Politics and government mid term 2013 fall

elastic clause - gives congress the power to do whatever they want

the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or priveleges.

(you can have politics anywhere where someone can give you something

Preeminent institution within society it has ultimate authority to decide how conflicts will be resolved and how benefits and priveleges will be allocated

peace and security - the state of

greatest freedom of an individual consistent with the fredom of other individuals in society.  NOt absolute don't live on earth by yourself

revolve around core values of liberty order equality and progress.

To secure the rights of the people that are governed

HARM can be used as a legitimate limiting principle.  I'm free to do what ever I wish to do unless it involves cause harm to you

• Monarchy (royalty)
• aristocracy (few best)
• constitutional polis (many)
• the focus is outward towards the people; focus on community

• Tyranny
• Oligarchy (govt by the few)
• Democracy (majority is least perverted form)

focus is inward

takes care of business through representation (bring together a bunch of aristocrats who listened to the voice of the people and serve as filter of this voice)

We limit these people with a constitution that has separte of powers and checks and balances

what we have is not a true democracy (ruled by the people)  hard to have everyone participate

Constitutional republic

• Popular Sovereignty
• Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed

• Sovereignty
• e.g. state

need a population and a defined territory and be soverign

Unitary (go from the top down; decisions made from the top)

Confederal - go from the bottom up

Federalism - power that rests in both the national government and state government

Enumerated powers: article I section 8 = congress

Implied powers: clause 18 (elastic clause) powers excercised by congress which are not explicitly given by the constitution but are necessary and proper to execute the powers which are.

life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

to protect and secure the unalienable rights we have

• our right to alter or abolish it
• "the tree of liberty should be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots

Legislative (congress)

Article II (commander and chief of military)

Article III (courts)

• Executive
• legislative
• judicial

enforce law; implements the laws made this is the office of the president

power to make laws - rules must be obeyed (congress: house, senate)

interprets the law - supreme court and any other court congress needs to create. Congress cannot add to the courts jurisdiction

article I section 8 list of powers of congress

powers that congress has that are not specifically listed in the constitution but that they need to use to uphold the other powers that are listed. Elastic clause (18)

decisions are made from the top down

decisions made from the bottom up.

Power that rests in both the national and state governments