Political Science on Democracy and Governance

How You Might Use This Guide

• This guide provides learning outcomes for each section of the course, along with questions to guide note-taking.
• Spark readings are noted for use with team applications.
• The guide can be copied for note-taking and checklist use.
• The document outline can be used to navigate sections.
• To expand or collapse content, click the >.

Part 1: Foundations (W1-3)

• Learning Outcomes:
  • Discuss common definitions and measurements of "democracy."
  • Explain the main debates and compromises shaping the Constitution.
  • Assess factors influencing the likelihood of constitutional change.
  • Contrast U.S. constitutional features with those of advanced democracies.
  • Evaluate the role of actors' preferences in political outcomes, such as constitutional design.
• What Does "Democracy" Mean to You?:
  • A system where power rests with the people, ruling directly or through elected representatives.
• Commonalities in Democracy Definitions:
  • Popular sovereignty
  • Political equality
  • Protection of individual rights

How Do Political Scientists Approach the "Democracy or Republic" Debate?

• Political scientists often highlight a republic as a form of democracy that prioritizes rule of law and minority rights.
• Democracy can be measured using indices like the Democracy Index.

What's the Difference Between "Empirical" and "Normative"?

• Empirical refers to measurable, observable data (facts).
• Normative involves value judgments (what ought to be).

Why Were the Framers Concerned About Giving the Public Too Much of a Say?

• Framers worried about mob rule and instability, so they implemented checks and balances and indirect election methods like the Electoral College.

What Is a Constitution?

• A set of fundamental principles or precedents governing a state or organization.

How Can the Ideas of Actors, Rules, and Preferences Help Us Make Sense of Politics?

• Analyzing actor interactions within institutional frameworks, considering their interests and preferences.
• Preferences within groups can change due to compromises.

What Makes a Country Federal?

• A federal system divides power between national and regional governments.
• A unitary system centralizes power in a single national government.
• Federal systems transfer power through federalism.
• Unitary systems transfer power through devolution.

How Are Confederations Distinct From Both Federal & Unitary Systems?

• Confederations are loose associations of sovereign states with limited central authority.

How Much Power Did the Framers Give to the Federal Government?

• Framers gave limited powers to the federal government to balance national unity with states' rights.
• Power is balanced between branches: the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court.
  • Congress creates laws.
  • The Supreme Court interprets laws.

What Were the Main Debates About the Senate?

• Representation was a key debate, resolved by creating a Senate with equal representation for each state, balancing population-based representation in the House.

What Role Did Slavery Play in the Constitution?

• Slavery was a contentious issue, leading to compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise.

What Sort of Executive Did the Framers Want to Have?

• Framers wanted a strong but limited executive branch to ensure effective governance while preventing tyranny.

How Did Recent History Affect the Decisions About the Constitution?

• The failures of the Articles of Confederation influenced the framers to create a stronger federal government.

How Did Recent History Play a Role in the Creation of Other Countries' Constitutions?

• Other countries often drew on their own historical experiences in drafting their constitutions.

What Are Rights & Liberties?

• Fundamental freedoms and protections guaranteed to individuals.

What Debates Did the Framers Have About Including Rights & Liberties?

• Debate over the necessity of a Bill of Rights; resolved by adding the first ten amendments to protect individual freedoms.

What's Required to Amend the Constitution?

• Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention.
• Ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Is the U.S. Constitution Difficult to Change?

• Yes, due to the rigorous amendment process designed to ensure stability and broad consensus.

How Does the Process of Amendment Compare to Other Countries?

• The U.S. process is generally more stringent than many other democracies, which often have simpler or more flexible amendment procedures.

What Arguments Have People Made About Why the U.S. Constitution Changes Less Often Than Other Constitutions?

• Difficulty of the amendment process and the broad, adaptable language of the Constitution.

What's Needed to Add a State to the U.S.?

• Congressional approval and presidential signature, with states meeting certain criteria.

What Lessons Might We Take From Other Countries?

• Importance of clear legal frameworks and different governance structures.

