Start Writing!Why does our book say that our constitutional political system is built on a fragile foundation? Do

you agree?

Our Source…..

• Because each generation of Americans respects, renews and works at understanding the principles and values found in these precious documents.

• Different generations have faced different challenges……

Terrorism• #1 on the political agenda when this

book was written, still very high on the list.

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Economy• Always has been and always will be a major

issue…..especially in today’s current global market/recession.

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Purpose of the Book..

• Perception of the U.S. in the eyes of other countries.

• Analyze our relationships with countries over our War on Terror.

• Look at different perspectives due to our economic status with an “interdependent” globalizing economy.

Government

• …merely a shorthand term to refer to tends of thousands of our fellow Americans: the people we elect and the people they appoint to promote the general welfare, provide the domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty for us.

Jefferson

• Government degenerates when left to the hands of rulers…..but power of people must be restrained from time to time.

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Expectations of our leaders

• Like all individuals, politicians live in a world in which perfection may be the goal but compromise, ambition, fund raising and self-promotion are necessary.

• “Politicians are only ‘ideal’ when they are dead.

Democracy

• Government by the people, either directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.

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Direct Democracy

• Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials more directly.

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Democracy perceived negative

• Mob rule: violent.

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Representative Democracy

• Government that derives its powers indirectly from the people, who elect those who will govern, also called a REPUBLIC.

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Constitutional Democracy

• A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections.

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Constitutionalism

• Set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights, that requires leaders to listen, think, bargain and explain beofre they act or make laws. We then hold them politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers.

Personal Liberty

• “self-determination”--meaning that all individuals must have the opportunity to realize their own goals.

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Respect for the Individual

• Jefferson: “all men are created equal”

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Statism

• The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals residing in that nation.

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Popular Consent

• The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.

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Majority Rule

• Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Majority

• The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.

Plurality

• Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Conditions Conducive to Constituional Democracy

1) Educational Conditions

• Are people smart enough? Does that always matter? “Miseducated” like Germany.

2. Economic Conditions

• Too poor for food you do not care to vote.

• Private ownership of property and market economy are related.

• “Cannot have democracy without a middle class.”

3. Social Conditions

• Social fragmentation

• “overlapping associations”

• Ethnicity, religion, job, education--overall socioeconomic status.

4. Ideological Ideas

• Ideology is a consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

• Usually due to socioeconomic conditions: education, money, social conditions an individual experiences.

September 11th

• It is said that our constitutional government is built on a fragile foundation.

• After viewing the movie: 1 page paper agreeing or disagreeing with this statement. Give examples.

• How did you see people/government effecting the 9/11 situation.