POLSCI 318 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Direct Democracy, Montesquieu, Political Philosophy
4 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
POLISCI 318 Congress and the President
9.02.16 Lecture Notes
Legislative
Executive – foreign relations/implementation of law
Judicial
Athens, Greece
Aristotle and Polybius
o Polybius was a Greek prisoner in Rome
Observed cycles of governance
o Anarchy monarchy (one strong individual who consolidated power, usually devolved
into tyranny) tyranny rise of aristocracy (usually lose virtue, become corrupt)
oligarchy people rise up and form a democracy democracy would degrade into
anarchy again (aka mob rule)
o In Ancient Greece, democracy was the form of direct democracy (referendums)
▪ Ex: Brexit vote
Believed that there should be a separation of the powers of governance in a way that enabled
stability
Also observed Rome – Polybius called it the perfect blend of aristocracy and democracy (called a
mixed regime)
o A mixed regime is different from separation of powers
▪ Mixed regime – separation by these classes
▪ Separation of powers – separation by function
o Democratic element
▪ Legislative assemblies – responsible for passing all laws
▪ Roman Senate – primary role is to give advice to the consuls (cannot pass laws, but
can veto laws)
▪ Consuls – highest office, two consuls at the head of the government (executive
function)
• Implements law
• Switched days that each consul commanded the military
Enlightenment
o John Locke – argued that the legislative power should predominate
▪ Ideal system of government
▪ Executive implements laws
▪ Federative – power of the monarch to effectively conduct international relations
• The US lumps the federative with the executive
▪ Mentions courts but not much
o In England, the executive and federative is the monarch
▪ Legislative is split into the House of Lords and the House of Commons
▪ Same class-based division as Ancient Rome
Montesquieu (Federalist 47)
o French political philosophy
o Americans in the colonies believed that separated powers had to be absolutely and
completely separated
▪ Madison provided insight into this – it is impossible for a government to not mix at
all (drawn upon state constitutions and the British Constitution)
o Legislative will should predominate
o Combines executive and federative into just the executive
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Aristotle and polybius: polybius was a greek prisoner in rome. Believed that there should be a separation of the powers of governance in a way that enabled. John locke argued that the legislative power should predominate: federative power of the monarch to effectively conduct international relations, the us lumps the (cid:498)federative(cid:499) with the executive, switched days that each consul commanded the military. Ideal system of government: executive implements laws, in england, the executive and federative is the monarch, mentions courts but not much. Implements law can veto laws) function: legislative is split into the house of lords and the house of commons, same class-based division as ancient rome. Judicial power is responsible for the execution of the law. Articles of confederation: obsessed with limiting a large national government given their experience with king. Federalist papers: federalism = weak national government, power is in the states, federalists = nationalists, anti-federalists = believe in federalism, most concerned with limiting the executive power.