Part 2: Institutions (W4-5)

• Learning Outcomes:
  • Describe the powers (and limits thereof) of the three federal U.S. branches of government.
  • Explain what the framers intended for these branches and how things have evolved.
  • Explain how the branches interact with each other.
  • Evaluate how the Supreme Court has shaped American politics.
  • Contrast the U.S. national branches with those in other advanced democracies.
  • Assess what might happen if the branches were designed differently.
  • Evaluate causal claims about American politics.

What Are the Three Branches of Government and How Are They Distinct?

• Legislative branch makes laws.
• Executive branch enforces laws.
• Judicial branch interprets laws.
• Checks and balances limit abuse of power.

What's the Difference Between a Head of State and Head of Government?

• Head of state represents the nation symbolically.
• Head of government oversees executive branch and policy implementation.

What Does the Constitution Say About Who Is Eligible to Be President?

• Natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and resident for 14 years.

What Happens If the President Is Unable to Serve?

• The vice president assumes the presidency, followed by a line of succession.

How Long Can Someone Serve as President?

• A president can serve two four-year terms, limited by the 22nd Amendment.

What Are Enumerated Powers for the U.S. President?

• Vetoing legislation, commanding the military, and conducting foreign policy.

How Did the Framers Limit Presidential Powers?

• Checks and balances and requiring congressional approval for many actions.

How Have Presidential Powers Expanded Over Time?

• Executive orders, national emergencies, and evolving interpretations of constitutional authority.

How Do Presidents Use Executive Orders?

• Directives issued by the president to manage federal government operations.

What's the Difference Between Direct and Indirect Elections?

• Direct involves voters choosing candidates directly.
• Indirect involves an intermediary body like the Electoral College.

How Are Presidents Different From Prime Ministers?

• Presidents are separately elected, have fixed terms, and are typically not directly beholden to the legislature.
• Prime Ministers are chosen by the legislature and can be removed by a vote of no confidence.

How Do We Know If a Country Has a Presidential, Parliamentary, or Semi-presidential Executive?

• Characteristics of each system differ.

What Similarities and Differences Can We See in These Examples of Executives?

• Similarities center on leadership of the executive branch; differences lie in election methods, powers, and the relationship to the legislature.

Why Might People Prefer Presidential or Parliamentary Systems?

• Presidential systems offer clear separation of powers; parliamentary systems promote potentially stable governance.

What Does the Constitution Say About How Congress Will Be Structured?

• Bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives based on population, and the Senate providing equal representation for each state.

How Might We Think About the Idea of "Representation"?

• Representation ensures that diverse interests have a voice and is vital for a democracy.

How Would You Explain the Process of House Seat Apportionment?

• Based on population data from the census, each state receives a proportional number of seats in the House.

What Concerns Have Some People Raised About Apportionment?

• Potential underrepresentation of certain populations and political manipulation of district boundaries.

Part 3: Parties (W6-7)

• Learning Outcomes:
  • Describe the origins and impacts of the two-party system in the US.
  • Explain how and why the Republican and Democratic parties have evolved.
  • Evaluate the impacts of party affiliation in the US

What Are Political Parties and Why Did They Emerge?

• Organized groups of people with similar political aims. They seek to influence public policy by electing their candidates.

What's Led to Party Splits/Disappearance/Emergence?

• Social, economic, and political changes (e.g., immigration, civil-rights movements, economic crises.)

How Have the Democrats and Republicans Changed Over Time?

• Their platforms have evolved over time.
• Democrats have shifted from limiting government to advocating for social welfare.
• Republicans have shifted from favoring strong federal power to limited government.

Around Which Issues/Interests Have the Parties Coalesced and Divided?

• Economic policy, civil rights, immigration, and social welfare are recurring issues.

How Similar Are Parties in the U.S. to Those in Other Advanced Democracies?

• Fewer ideological cohesions in U.S. and more candidate-centered politics compared to other democracies, which are often more policy-focused.

Why Does the U.S. Only Seem to Have Two Major Parties?

• This is largely due to the single-member district plurality, or "first past the post" electoral system.

How Does the First-Past-the-Post System Work, and How Does It Contribute to a Two-Party System?

• The winner often has the most votes, which discourages smaller parties.

What Is Party Identification?

• Individual identification with a political party.