Wednesday September 21, 2011

1. Wednesday September 21, 2011 • 1.05 Understand the implication(s) of federalism as a foundation of American government. • Read Federalist 14 or 15 • Summarize Thesis • What are the arguments?

2. Fed #14clearing up ‘some’ misconceptions Democracy – people meet and exercise gov in person Can be done in a small area Republic – Representatives meet and exercise gov Can be done over a wide area Republics are what we are talking about with this government It’s what Europe has done as well

3. How come we will be successful? • We can do a Republic fine because: • Europe is not too large for Republics to function • The federal government is not the only law making body • Communications and roads will improve • States on the borders (farthest from the center) need a strong federal gov

4. Opposition • Our opponents say that: • Americans are too disunited to be under one gov. • Response #1 • That this type of gov has not been done before and so is impossible

5. Federalist #15 • Response #2 • Why we need a new government: • We are near impending anarchy, nationally humiliated • “We have neither troops, nor treasury, nor government” • Commerce is falling apart • Our ambassadors are jokes • The value of land is falling indicating a lack of faith in government

6. Why we need a new government(cont): • Our opponents want to do the impossible: expand federal power while maintaining state power • States and individuals can now ignore federal directives • We are in danger of becoming like the bickering nations of Europe making deals with each other and breaking them just as quickly • The federal government must have authority over individuals • Laws need to be enforced either by the courts • Otherwise they need to be enforced by arms

7. Why we need a new government(cont): • Our opponents have said that a sense of common interest will keep such breaches from occurring • But the passions of men will not conform to reason and justice • Factions will help corrupt those passions in deliberative bodies • Plus people want power and won’t voluntarily yield it • Local gov may be ignorant of larger gov. goals and aspirations • If this continues the states will eventually leave the union “till the frail and tottering edifice seems ready to fall upon our heads and to crush us beneath its ruins.”

8. Federalists (good government and good citizens) • The government should be complicated as a means of pitting factions and interests against each other (state v federal, branches against each other, house v senate) • The government should be complicated and works fine when peoplepursue their own self interests • We are citizens of both the national and state governments

9. Federalists (good government and good citizens) • A good citizen is self interested but will concern himself with the public good out of self interest (to either get his way with the polity or because his interests just happen to coincide) This works so long as these ambitions are within the correct structure • The interests of rich and poor will clash within the system and that will help give it vitality • Government should be dynamic • Federalists (energy in government) • Energy in government is liberty and will allow for grand things

10. Federalists (on bill of rights) • The government has not been given the power to violate your rights sothere in no reason for a bill of rights • Words cannot communicate the meaning of our natural rights • Often rights are so vague that they can be interpreted away ("what doesfreedom of speech really mean?") • A bill of rights actually enhances the power of government ("The gov.  can't do A, B, or C so that means they can do D, E, and F") • The people can take back their authority at any minute and so themechanisms of popular representation themselves guarantee that rights will not be violated