Chapter 1
NOTE 1 A
The government is defined by different branches that form the government which are distinguished and identified by the power and freedom that each of them exercises. Power is defined by the one who rules while freedom is determined by how much control of the government is allowed in a particular form of government. There can be an authoritarian system of government whereby the power is exercised through violence. A totalitarian system of government is a system of government whereby the extent of violence is far beyond that exercised by the authoritarian government (11).
The contrast of an authoritarian government is a democracy system of government whereby the citizens of a nation are allowed to take part in the government activities and they have a say in what the government does. When limits are imposed on the powers of the government, such a government system is likely to encourage freedom of the citizens as well as all the other stakeholders in such a government. The expansion of participation to the larger sections of the society in America such as the expansion of voting rights allowing women to vote altered the political equilibrium by encouraging all members of the society to take part in politics (12). The objective of politics entails the citizens having a say in what takes place; by expanding participation of the citizens, all members of the society are in position to decide or give direction of what happens.
NOTE 1B
The American democracy allows people allow the people to have a say in the government activities while the identity of the American citizens changed over the years. The American population identity changed over time getting more diverse in overly every dimension available in a country (13). The American population grew from the 1900 figures as the nation extended across the continent changing the racial as well as the racial structure of the American population. This happened as the American democracy grew stronger giving the citizens more right to have a say in what the government does.
NOTE 1C
The American system of government is made up of three major values which include liberty, equality as well as democracy (18). According to the principles of the Americans, liberty refers to the freedom that the citizens of the country gain from control over of the government as well as the economic freedom. Under liberty doctrine the powers of the government are determined and defined as well as limited by the constitution of America. According to the American constitution, the treating of all people fairly entails what is referred to as equality. The American constitution provides for the doctrine of “Self-evident” that states that all men are created equally (19). Democracy in America considered what the people have to say as the most important thing in the nation.
The people have authority to determine and impact on what the leaders do in the governance of the nation. The American democracy therefore relies upon what the majority vote for while respecting the rights of the minority rights and freedom. The principle of democracy in America therefore depends on what the majority have to say while ensuring and encouraging respect for rights of the minority. Therefore, the American society in the field of politics value conflict. This is due to the fact that the cases of difference arise due to the different virtues, failures as well as choices made by different citizens in the American democracy.
Chapter 7
NOTE 2 A
The role of political parties in the American Politics as well as government cannot be ignored. Political parties have an influence on the government through the elections of official to different government officials seeking to take control of the government and consequently politics. The political parties are as a result of the electoral process that takes place during elections, and the American scenario there are two political parties that paly politics and determine the functions or the political role of the parties in the government through political parties participating in elections. During the elections the two main political parties in the American politics recruit candidates to vie for state, local as well as congressional positions. These positions make up the American government in the United States of America. After elections they the winners from take over the role of the previous government.
The political parties provide financial assistance to their candidates as they vie to beat their opponents from the other political party. The political parties are responsible for organizations of the nominations of political parties in electing the candidates for various local, state as well as the congressional positions. The political parties ensure that the candidates meet the constitutional requirements to allow them run for the local, state as well as congressional posts such as the age and integrity clearance. There comes what is referred to as the trade of between the two political parties so as to ensure that support during the congressional elections which ensure that different bills discussed in the congress are enacted and presented to the president for ascent. The presidents therefore need the political parties in passing of different parties as well as reelection into the second term in office. The book explains how President Obama used his political party’s agenda as well as the argument of the other party during his first tenure in office to gain support and approval of the congress. This proved how the president needed the political parties in the foreseeable future. The political parties help their candidates get out the votes, and the first step towards this achievement is through motivating and encouraging the process of voter registration. By encouraging the citizens to register as voters the political parties are in the process of motivating and at the same time the voters to vote for their preferred candidates. The congress relies upon the powers of the two political parties to determine the powers of the congress. In the congress there are two groups the majority and the minority parties which determine the various discussions in the congress house.
The president of the United States depends upon the party ties to have the different legislations in the congress house enacted (202). There comes what is referred to as the trade of between the two political parties so as to ensure that support during the congressional elections which ensure that different bills discussed in the congress are enacted and presented to the president for ascent. The presidents therefore need the political parties in passing of different parties as well as reelection into the second term in office. The book explains how President Obama used his political party’s agenda as well as the argument of the other party during his first tenure in office to gain support and approval of the congress. This proved how the president needed the political parties in the foreseeable future.
NOTE 2B
It is very rare to find a nation with the two political parties system, and America is one such nations. In the United States of America the two political parties are the democrats and republicans. The democrats and the republicans still remain as the main influence of the American votes, and hence over the years, the American history has been characterized by two political parties system. However, over the years this has changed and hence the experience and change in the political system and alignment leading into the production of six distinctive party structure (203). The first party system was observed in the 1790s as the federalists pitted against the republicans. The second party system included the democrats and Whigs and this saw both the democrats and republicans extend their right to vote. This observed an increase in the number of voters via the elimination of the property restrictions and other barriers to voting (204).
Chapter 9
NOTE 2C
The congress in the American politics stands as the most direct voice of the people that represents the say on the American citizens in the national government. The power that is accorded in the congress is accorded is used by the congress representatives to echo the important work accomplished by the congress committees as well as the staff members. Therefore, the congress is the most significant representation of the voice of the American citizens in the American government. Those who took part in framing of the American constitution allowed for a bicameral legislature, a legislature body that is made up of two houses or chambers (271). There are both formal and informal reasons that added up to the differences between the two houses: the senate and the congress (271).
The terms as well as the requirements provided for by the constitution by both the two houses acts as the cause of difference on how the members execute their powers. A representative entails a sociological or agency representation. The first circumstances which are the sociological representation that lets its members assume the same gender, ethnic, as well as religion and educational background. The electoral link hinges on incumbency with the sociological composition of the congress.
Incumbency entails the holding of a political post for which a person or candidate is running. Incumbency has a very significant role in the American electoral system. The congress members have quite a number of many opportunities that enable them to deliver direct benefits or what is referred to as patronage for their constituents. The political parties are as a result of the electoral process that takes place during elections, and the American scenario there are two political parties that paly politics and determine the functions or the political role of the parties in the government through political parties participating in elections. During the elections the two main political parties in the American politics recruit candidates to vie for state, local as well as congressional positions. The patronage resources include what is available to the higher officials. This includes the appointment of members on part grounds or what is referred to as partisan appointments.
