8.3.6
Describe the basic law-making process and how the Constitution
provides numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in the political
process and to monitor and influence government (e.g., function of elections,
political parties, interest groups).
Civic participation, citizens taking part in the government and political
process, is imperative in a democracy. The United States Constitution was set up
to allow citizens to do just that - share their inputs, and to monitor and
influence the government and political process. Democracy is based on the
principle of people’s sovereignty, meaning the source of state authority comes
from the people. To understand the role citizens play in the government, the
basic law-making process must be understood. The process occurs when
representative bodies create laws step-by-step. The political forces must
compromise, and try to include the interests of all people. When there is a
problem or a need for change, a bill is passed in hopes of becoming a law. A law
begins being introduced as a legislative bill by Congress. It can be created by
either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Most bills begin as similar
proposals in both houses. These proposals are then referred to each of the
houses’ committees. As Congress members cannot possibly study thousands of bills
carefully each year, both houses use committees to evaluate proposed legislation
for them, composed of selected members. Different committees each have a
different purpose and function: standing committees are permanent in both houses
that specialize in a particular topic (i.e. agriculture) and are usually broken
down in subcommittees that focus on a particular aspect of a problem; select
committees are temporary to deal with issues requiring special attention; joint
committees are occasionally formed to consider specific issues; conference
committees, one type of joint committee, tries to work out a compromise bill
acceptable to both houses if both the House and Senate pass different versions
of the same bill. Committees hold public hearings (at which citizens can present
arguments and documents supporting or opposing the bill), make changes, and
recommend passages. When received a bill, a committee can kill it by rejecting
it outright, "pigeonhole" it by setting it aside without reviewing it, or
prepare it for consideration by the full House or Senate. Once a committee
approves a bill, it is sent to the full Senate or House for debate. The bill can
be passed, rejected, or returned tot he original committee for further changes.
One the form of bill is debated and passed by one house, it is referred to the
other house. At this time, House and Senate members confer and reach a
compromise on a single form of bill. Once the compromise is approved, the bill
is at last in its final stage: enactment into law. This is where the president
either approves the bill and signs it, or vetoes it and the bill does not become
a law. All bills must go through both the House and Senate before reaching the
president. Congress resides the power to override the presidential veto by a
two-thirds majority vote of the members in each
house.
When change is needed or opinions are wished to be expressed, citizens share
ideas by contacting their elected representatives, writing letters to
newspapers, and joining lobby groups or political parties. The founders of the
Constitution had not anticipated political parties, yet they understandably
sprung up as citizens shared similar views. Since the legislative body must
represent the interests of all people, it creates conditions for the expression
of opinion, and individuals unit in associations. Political parties play a vital
role in democratic societies and the most important role in the law-making
process. They initiate bills and elaborate laws while they are not in power,
since the law-making process begins out of the state. They provide a public
place where important issues can be debated, and conflicts can be resolved
peacefully. Parties are perhaps based more on personal, even ethical,
identities. They represent the interests of the people within the party. In a
democracy, things will always change – and our policies and positions will
change with it. Political parties must reflect these changes. To citizens, they
are one way to get involved in the political process. Citizens have the freedom
of choosing any party they want, or to be nonpartisan. Those who share common
interests, goals, and viewpoints about how the government should be run unite
and form these parties. They prepare platforms, meet, and debate. It is their
way of expressing their opinions, and influencing who gets elected. Today, the
Republican and Democratic parties totally pervade the political process. Most
Americans are classified as Republicans or Democrats, and few are actual
independents. The persuasiveness of the parties can put the candidate and the
entire party into government. These two major parties dominate the presidency,
Congress, governorships, and state legislatures. American parties play a major
role in shaping public and national policies. Since parties affect Congress,
laws that are passed reflect the interests of those in
Congress.
Interest or lobby groups, factions made up of people of special interests, are
another way in which citizens can participate in the government. These groups
represent different people with common interests, viewpoints, and even
principles. People who share these things join together to have a more effective
voice. They are also known as pressure groups, because they can press
legislatures into passing a bill in favor of a specific cause, or voting a
certain way. This is another example of how influential and persuasive citizens
can be on the government. These groups may be private corporations or small
groups. An example would be the organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
These mothers influence legislatures to pass specific laws against drinking.
Another group would be the National Rifle Association, made up of gunowners.
Groups like these are very powerful, important in influencing the government,
and helpful in the sense that they expose the interests of all peoples. The
function of elections is to allow citizens to participate in the political
process. By voting, people can choose legislatures to pass the laws they want.
They can also vote for Senators and Representatives. First, people must
select or nominate a candidate to fill a position. They can support their
candidate or party by campaigning or just by voting for them. Elections are the
reasons why we have a government. It is the only fair way to put people in
office, and is essential in a democracy. All three branches play an important
role in the law-making process. The legislative branch, of course, passes the
laws, but they are the only visible part in the entire process. They are
regulated by the executive bodies, political parties, and lobbies. The executive
and judicial branches are also involved. The pre-legislative stage is controlled
by the executive branch, for example. They adopt acts on basis of the delegated
powers. The judicial branch can declare laws unconstitutional with the power of
judicial review, an important part of the checks and balances system
today.
More Information:
1.
http://www.gliah.uh.edu/index/cfm
By using the search engine and timeline, you can find out about any event in
American history in this site. You can also research by topic or check the
reference room. There are many ways to obtain information with this site: the
search engine, the timeline, exhibits, news, interactive history, teaching
materials, etc.
2.
http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/cts/standarddetail.php?StandardID=8.3
This site lists all the Standards questions of section 8.3 and email addresses of
professors/teachers/educators in that area of expertise. Additional resources,
such as books and lessons, are also listed to help you answer the questions,
along with the grade level and availability.
3.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/govworks/na31.htm
This link tells how political parties play a major role in democratic societies. You
can learn about the basis of different parties, and how they affect the overall
democratic political process.
4.
http://www.nato.int/acad/fellow/97-99/bogdanovskaia.pdf
This is a PDF file you can download but Acrobat Reader is required to
open it. It is a great resource to find out about each branch’s role in the
law-making process, and the influence of political parties, lobby, and interest
groups. The basis of democracy is also covered here.
5.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/govworks/na24.htm
The development of political parties is explained in this link. It also tells about
the role that political parties play in the governmental order.
Recommended Books:
1.
Democracy in America
by Alexis De Tocqueville
2.
The American Journey
by Appleby, Joyce. Brinkley, Alan. McPherson, James. National Geographic Society.