Chap22

11
Chapter 22Chapter 22
Who Governs?Who Governs?
To What Ends?To What Ends?

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage
Justice is the end of government.Justice is the end of government.
It is the end of civil society. It everIt is the end of civil society. It ever
has been and ever will be pursuedhas been and ever will be pursued
until it be obtained, or until libertyuntil it be obtained, or until liberty
be lost in the pursuit.be lost in the pursuit.
-- FederalistFederalist No. 51No. 51

44
Restraints on the Growth ofRestraints on the Growth of
GovernmentGovernment
 Old SystemOld System – The founders felt the– The founders felt the
federal government should limit itselffederal government should limit itself
to war, peace, interstate commerce,to war, peace, interstate commerce,
establishing a national currency, andestablishing a national currency, and
delivering the mail.delivering the mail.
 New SystemNew System – Today, federal politics– Today, federal politics
is about practically everything.is about practically everything.
Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

55
Restraints on the Growth ofRestraints on the Growth of
The Constitution is filled withThe Constitution is filled with
arrangements designed to make itarrangements designed to make it
hard for the federal government tohard for the federal government to
act.act.
 Separation of powersSeparation of powers
 FederalismFederalism
 Division of legislative authorityDivision of legislative authority
between the House and the Senatebetween the House and the Senate

66
Relaxing the RestraintsRelaxing the Restraints
 Courts have altered theirCourts have altered their
interpretation of the Constitution ininterpretation of the Constitution in
ways that not only permit but requireways that not only permit but require
government action at times.government action at times.
 Public opinion has changed in waysPublic opinion has changed in ways
that support an expanded role for thethat support an expanded role for the
federal government.federal government.
 Political resources have become morePolitical resources have become more
widely distributed.widely distributed.

77
The Old SystemThe Old System
 Agenda was smallAgenda was small
 Was itWas it legitimatelegitimate for the federalfor the federal
government to take action?government to take action?
 States’ rights was dominant themeStates’ rights was dominant theme
 Focus of policy debate was domesticFocus of policy debate was domestic
affairsaffairs
 Crises gave the government reasonCrises gave the government reason
to take bold actionto take bold action

88
The New SystemThe New System
 Began in the 1930s; tookBegan in the 1930s; took
present form in the 1970spresent form in the 1970s
 Large policy agendaLarge policy agenda
 End of debate overEnd of debate over legitimacylegitimacy
of government actionof government action
 Diffusion and decentralizationDiffusion and decentralization
of power in Congressof power in Congress
 Multiplication of interestMultiplication of interest
groupsgroups
Food products now
contain health
warnings, such as nuts in
this package of cookies.
Source: Envision/Corbis

AP Images/Charlie Riedel
The Ford Motor company did not accept federal support during the
recent recession and has begun to show a profit.

Jim West/Alamy
A Chevrolet Volt being assembled in Detroit. Federal subsidies go to
people who buy one.

1212
Consequences of ActivistConsequences of Activist
 More time spent on managingMore time spent on managing
consequences of existing programsconsequences of existing programs
 Inconsistencies more apparentInconsistencies more apparent
 Less susceptibility to control byLess susceptibility to control by
electoral activityelectoral activity
 Rapid increase in number and varietyRapid increase in number and variety
of interest groupsof interest groups
 Greater risk of failureGreater risk of failure

1313
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?

1414
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 backwith no guarantee that they will get their money back
when they retire.when they retire.
2. There are only two workers for every retired person (in the2. There are only two workers for every retired person (in the
1930s, there were 16 for every retiree). People must be1930s, 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 on3. The federal government spends a quarter of its budget on
Social Security, far more than it devotes to nationalSocial Security, far more than it devotes to national
defense.defense.

1515
Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Workers will have no guarantee that the mutual funds in1. 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 save2. 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.

1616
Your decision:Your decision:
Approve?Approve?
Oppose?Oppose?

1717
The Influence of StructureThe Influence of Structure
FEATURES OF A PARLIAMENTARY REGIME:FEATURES OF A PARLIAMENTARY REGIME:
 Quicker adoption of majoritarian policiesQuicker 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 challengeFewer 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 2009 stimulus bill allowed people to get money if they traded in an old
car that burned a lot of gas.
Paul Brennan, 2009/Used under license from
Shutterstock.com

2020
The Influence of IdeasThe Influence of Ideas
 Political culture of commitment toPolitical culture of commitment to
rightsrights
 Which rights are most important?Which rights are most important?
 Freedom of expression versusFreedom of expression versus
property freedomproperty freedom
 TocquevilleTocqueville – Americans are more– Americans are more
“attached to equality than to“attached to equality than to
freedom”freedom”

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