Creating the Rule Book

Politics is Conflictual 1. majority rule versus minority rights 2. small states versus large states 3. legislative versus executive power 4. national versus state and local power 5. slave states versus non-slave states

Bargaining / Negotiation Techniques 1. Splitting the Difference – Example: offering a lower price and then splitting the difference 2. Logrolling - Trading votes

Political Process Matters Ratification Process – The Founders put so much energy into creating the Constitution. But ALL of their energy would have been for nothing if the states did not agree to the new Constitution.

Political Process Matters Two important rules for ratification were set up to maximize the chances for success of the new Constitution State Conventions instead of State Legislatures 9 of 13 needed to ratify instead of a unanimous vote

Politics is Everywhere The Constitution is the very center of our legal system. Every rule and every law must not contradict this document which establishes in writing our rights, liberties, and the hierarchy of authority