Chapter 22 Who Governs? To What Ends?. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and

Chapter 22Chapter 22Who Governs? Who Governs? To What Ends?To What Ends?

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Justice is the end of government. Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

- - Federalist No. 51Federalist No. 51

Restraints on the Growth of Restraints on the Growth of Government OLD SystemGovernment OLD System

Old SystemOld System – The founders felt the – The founders felt the federal government should limit itself federal government should limit itself to war, peace, interstate commerce, to war, peace, interstate commerce, establishing a national currency, and establishing a national currency, and delivering the mail.delivering the mail.

Supreme Court restricted the ability Supreme Court restricted the ability to levy taxes/regulate businessesto levy taxes/regulate businesses

..


The Old SystemThe Old System

Agenda was smallAgenda was small Was it Was it legitimate legitimate for the federal for the federal

government to take action?government to take action? States’ rights was dominant themeStates’ rights was dominant theme Focus of policy debate was domestic Focus of policy debate was domestic

affairsaffairs Crises gave the government reason Crises gave the government reason

to take bold actionto take bold actionCopyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

QuestionQuestion

What are the positives of the old What are the positives of the old system?system?

What are the negatives of the old What are the negatives of the old system?system?

Should we go back to the old Should we go back to the old system? explainsystem? explain


New SystemNew System

New SystemNew System – Today, federal politics – Today, federal politics is about practically everythingis about practically everything


Restraints on the Growth of Restraints on the Growth of GovernmentGovernment

The Constitution is filled with The Constitution is filled with arrangements designed to make it arrangements designed to make it hard for the federal government to hard for the federal government to act.act.

Separation of powersSeparation of powers FederalismFederalism Division of legislative authority Division of legislative authority

between the House and the Senatebetween the House and the Senate


Relaxing the RestraintsRelaxing the Restraints

Courts have altered their Courts have altered their interpretation of the Constitution in interpretation of the Constitution in ways that not only permit but require ways that not only permit but require government action at times.government action at times.

Public opinion has changed in ways Public opinion has changed in ways that support an expanded role for the that support an expanded role for the federal government.federal government.

Political resources have become more Political resources have become more widely distributed.widely distributed.


The New SystemThe New System

Began in the 1930s; took Began in the 1930s; took present form in the 1970spresent form in the 1970s

Large policy agendaLarge policy agenda End of debate over End of debate over

legitimacylegitimacy of government of government actionaction

Diffusion and decentralization Diffusion and decentralization of power in Congressof power in Congress

Multiplication of interest Multiplication of interest groupsgroups


Food products now contain healthwarnings, such as nuts in thispackage of cookies. Source: Envision/Corbis

QuestionQuestion

Positives about the new system?Positives about the new system? Negatives about the new system?Negatives about the new system? Should the government increase its Should the government increase its

powers over us?powers over us? ExplainExplain



p. 577

Consequences of Activist Consequences of Activist GovernmentGovernment

More time spent on managing More time spent on managing consequences of existing programs (Less consequences of existing programs (Less debate about new ideas)debate about new ideas)

Inconsistencies more apparent (red Inconsistencies more apparent (red tape/confusion/court challenges)tape/confusion/court challenges)

Less susceptibility to control by electoral Less susceptibility to control by electoral activity (elections make less of an impact)activity (elections make less of an impact)

Rapid increase in number and variety of Rapid increase in number and variety of interest groups interest groups

Greater risk of failureGreater risk of failureCopyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Consequences of Activist Consequences of Activist GovernmentGovernment

Greater risk of failureGreater risk of failure Government is held responsible for Government is held responsible for

crime, drug abuse, abortion, etc.crime, drug abuse, abortion, etc. More people get upset at politiciansMore people get upset at politicians


M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: President Daniel GilbertPresident Daniel Gilbert

From: From: Fowler Brown, legislative liaisonFowler Brown, legislative liaison

Subject: Subject: Replacing Social SecurityReplacing Social Security

You face a difficult decision. Despite past reforms, theYou face a difficult decision. Despite past reforms, the

program can no longer be funded without large taxprogram can no longer be funded without large tax

increases. Here are the arguments for and againstincreases. Here are the arguments for and against

allowing workers to invest their taxes in private mutualallowing workers to invest their taxes in private mutual

funds.funds.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. Workers pay 15 percent of their salary to Social Security, 1. Workers pay 15 percent of their salary to Social Security, with no guarantee that they will get their money back when with no guarantee that they will get their money back when they retire.they retire.

2. There are only two workers for every retired person (in the 2. There are only two workers for every retired person (in the 1930s, there were 16 for every retiree). People must be 1930s, there were 16 for every retiree). People must be encouraged to invest in their own retirement.encouraged to invest in their own retirement.

3. The federal government spends a quarter of its budget on 3. The federal government spends a quarter of its budget on Social Security, far more than it devotes to national Social Security, far more than it devotes to national defense.defense.



Arguments against:Arguments against:

1. Workers will have no guarantee that the mutual funds in 1. Workers will have no guarantee that the mutual funds in which they put their tax money will earn them enough.which they put their tax money will earn them enough.

2. We should raise taxes on all high-income workers to save 2. We should raise taxes on all high-income workers to save Social Security.Social Security.

3. Social Security is more important than national defense.3. Social Security is more important than national defense.



Your decision:Your decision:

Approve?Approve?

Oppose?Oppose?



The Influence of StructureThe Influence of Structure

FEATURES OF A PARLIAMENTARY REGIME:FEATURES OF A PARLIAMENTARY REGIME: Quicker adoption of majoritarian policies Quicker adoption of majoritarian policies

such as social welfaresuch as social welfare More national planning, less local autonomyMore national planning, less local autonomy Fewer opportunities for citizens to challenge Fewer opportunities for citizens to challenge

or block government policiesor block government policies Greater executive control of governmentGreater executive control of government Similar foreign policySimilar foreign policy Higher and more centralized taxationHigher and more centralized taxation


The Influence of IdeasThe Influence of Ideas Political culture of Political culture of

commitment to rightscommitment to rights Which rights are most Which rights are most

important?important? Freedom of expression Freedom of expression

versus property freedomversus property freedom TocquevilleTocqueville – Americans – Americans

are more “attached to are more “attached to equality than to freedom”equality than to freedom”


Not only do interest groups Not only do interest groups promote government promote government policies, such policies policies, such policies stimulate interest groups. stimulate interest groups. The National Rifle The National Rifle Association had little Association had little interest in federal interest in federal regulations until gun control regulations until gun control became a big issue. p. 582 became a big issue. p. 582 Source: David J. Phillip/ AP Source: David J. Phillip/ AP PhotoPhoto


p. 583

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Chapter 22 Who Governs? To What Ends?. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and