Topic 1.1 Ideals of Democracy
LO: Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
The Mayflower Compact |
John Locke's Two Treatises of Government |
Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws |
LOR-1.A.2 The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Jefferson with help from Adams and Franklin, provides a foundation for popular sovereignty, while the U.S. Constitution drafted at the Philadelphia Convention and led by George Washington, with important contributions from Madison, Hamilton, and members of the “Grand Committee,” provides the blueprint for a unique form of political democracy in the U.S.
Philosophically Correct Reading
Topic 1.1 Review
Topic 1.2 Types of Democracy
LO: Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S.
Participatory Democracy |
Pluralist Democracy |
Elite Democracy |
LOR-1.B.2 Different aspects of the U.S. Constitution as well as the debate between Federalist No. 10 and Brutus No. 1 reflect the tension between the broad participatory model and the more filtered participation of the pluralist and elite models.
LOR-1.B.3 The three models of representative democracy continue to be reflected in contemporary institutions and political behavior.
Topic 1.2 Review
Topic 1.3 Government Power and Individual Rights
LO Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents.
Representative Democracy |
James Madison |
Patrick Henry delivers his famous "If this be treason, make the most of it!" speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses |
| CON-1.A.1 Madison’s arguments in Federalist No. 10 focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government. |
CON-1.A.2 Anti-Federalist writings, including Brutus No. 1, adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government. An example of the Anti-Federalist sentiment can be found in "Letters from the Federal Farmer #1."
Topic 1.3 Review
Topic 1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
LO: Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states.
The Preamble to New Jersey’s 1776 Constitution |
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 |
Virginia’s first Constitution, 1776 |
Topic 1.4 Review
Topic 1.5 Ratification of the United States Constitution
LO: Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system.
The Connecticut Compromise, oil on canvas by Bradley Stevens, 2006, depicting Oliver Ellsworth (left) and Roger Sherman |
2016 Electoral College |
Amending the Constitution |
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CON-1.C.2 Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution necessitated the drafting of an amendment process in Article V that entailed either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from two-thirds of the state legislatures, with final ratification determined by three-fourths of the states.
CON-1.C.3 The compromises necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution left some matters unresolved that continue to generate discussion and debate today.
CON-1.C.4 The debate over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remains at the heart of present-day constitutional issues about democracy and governmental power, as represented by:
- Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks
- The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education
Topic 1.5 Review
Topic 1.6 Principles of American Government
LO: Explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and “checks and balances.”
LO: Explain the implications of separation of powers and “checks and balances” for the U.S. political system.
A tipi, used for peyote ceremonies in the Native American Church, one of the main religions affected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act |
17th President, Andrew Johnson (impeached), 37th President, Richard Nixon (almost impeached), and 42nd President, Bill Clinton (impeached) |
President Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Actions and the response by Congress and the Courts |
| PMI-1.B.1 Multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy flows from the separation of powers and checks and balances. |
Topic 1.6 Review
Topic 1.7 Relationship Between States and the Federal Government
LO: Explain how societal needs affect the constitutional allocation of power between the national and state governments.
The National Industrial Recovery Act, as signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 16, 1933 |
Ronald Reagan and his election in 1980 started a “devolution revolution” |
States that have legalized recreational marijuana for adults, 2018, despite it still being illegal at the federal level |
Topic 1.7 Review
Topic 1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
LO: Explain how the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time.
Read Daniel Elazar’s “Opening the Third Century of American Federalism” |
The Impact of the New Deal on American Federalism |
President George W. Bush signing the No Child Left Behind Act |
CON-2.B.2 The balance of power between the national and state governments has changed over time based on U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of such cases as:
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), which declared that Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers and established supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws.
- United States v. Lopez (1995), which ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime, introducing a new phase of federalism that recognized the importance of state sovereignty and local control.
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Topic 1.8 Review
Topic 1.9 Federalism in Action
LO: Explain how the distribution of powers among three federal branches and between national and state governments impacts policy making.
Federalism in the United States |
United States v. Morrison (2000), a case that overturned portions of the Violence Against Women Act and further defined federalism |
The debates between the Defense of Marriage Act and challenges at the state and local level was a historic example of federalism in action |
CON-2.C.2 National policy making is constrained by the sharing of power between and among the three branches and state governments.
Topic 1.9 Review
Unit 1 Summary and Review
The democratic government of the United States traces its roots from the Greco-Roman era through the Enlightenment. The key founding documents of U.S. government, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, set forth the principles that define the character of American democracy, such as federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, and a system of checks and balances. The U.S. Constitution is a flexible document that provides for its own changes, or amendments and it outlines a federalist system that arose from the framers’ desire to create a stronger national government than under the Articles of Confederation but preserve some powers of the existing states and state governments, where the powers of government are divided between a national government and regional (state and local) governments. Each level of government has specific areas of jurisdiction with overlapping coverage of peoples and territories. The United States Constitution outlines each level of government’s authority, powers, and prohibitions.
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