Government & Politics Paper 2
1. US Constitution 2. Comparing 3. Congress 4. US Executive 5. Comparing Executives
Constitutions
6. US Judiciary 7. Comparing Judiciaries 8. US Elections and 9. US Political parties 10.Comparing Electoral
Democracy and Party systems
11.US Pressure groups 12.Comparing Pressure 13.Civil rights 14.Comparing Civil rights
groups
1
,1. US Constitution
2
,Key features of the US Constitution
1. ‘Representative 2. Fear of mass democracy 3. Blend of specificity and 4. Articles ordered
government, not vagueness deliberately
democracy’ • Founding Fathers
recognised tyranny of • implied powers: powers of a. Congress 1st: principal
• no mention of ‘one man, one majority. fed. govt. only vaguely player.
vote’. • Hamilton: ‘Nothing but a outlined. b. president 2nd: trouble-
• aligned with JS Mill’s fear for permanent body can check - i.e. defence. shooter – focus on unity
direct democracy. the imprudence of • enumerated powers are than powerful figure (no
• indirect election of president democracy.’ explicitly spelt out. ‘tyrannical’ monarch).
via Electoral College. - this permanent body is the - i.e. president is commander- c. Supreme Court 3rd: no
• Senate initially chosen Constitution. in-chief of armed forces. specific role or requirement.
indirectly by state • this fear also caused - designed to be long-lasting
legislatures – changed in amendments to be and enduring – not easily
1913 17th Amendment. deliberately difficult to be changed.
made formally.
3
,Significance of constitutional principles
1. Vagueness and silence 2. Need for a referee 3. Game of gridlock 4. Elections
• offers both strengths and • precedent set by Marbury v • designed to promote • conduct of elections
weaknesses. Madison (1803). cooperation and determined by individual
• adaptable without formal compromise between states ⟶ different
changes to clauses, but lack • interprets the Constitution branches – but reality methods of voting in
of certainty has been proven • ⟶ very powerful proves otherwise. states.
unhelpful. • ∵ constitutional sovereignty. • competition and deadlock, • state-based focus for
• where there is no clarity, the - Charles Evans Hughes: ‘We i.e. 35-day long govt. elections ⟶ controversy
SC steps in. are under a Constitution, but shutdown 2018-19 Trump over stricter voter ID laws.
the Constitution is what the wall.
judges say it is.’
- i.e. Kansas and
• division and inefficiency. Mississippi voter fraud.
• led to inevitable
politicisation.
4
1. US Constitution 2. Comparing 3. Congress 4. US Executive 5. Comparing Executives
Constitutions
6. US Judiciary 7. Comparing Judiciaries 8. US Elections and 9. US Political parties 10.Comparing Electoral
Democracy and Party systems
11.US Pressure groups 12.Comparing Pressure 13.Civil rights 14.Comparing Civil rights
groups
1
,1. US Constitution
2
,Key features of the US Constitution
1. ‘Representative 2. Fear of mass democracy 3. Blend of specificity and 4. Articles ordered
government, not vagueness deliberately
democracy’ • Founding Fathers
recognised tyranny of • implied powers: powers of a. Congress 1st: principal
• no mention of ‘one man, one majority. fed. govt. only vaguely player.
vote’. • Hamilton: ‘Nothing but a outlined. b. president 2nd: trouble-
• aligned with JS Mill’s fear for permanent body can check - i.e. defence. shooter – focus on unity
direct democracy. the imprudence of • enumerated powers are than powerful figure (no
• indirect election of president democracy.’ explicitly spelt out. ‘tyrannical’ monarch).
via Electoral College. - this permanent body is the - i.e. president is commander- c. Supreme Court 3rd: no
• Senate initially chosen Constitution. in-chief of armed forces. specific role or requirement.
indirectly by state • this fear also caused - designed to be long-lasting
legislatures – changed in amendments to be and enduring – not easily
1913 17th Amendment. deliberately difficult to be changed.
made formally.
3
,Significance of constitutional principles
1. Vagueness and silence 2. Need for a referee 3. Game of gridlock 4. Elections
• offers both strengths and • precedent set by Marbury v • designed to promote • conduct of elections
weaknesses. Madison (1803). cooperation and determined by individual
• adaptable without formal compromise between states ⟶ different
changes to clauses, but lack • interprets the Constitution branches – but reality methods of voting in
of certainty has been proven • ⟶ very powerful proves otherwise. states.
unhelpful. • ∵ constitutional sovereignty. • competition and deadlock, • state-based focus for
• where there is no clarity, the - Charles Evans Hughes: ‘We i.e. 35-day long govt. elections ⟶ controversy
SC steps in. are under a Constitution, but shutdown 2018-19 Trump over stricter voter ID laws.
the Constitution is what the wall.
judges say it is.’
- i.e. Kansas and
• division and inefficiency. Mississippi voter fraud.
• led to inevitable
politicisation.
4
