POL 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Hong Kong Chief Commissioner, Unitary Executive Theory, Learning Technology Partners
21 Aug 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Formal institutional powers and constraints (written on paper) Informal institutional powers and constraints (derive from incentives) In general we have incentives based on written and unwritten rules. Wanted executive branch to run the country, but details tba. Strengthen central government (federalists wanted to extend government power) Limit power of government (anti-federalists worried a strong national government would threaten liberty) Hamilton makes the case for a unitary executive (the primary rationale behind this being a need for energy in the executive. ) Energy meaning power to make decisions in a quick and effective way. Electoral college gives citizens a vote, but an indirect one. The president and congress have different constituencies and thus different perspectives. Unlike other articles this one is short and vague. Faith in george washington to set a good model and precedents for the office of the presidency (because if they did not have faith in him they would have written article 2 with more detail)
